The GCIP/ESOP-97 Hourly Surface Composite contains data from several networks (i.e., Automated Surface Observing System, Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Surface, Wind Profiler Network, High Plains Climate Network, Missouri Automated Agricultural Network, Missouri Department of Conservation Fire Network, National Climatic Data Center DATSAV2, National Data Buoy Center, National Soil Tilth Laboratory, University of Minnesota Rosemount Experimental Station, University of Wisconsin Agricultural Weather Observation Network, Illinois Climate Network, Chicago Mesonet, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Divsision meteorological data, Natural Resource Conservation Service Soil Moisture Soil Temperature, and the Environmental Protection Agency Meteorological data from several states including Michigan and Wisconsin) for the ESOP 97 domain. Data from these sources were merged and quality controlled to form this Surface Composite.