Difference between revisions of "CHIRPS FAQ"

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−
==Is there a CHIRPS website?==
+
==Is there a CHIRPS2 website?==
−
Yes: http://chg.geog.ucsb.edu/data/chirps/index.html
+
Yes: https://chc.ucsb.edu/data/chirps
  
−
==Where can I get CHIRPS data?==
+
==Where can I get CHIRPS2 data?==
 
===Via a web browser===
 
===Via a web browser===
−
ftp://chg-ftpout.geog.ucsb.edu/pub/org/chg/products/CHIRPS-latest/
+
http://data.chc.ucsb.edu/products/CHIRPS-2.0/
−
 
 
−
OR, equivalently
 
−
 
 
−
http://tinyurl.com/chg-chirps
 
  
 
===Via anonymous ftp===
 
===Via anonymous ftp===
−
  ftp chg-ftpout.geog.ucsb.edu
+
  ftp ftp.chc.ucsb.edu
 
  username: anonymous  
 
  username: anonymous  
 
  password: your_email_address
 
  password: your_email_address
−
  cd  /pub/org/chg/products/CHIRPS-latest/
+
  cd  /pub/org/chg/products/CHIRPS-2.0/
 +
 
 +
===DOI links===
 +
CHIRPSv2.0: http://chc.ucsb.edu/data/chirps/ #Points to data webpage, see [https://data.chc.ucsb.edu/products/CHIRPS-2.0/ Data section] for download
  
−
==What is the spatial resolution of CHIRPS?==
+
==What is the spatial resolution of CHIRPS2?==
 
*Chirps is produced at 0.05 x 0.05 degree spatial resolution.
 
*Chirps is produced at 0.05 x 0.05 degree spatial resolution.
 
*For daily Africa data we also provide a 0.25 x 0.25 degree spatial resolution product.
 
*For daily Africa data we also provide a 0.25 x 0.25 degree spatial resolution product.
  
−
==What are the spatial domain available for CHIRPS?==
+
==What are the spatial domain available for CHIRPS2?==
 
*Global        50N-50S, 180W-180E  @0.05 deg resolution = maps 7200 x 2000 pixels
 
*Global        50N-50S, 180W-180E  @0.05 deg resolution = maps 7200 x 2000 pixels
 
*Africa        40N-40S,  20W- 55E  @0.05 deg resolution = maps 1500 x 1600 pixels
 
*Africa        40N-40S,  20W- 55E  @0.05 deg resolution = maps 1500 x 1600 pixels
 
*CAmer-Carib  23.5N-6N, 93W- 57W  @0.05 deg resolution = maps  720 x  350 pixels  
 
*CAmer-Carib  23.5N-6N, 93W- 57W  @0.05 deg resolution = maps  720 x  350 pixels  
 +
*WHem          50N-50S, 125W- 34W  @0.05 deg resolution = maps 1820 x 2000 pixels
  
−
==What are the time steps available for CHIRPS?==
+
==What are the time steps available for CHIRPS2?==
 +
*daily
 
*[[#How does CHIRPS define a pentad?| pentad]]
 
*[[#How does CHIRPS define a pentad?| pentad]]
 
*[[#How does CHIRPS define a dekad?| dekad]]
 
*[[#How does CHIRPS define a dekad?| dekad]]
 
*monthly
 
*monthly
−
*daily (Africa only)
+
*2-monthly
 +
*3-monthly
 +
*annual
 
   
 
   
−
===How does CHIRPS define a pentad?===
+
===How does CHIRPS2 define a pentad?===
 
*6 pentads = 1 calendar month. Each of first 5 pentads in a month have 5 days. The last pentad contains all the days from the 26th to the end of the month.  
 
*6 pentads = 1 calendar month. Each of first 5 pentads in a month have 5 days. The last pentad contains all the days from the 26th to the end of the month.  
  
−
===How does CHIRPS define a dekad?===
+
===How does CHIRPS2 define a dekad?===
 
*A dekad = sum of 2 pentads. There are 3 dekads in a calendar month.
 
*A dekad = sum of 2 pentads. There are 3 dekads in a calendar month.
  
−
==What are the file formats available for CHIRPS?==
+
==What are the file formats available for CHIRPS2?==
 
*.tif
 
*.tif
 
*.bil
 
*.bil
 +
*.netcdf
  
−
==What units is CHIRPS in?==
+
==What units is CHIRPS2 in?==
 
Total mm for given time step, mm/pentad, mm/month, etc.
 
