Trying to access a NOAA database

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The discussion centers around accessing solar radiation data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website. The user seeks surface solar radiation strengths by state and is directed to the National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB). However, it is noted that the initial user is looking at metadata tables rather than the actual data tables. To access the desired information, users must parse the XML file into a database, but these files primarily contain metadata about the data rather than the data itself. A more direct source for the actual solar radiation data is provided, linking to the NSRDB where users can find hourly data listed by state. The conversation expresses frustration over the perceived inefficiency of government resources in providing accessible data, while also acknowledging that the necessary data is available if users know where to look.
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I'm trying to read solar radiation data from the following website...can anyone assist me in accessing this information...thank you. (I am expecting to see surface solar radiation strengths by state.)

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/documentlibrary/surface-doc.html

You have to scroll down to this:

Dataset 3282: U.S. National Solar Radiation Database

and then select that line item..they are in numercial order...
 
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Naty1 said:
I am expecting to see surface solar radiation strengths by state.[/url

Um, you're looking at the metadata tables, not the actual tables.You're going to have to parse/import the XML file into a db and then read out information, but as far as I can tell these files only give you information about the tables/data (like column name and range limits) anyway.

Actual database: NSRDB
http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/1991-2005/hourly/list_by_state.html
 
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So it's yet another useless government expenditure of my tax dollars...just great!

Thanks for the assistance...
 
Naty1 said:
So it's yet another useless government expenditure of my tax dollars...just great!
The data is all there, you just have to know what you're looking at/where to look. Having lab facilities where you can just download all the data and arrange it sensibly helps a lot.
 
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