Exploring Historical Climate Records Using Dallol Temperature Data

This source-labelled dataset reconstructs the historical air-temperature record from Dallol, Ethiopia, for the 1960–1966 observation period. The core records reproduce the historical monthly temperature series, while published annual-mean comparisons and selected later scientific, field, and weather-station observations are preserved as separate records rather than merged into one continuous climate series.

The dataset contains 75 records in CSV format. Each record retains information needed to distinguish observation period, measurement context, and source provenance. The primary geographic focus is Dallol in the Danakil Depression of northeastern Ethiopia.

Dallol is frequently cited in scientific, educational, and popular sources because of its exceptionally high historical air temperatures. However, published descriptions often mix several different quantities: annual mean air temperature, mean daily maximum temperature, monthly extrema, later field observations, surface temperatures, and geothermal measurements.

The dataset is useful for examining how historical climate records are summarized and reproduced, how measurement context affects interpretation, and why credible publications can report slightly different annual means for the same short observation period. Published values for Dallols 1960–1966 annual mean include approximately 34.4°C, 34.6°C, and 34.7°C.

Preserving those differences rather than silently reducing them to one value makes the dataset useful for teaching climate-data interpretation, uncertainty, source provenance, and reproducibility.

These data can be used to teach topics and quantitative skills in climatology, atmospheric science, environmental science, physical geography, and introductory data analysis.

Importing and examining CSV data
Calculating and comparing summary statistics
Plotting monthly temperature variation
Comparing different temperature measures
Separating historical records from later observations
Evaluating source provenance
Identifying non-comparable measurements
Investigating why published summaries of the same historical record may differ

The resource is a processed, source-labelled historical dataset distributed as a CSV file. It contains a reconstructed historical monthly air-temperature series together with separately identified comparison records from later publications and observations.

It should not be treated as a single continuous modern climate record. Historical station measurements and later observations differ in observation period, measurement context, and in some cases location or measurement method.

The complete dataset can be downloaded directly as a CSV file at:

https://danakilinsider.com/data/dallol-temperature-dataset.csv

A methodology page explaining the historical record, published discrepancies, measurement categories, and source provenance is available at:

https://danakilinsider.com/danakil-depression-temperature/

A permanent archived version is also available through Zenodo under DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22057454.

No specialized software is required. The CSV can be opened in spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice Calc and can also be analyzed with R, Python, or other statistical software. Students can use these tools to calculate summary statistics, filter records by measurement context or period, and visualize monthly temperature patterns.

CSV — comma-separated values, a plain-text tabular data format.

Annual mean — the average temperature calculated across a year or observation period.

Mean daily maximum — the average of daily maximum temperatures; it is not the same as overall mean air temperature.

Source provenance — information documenting where a value originated and how it was reproduced or derived.

Historical station series — meteorological observations associated with the historical Dallol observation period rather than later field measurements.

The dataset is a reconstruction and source-comparison resource rather than a new meteorological monitoring program.

The core historical records reproduce published information associated with meteorological observations made at Dallol during 1960–1966. Source publications and later scientific or project observations were reviewed and labelled by observation period and measurement context. Later observations were retained as separate records rather than appended to the historical series as though they were produced by the same station and methodology.

The methodology and source trail are documented at:

https://danakilinsider.com/danakil-depression-temperature/

The principal uncertainty is not simply instrumental error but the way the historical record has been reproduced in later sources. Published annual mean values for Dallols 1960–1966 record differ slightly, with values including approximately 34.4°C, 34.6°C, and 34.7°C. Rather than selecting one value and discarding the others, the dataset preserves the published variants and their provenance.

Additional limitations arise when later field observations, weather-station measurements, exposed-surface temperatures, or geothermal measurements are compared directly with the historical standardized air-temperature record. These categories should not be treated as interchangeable.

The short 1960–1966 observation period also means the historical series should not be interpreted as a modern climate normal or a continuous record of present-day conditions.

Dataset methodology and source bibliography:
https://danakilinsider.com/danakil-depression-temperature/

Permanent dataset archive:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22057454

The methodology page contains the source trail for the historical Dallol record and the later comparison observations included in the dataset.

The methodology page can be used alongside the CSV as an introductory reading on historical climate-data interpretation, measurement context, and source provenance:

https://danakilinsider.com/danakil-depression-temperature/

Background scientific references and the source trail for the historical Dallol record are listed in the methodology accompanying the dataset:

https://danakilinsider.com/danakil-depression-temperature/

Archived dataset record:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22057454

The dataset is suitable for short exercises in descriptive statistics, time-series visualization, source evaluation, and reproducible data analysis. No dedicated classroom activity has yet been published for this dataset.

Coleman, Alex. Dallol Temperature Dataset: Historical 1960–1966 Series and Later Observations. Danakil Insider, 2026. CC BY 4.0. https://danakilinsider.com/danakil-depression-temperature/ . Archived at Zenodo: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22057454

Dataset methodology and source comparison: https://danakilinsider.com/danakil-depression-temperature/
Permanent Zenodo archive: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22057454