Data sets
This page describes the Imago data products used across this training and explains how to access them.
Where to find the data
All Imago datasets are hosted on the Imago data catalogue:
The catalogue holds every published file alongside metadata and licensing information. You will need to create a free account to download files. Once logged in, you can browse, filter by tag (for example CLiVE, temperature, floods), and download in your preferred format.
Datasets used in this training
The trainings on this site draw on four thematic data products from the CLiVE suite (Climate, Local Vulnerability and Exposure) and the Sun Probability Framework (SPF). The table below summarises what is currently available at the time of writing. Year ranges and product versions are updated periodically — always check the catalogue for the latest release.
| Theme | Product | Spatial unit | Time coverage | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air temperature | Temperature indicators (CLiVE) | MSOA (England) | 2015–2024, annual | .csv, .gpkg |
| Precipitation | Precipitation indicators (CLiVE) | MSOA (England) | 2015-2024, annual | .csv, .gpkg |
| Sun Probability Framework (SPF) | Cloud probability statistics per small area | MSOA / LSOA (UK) | 2024 (v1.0) | .csv, .gpkg |
| Floods | Flood exposure indicators (CLiVE) | MSOA (England) | 2024 | .csv, .gpkg |
Brief description of each product
Air temperature. Annual MSOA-level indicators derived from HadUK-Grid, including summer maxima, winter minima, mean temperatures, and counts of extreme hot and cold days and spells. One geopackage per year, with MSOA geometry attached. See the air temperature training for a worked example.
Precipitation. Annual MSOA-level indicators describing rainfall patterns, including totals, wet- and dry-day counts, and extreme rainfall measures. Companion product to the temperature indicators and aligned to the same spatial framework. See the precipitation training.
Sun Probability Framework (SPF). Small-area statistics translating Sentinel-2 cloud mask data into measures of sunlight probability. The current release covers 2024. See the SPF training and the dataset record for Cloud probability statistics per small area in 2024 (v1.0).
Floods. MSOA-level indicators of flood exposure for England, intended to support work on local vulnerability to fluvial, pluvial and coastal flooding.
File formats
Each dataset is provided in two interchangeable formats:
CSV (.csv)— flat tabular data for use in R, Python, Stata, or any statistical software. No geometry.GeoPackage (.gpkg)— spatial format with MSOA geometry attached, ready to use in R (sf), Python (geopandas), QGIS, or ArcGIS.
Use the CSV when you only need the indicators (for joins, regressions, summary tables) and the GeoPackage when you need to map or do spatial analysis. The two contain the same indicator columns; the only difference is whether geometry is included.
Metadata
Every dataset on the catalogue ships with a metadata file describing variable definitions, units, spatial and temporal coverage, source data, and the methodology used to derive each indicator. Read the metadata before working with the data — it is the quickest way to avoid misinterpretation.
Downloading
- Go to https://data.imago.ac.uk/ and create an account (free).
- Browse or search the catalogue. You can filter by tag (for example
CLiVE,temperature,floods,msoa). - Open the dataset record and download the file format you need.
- The metadata file is listed alongside the data — download it too.
If you have questions about accessing or interpreting any of the products, get in touch at imago@liverpool.ac.uk.