Total mm for given time step, mm/pentad, mm/month, etc.
  
 
==What value is used for Bad Values?==
 
==What value is used for Bad Values?==
−
-9999
+
-9999.
−
 
 
−
==What is the latency of the CHIRPS product?==
 
−
*There is a rapid (gts-only) CHIRPS available 2 days after the end of a pentad.
 
−
*Final CHIRPS (all station data) is available sometime after the 15th of the following month.  
 
  
−
==What is the temporal range for CHIRPS?==
+
==What is the latency of the CHIRPS2 product?==
−
CHIRPS is available from 1981 to near-real time.
+
*There is a rapid (GTS and Mexico only) CHIRPS available 2 days after the end of a pentad.
 +
*Final CHIRPS (all station data) is available sometime in the third week of the following month.  
  
−
==Who do I contact with CHIRPS questions?==
+
==What is the temporal range for CHIRPS2?==
−
[[User:Pete| Pete Peterson]]
+
CHIRPS2 is available from 1981 to near-real time.
  
−
[mailto:pete@geog.ucsb.edu pete@geog.ucsb.edu]
+
==What is the spatial density of station data used in CHIRPS2?==
  
−
 
−
==What is the spatial density of station data used in CHIRPS?==
 
 
The closest thing we have available is what we call "reality checks" we post in EWX (Early Warning Explorer).  
 
The closest thing we have available is what we call "reality checks" we post in EWX (Early Warning Explorer).  
  
−
You can access EWX [http://chg.geog.ucsb.edu:8080/EWX/index.html here].
+
You can access EWX [https://ewx3.chc.ucsb.edu/ewx/index.html here].
 
*On the left open up the Africa tab.
 
*On the left open up the Africa tab.
 
*Then double click on RCHECKS-STNS
 
*Then double click on RCHECKS-STNS
Line 70: Line 69:
 
**You can zoom in on a location, then cycle through month/years to see how the number of stations changes with time. It is pretty significant in some areas.
 
**You can zoom in on a location, then cycle through month/years to see how the number of stations changes with time. It is pretty significant in some areas.
  
−
Also, ftp://chg-ftpout.geog.ucsb.edu/pub/org/chg/products/CHIRPS-latest/qc/stations_used/monthly/:
+
==How was CHIRPS2 funded?==
−
*Each file represents a single month of CHIRPS for the Globe.
+
CHIRPS2 has been supported by funding from:
−
*There are 5 columns
 
−
**year
 
−
**month
 
−
**latitude
 
−
**longitude
 
−
**station_used?
 
−
*Each file has 52,743 lines representing our total list of anchor stations used in CHIRPS.
 
−
*The last column, station_used is
 
−
**0  if no station data used for that location/time
 
−
**1  if we had station data for that location/time.
 
−
 
 
−
==How was CHIRPS funded?==
 
−
CHIRPS has been supported by funding from:
 
 
*the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)  
 
*the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)  
−
*the USAID Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET)
+
*the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET)
 
*the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)  and  
 
*the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)  and  
 
*the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
 
*the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  
−
==Who uses CHIRPS?==
+
==How good is CHIRPS2?==
−
 
+
For its intended uses, Seasonal Drought monitoring and Trend Analysis, it is very good; see [ftp://chg-data-out.chc.ucsb.edu/pub/org/chg/people/AGU-Fall.2014.presentations/AGU.2014.pete_peterson.final.pptx]
−
==How good is CHIRPS?==
 
−
For its intended uses, Seasonal Drought monitoring and Trend Analysis, it is very good; see [ftp://chg-ftpout.geog.ucsb.edu/pub/org/chg/products/CHIRPS-latest/docs/CHIRPS-v1.8_validation.pptx validation-pptx] (under construction)
 
−
For other uses it depends on the questions you are asking. <!-- Recommend rewording, perhaps expanding slightly or deleting entirely. Vague verbiage in a FAQ is sometimes worse than no mention at all. -->
 
  
−
==How do I reference CHIRPS in publications?==
+
==How do I reference CHIRPS2 in publications?==
 
