Finished! Looks like this project is out of data at the moment!
Fantastic job, everyone! You have now completed a big chunk of data, and we will spend some time looking into all the temperature time series and improving the workflows based on your comments and questions. Thank you so much for all your help! We will be back with more tasks later this fall.
FAQ
How can old weather observations help us understand the current and future climate?
- Historical weather data are important because they provide insights into long-term trends in the climate system and provide the context for understanding what weather is 'normal' or if a weather event is unprecedented. When we have more historical weather data available, researchers can improve their assessments of the impacts of climate change, and decision-makers can act based on the best possible information.
Why does the project only deal with data from 1873 to 1957?
- Weather data from Greenland from 1958 onward already exist in digital form. There are also some earlier weather records from Greenland than 1873, but we are not yet ready to digitize them.
Why do you need volunteer help?
- The yearbooks contain an estimated 4-5 million observations for Greenland alone, and a lot of the data are handwritten. The task is just too big to handle without your help.
What will happen if I type something wrong?
- Don't worry. Every page will be transcribed by at least four different users to make sure that the data entries are correct. Just give your best guess!
How can I follow the progress?
- The 'results' page in the top menu will be updated regularly with charts showing the data from the Greenlandic weather stations as they are entered. We will start with temperature data and station metadata. Other parameters will be added to the project later. Updates on the progress will also be posted to the 'Announcements' discussion board under 'Talk'.
Will this dataset be made available to everyone?
- Yes! Once the project is complete, we will do a quality control of the raw data and make the data available in a public repository.
I have another question about the project. How can I get in touch with you?
- You are very welcome to post questions to us on our discussion board 'General questions and discussion' under 'Talk'.
Who is behind this project?
- This project is made by climatologists at the Danish Meteorological Institute. The Danish Meteorological Institute is also the weather service for Greenland.
