Open Access Program
What is the Open Access Program?
As a Public Benefit Corporation, Synoptic Data is committed to making high-quality weather observation data accessible to the academic community. The Open Access Program provides students at accredited U.S. universities and colleges with no-cost API access to Synoptic’s platform for short-term research projects and coursework.
The program is designed for student research with a defined geographic region, specified weather and environmental variables, and time-limited academic effort. Examples include a thesis project, a graduate research study, or faculty-led field research, where access to real-time observational or historical data makes a meaningful difference in the quality of the work.
Please note a .edu email address is required for Open Access.
Who is Eligible for the Open Access Program?
The Open Access Program is available to members of accredited U.S. educational institutions who register with a valid .edu email address. Eligible uses include:
Eligible Research & Academic Uses
- Student research projects (undergraduate, graduate, and PhD)
- Faculty-led or on-campus research
- Non-commercial educational coursework requiring real-time observational data
Access is scoped to the specific geographic region and time period relevant to each project.
During signup you’ll tell us what you need — the program is built around supporting defined research questions, not open-ended data exploration.
What Open Access Users Receive:
Approved participants receive access to the following features at no cost:
API Access
1 simultaneous API response with access to Synoptic`s observation network via the standard API.
Historical Data
Up to 1 year of historical weather observations for your approved geographic region.
Data Explore Tool
Interactive tool for browsing metadata and reviewing current station conditions.
CSV Download Tool
Download historical observation data in CSV format for offline analysis.
Data Availability Dashboard
View station coverage and data availability across your region of interest.
Quality Control & Precipitation
Basic quality control checks and basic precipitation service included.
Email support is available on a best-effort basis. For more demanding projects requiring higher concurrency, extended historical windows, or premium features, commercial plans are available.
How to Apply
Applying takes just a few minutes. Here’s what to expect:
Submit the signup form
Use the official Open Access signup page with your .edu email address. You'll describe your project, the geographic region and time period you need, and the specific variables or station types required.
Synoptic reviews your request
Our team reviews all applications. Submission does not guarantee approval — we scope access to what each project genuinely needs. In some cases we may reach out to better understand your research before approving.
Get access & start your research
If approved, you'll receive credentials to begin accessing the platform. Access is valid for one year and must be renewed annually, allowing you to confirm the research is still ongoing and your needs are the same.
Share your results
When your project is complete, we ask that you attribute Synoptic Data in your published work and share a link or copy of your results with us. This is a condition of the program and helps us demonstrate the value of open data access to the academic community.
Attribution Requirement
All Open Access participants are asked to credit Synoptic Data in any published output from their research. This is a condition of the program and supports its long-term sustainability. An example of how to credit Synoptic in your research is shown below.
When your research is complete, share your results with us via two or more of the following: a link to a published paper or poster, a website publishing your findings, or a social media announcement referencing the work.
“Weather observation data was provided by Synoptic Data PBC (synopticdata.com) through the Open Access Program. Synoptic Data aggregates and distributes environmental observations from a wide range of public and private networks.”
Need Something Beyond the Standard Tier?
If your research requires extended historical data, a broader spatial footprint, or access to specific networks not covered by the standard Open Access tier, we’re happy to consider it. Custom requests are evaluated case by case and must be clearly scoped — geographic area, time period, and variables — and serve a defined non-commercial research purpose.
Reach out to our team at support@synopticdata.com to discuss your needs before applying.
Ready to Apply?
Sign up with your .edu email address and tell us about your research. We look forward to supporting your work.