Funk, C.C., Peterson, P.J., Landsfeld, M.F., Pedreros, D.H., Verdin, J.P.,  
 
Funk, C.C., Peterson, P.J., Landsfeld, M.F., Pedreros, D.H., Verdin, J.P.,  
 
Rowland, J.D., Romero, B.E., Husak, G.J., Michaelsen, J.C., and Verdin, A.P.,  
 
Rowland, J.D., Romero, B.E., Husak, G.J., Michaelsen, J.C., and Verdin, A.P.,  
Line 106: Line 89:
 
*[http://tinyurl.com/chg-chirps/docs/USGS-DS832.CHIRPS.pdf CHG-local source ]
 
*[http://tinyurl.com/chg-chirps/docs/USGS-DS832.CHIRPS.pdf CHG-local source ]
 
*[http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/832/ USGS website ]
 
*[http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/832/ USGS website ]
−
 
−
==What's on the agenda for future CHIRPS?==
 
−
*redo the CHPclim to include more station data and avoid tiling artifacts
 
−
*include fGSOD data from 1981-1999
 
−
*include fGTS  data from 1984-1994
 
−
*include Peru-ANA station data
 
−
*include an additive step to the blending
 
−
*consider re-prioritorizing fGTS above fGSOD
 
−
*consider providing daily CHIRPS for more than Africa
 
−
 
  
 
==What are some of the changes in version 2.0?==
 
==What are some of the changes in version 2.0?==
−
*Since v1.8 we have added new stations around the world. In particular, 400 in Peru, 1,200 across Africa from Sharon Nicholson, 11,000 in Brazil, over 1,000 in Mexico (Conagua), 76 from SASSCAL, 500 in Russia, 250 in Central Asia and 400 across Central America. In addition we have topped off data from several African countries. The Conagua stations are available in near-real time and will directly improve our preliminary CHIRPS product.
+
*Since v1.8 we have added many new stations around the world. In particular, 400 in Peru, 1,200 across Africa from Sharon Nicholson, 11,000 in Brazil, over 1,000 in Mexico (Conagua), 76 from Southern Africa, 500 in Russia, 250 in Central Asia and 400 across Central America. In addition we have topped off data from several African countries. The Conagua stations are available in near-real time and will directly improve our preliminary CHIRPS product.
 
*Daily data now available for the Globe
 
*Daily data now available for the Globe
 
*NetCDF format added
 
*NetCDF format added
 
*Replaced erroneous stations in Tanzania
 
*Replaced erroneous stations in Tanzania
−
*Expanded diagnostics, stations by Country plots, EWX rchecks, station comparison/*badness* plots, station density maps, pentad and monthly png's of excluded stations,
+
*Expanded diagnostics, stations by Country plots, EWX rchecks, station comparison/*badness* plots, station density maps, pentad and monthly png's of excluded stations.
 +
 
 +
==What are the production changes for CHIRPS2?==
 +
As of January 2025, version 3 of CHIRPS is available to the public. Production of CHIRPS v2 will continue in parallel through 2026 to support ongoing applications during the transition to CHIRPS v3.
 +
 
 +
==Who do I contact with CHIRPS2 questions?==
 +
[[User:Help| Help]] [mailto:chc-help@geog.ucsb.edu chc-help@geog.ucsb.edu]
 +
 
 +
[[User:Pete| Pete Peterson]] [mailto:pete@geog.ucsb.edu pete@geog.ucsb.edu]
  
−
==What are some of the changes in version 1.8?==
+
[[User:Robert| Robert Saldivar]] [mailto:rsaldivar.ucsb.edu rsaldivar.ucsb.edu]
−
*Zambia was a mess in v1.7 due to accidentally ingesting temperature data as rainfall in our database. This has been fixed.
 
−
*Pixels near the coastline would alternate between data and bad value over time in v1.7. This has been fixed.
 
−
*Reran CHIRP from May 2013 through October 2013 to fix problem.
 
−
*Deleted 251 bad stations from our database.
 
−
*Fixed another 660 stations with incorrect lat, long and/or country information.
 
−
*Separated Sudan into Sudan and South Sudan stations.
 
−
*Reduced the number of anchor stations used to merge station data from ~91k to ~50k. The reduced stations had little/no data.
 
−
*Added thousands of stations in Colombia, Brazil, Panama and India.
 
−
*Re-factored and re-organized entire code base to be more streamline and less error prone.
 
−
*Include browse images for Africa
 

Latest revision as of 13:19, 20 September 2026

Is there a CHIRPS2 website?

Yes: https://chc.ucsb.edu/data/chirps

Where can I get CHIRPS2 data?

