CHELSA_v1.0 (http://chelsa-climate.org/) is a high resolution (30 arc sec, ~1 km) climate data set for the earth land surface areas. Version 1.0 is a first release. It includes monthly and annual mean temperature and precipitation patterns for the time period 1979-2013. CHELSA_v1 is based on a quasi-mechanistical statistical downscaling of the ERA interim global circulation model (http://www.ecmwf.int/en/research/climate-reanalysis/era-interim) with a GPCC (https://www.dwd.de/EN/ourservices/gpcc/gpcc.html) and GHCN (https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ghcnm/) bias correction. Specifications: High resolution (30 arcsec, ~1 km) Precipitation & Temperature Monthly coverage 1979 - 2013 Incorporation of topoclimate (e.g. orographic rainfall & wind fields). Downscaled ERA-interim model. Allows calculation of derived parameters based on monthly values such as length of dry periods etc.