Via a web browser

http://data.chc.ucsb.edu/products/CHIRPS-2.0/

Via anonymous ftp

ftp ftp.chc.ucsb.edu
username: anonymous 
password: your_email_address
cd  /pub/org/chg/products/CHIRPS-2.0/

DOI links

CHIRPSv2.0: http://chc.ucsb.edu/data/chirps/ #Points to data webpage, see Data section for download

What is the spatial resolution of CHIRPS2?

  • Chirps is produced at 0.05 x 0.05 degree spatial resolution.
  • For daily Africa data we also provide a 0.25 x 0.25 degree spatial resolution product.

What are the spatial domain available for CHIRPS2?

  • Global 50N-50S, 180W-180E @0.05 deg resolution = maps 7200 x 2000 pixels
  • Africa 40N-40S, 20W- 55E @0.05 deg resolution = maps 1500 x 1600 pixels
  • CAmer-Carib 23.5N-6N, 93W- 57W @0.05 deg resolution = maps 720 x 350 pixels
  • WHem 50N-50S, 125W- 34W @0.05 deg resolution = maps 1820 x 2000 pixels

What are the time steps available for CHIRPS2?

How does CHIRPS2 define a pentad?

  • 6 pentads = 1 calendar month. Each of first 5 pentads in a month have 5 days. The last pentad contains all the days from the 26th to the end of the month.

How does CHIRPS2 define a dekad?

  • A dekad = sum of 2 pentads. There are 3 dekads in a calendar month.

What are the file formats available for CHIRPS2?

  • .tif
  • .bil
  • .netcdf

What units is CHIRPS2 in?

Total mm for given time step, mm/pentad, mm/month, etc.

What value is used for Bad Values?

-9999.

What is the latency of the CHIRPS2 product?

  • There is a rapid (GTS and Mexico only) CHIRPS available 2 days after the end of a pentad.
  • Final CHIRPS (all station data) is available sometime in the third week of the following month.

What is the temporal range for CHIRPS2?

CHIRPS2 is available from 1981 to near-real time.

What is the spatial density of station data used in CHIRPS2?

The closest thing we have available is what we call "reality checks" we post in EWX (Early Warning Explorer).

You can access EWX here.

  • On the left open up the Africa tab.
  • Then double click on RCHECKS-STNS
  • You will have to zoom in to see squares with black dots in the middle.
    • These are 10x10 pixel boxes of the station value on top of the CHIRPS field, a "reality check" to see if the stations match the background field.
    • You can zoom in on a location, then cycle through month/years to see how the number of stations changes with time. It is pretty significant in some areas.

How was CHIRPS2 funded?

CHIRPS2 has been supported by funding from:

  • the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
  • the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET)
  • the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and
  • the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

How good is CHIRPS2?

For its intended uses, Seasonal Drought monitoring and Trend Analysis, it is very good; see [1]

How do I reference CHIRPS2 in publications?

Funk, C.C., Peterson, P.J., Landsfeld, M.F., Pedreros, D.H., Verdin, J.P., Rowland, J.D., Romero, B.E., Husak, G.J., Michaelsen, J.C., and Verdin, A.P., 2014, A quasi-global precipitation time series for drought monitoring: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 832, 4 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/832/

Is there a copy of the paper online?

Yes.

What are some of the changes in version 2.0?

  • Since v1.8 we have added many new stations around the world. In particular, 400 in Peru, 1,200 across Africa from Sharon Nicholson, 11,000 in Brazil, over 1,000 in Mexico (Conagua), 76 from Southern Africa, 500 in Russia, 250 in Central Asia and 400 across Central America. In addition we have topped off data from several African countries. The Conagua stations are available in near-real time and will directly improve our preliminary CHIRPS product.
  • Daily data now available for the Globe
  • NetCDF format added
  • Replaced erroneous stations in Tanzania
  • Expanded diagnostics, stations by Country plots, EWX rchecks, station comparison/*badness* plots, station density maps, pentad and monthly png's of excluded stations.

What are the production changes for CHIRPS2?

As of January 2025, version 3 of CHIRPS is available to the public. Production of CHIRPS v2 will continue in parallel through 2026 to support ongoing applications during the transition to CHIRPS v3.

Who do I contact with CHIRPS2 questions?

Help chc-help@geog.ucsb.edu

Pete Peterson pete@geog.ucsb.edu

Robert Saldivar rsaldivar.ucsb.edu

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