Dr. Christopher Daly of the Spatial Climate Analysis Service at Oregon
State University.
Publication_Date: 20020408
Title: Alaska Average Monthly or Annual Minimum Temperature, 1961-90
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Corvallis, Oregon, USA
Publisher:
Spatial Climate Analysis Service at Oregon State University (SCAS/OSU)
Description:
Abstract:
This data set contains spatially gridded average monthly and annual minimum
temperature for the climatological period 1961-90 for Alaska. Distribution
of the point measurements to a spatial grid was accomplished using the
PRISM model, developed by Christopher Daly of SCAS/OSU.
Purpose:
Display and/or analyses requiring spatially distributed monthly or annual
minimum temperature for the climatological period 1961-90.
Supplemental_Information:
There
are many methods of interpolating climate from monitoring stations to grid
points. Some provide estimates of acceptable
accuracy in flat terrain, but few have been able to adequately explain
the extreme, complex variations in climate
that occur in mountainous regions. Significant progress in this area has
been achieved through the development of PRISM
(Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model). PRISM is
an analytical model that uses point
data and a digital elevation model (DEM) to generate gridded estimates
of monthly and annual temperature (as well
as other climatic parameters). PRISM is well suited to regions with mountainous
terrain, because
it incorporates a conceptual framework that addresses the spatial scale
and pattern of orographic processes. Minimum
temperature was modeled monthly at 2.5-arc-minute resolution. An annual
grid was produced by summing the monthly
grids. ARC/Info was used to reproject the 2.5-minute base grids to
2-km Albers Equal Area.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 19610101
Ending_Date: 19901231
Currentness_Reference:
Climatological period from which the point observations were taken.
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency:
None planned for the 1961-90 climatological period. This data set
may be updated in the future for the new 1971-2000 climatological period.
Spatial_Domain:
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -2301787.7731349
East_Bounding_Coordinate: 1728212.2268651
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 2748069.7858797
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 108069.7858797
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: raster data
Theme_Keyword: minimum temperature
Theme_Keyword: grid cell
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: Alaska
Access_Constraints: Access pursuant to license agreement
Use_Constraints:
Use pursuant to license agreement
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Christopher Daly, Director, SCAS
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing address
Address:
Strand Ag Hall 316, Spatial Climate Analysis Service, Oregon State University
All data were based on the same averaging period (1961-1990). Similar quality
assurance procedures were used with all input data sets.
Completeness_Report:
Point estimates of minimum temperature originated from the following sources:
National Weather Service Cooperative (COOP) stations, 2) Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) SNOTEL, 3) local networks. All COOP station
data were subjected to quality control checks by the National Climatic
Data Center (NCDC) and Spatial Climate Analysis Service.
Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:
Accuracy of this data set is based on the specification of the US Geological
Survey GTOPO30 global digital elevation model (DEM). The stated accuracy
of the DEM ranges depending on the source of terrain data, but is approximately
130 m circular error with 90% probability.
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 130 m with 90% probability.
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: GTOPO30 DEM accuracy
Lineage:
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)
Publication_Date: 1991
Title:
United States 1961-1990 Climate Normals
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Asheville, NC
Publisher: NCDC
Type_of_Source_Media: digital files
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 19610101
Ending_Date: 19901231
Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Source_Citation_Abbreviation: CLIM81
Source_Contribution:
Location and values of known average monthly and annual minimum temperature
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Publication_Date: 1991
Title: Cooperative Snow Survey Data of Federal - State - Private Cooperative
Snow Surveys
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Cooperative Snow Survey Data of Federal - State - Private Cooperative
Snow Surveys
Issue_Identification: Annual issue for Western US states
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Portland, OR, USA
Publisher: Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Water and Climate
Center
Type_of_Source_Media:
digital
files, paper reports, online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 19610101
Ending_Date: 19901231
Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Source_Citation_Abbreviation:
SNOTEL
(SNOwpack TELemetry)
Source_Contribution: Location and values of known average monthly and annual minimum temperature
Source_Information: Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Natural Resources Conservation Service, Water and Climate Center
Publication_Date: Unpublished material
Title: Local Temperature monitoring networks
Type_of_Source_Media:
digital
files
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 19610101
Ending_Date: 19901231
Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Source_Citation_Abbreviation:
LOCAL
Source_Contribution: Location and values of known average monthly and annual minimum temperature
Source_Information:
Terrain surface input to PRISM model for estimation of minimum temperature
between known points.
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
It is beyond the scope of this metadata to document the processes
involved in generating spatially gridded minimum temperature using the
PRISM model. However, the processes are documented in numerous conference
proceedings and journal articles. The references can be found online
at <URL:http://www.ocs.oregonstate.edu/prism/>.
Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum 1983 (NAD83)
Ellipsoid_Name: GRS1980
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0
Semi-minor_Axis: 6356752.31424518
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_Label: average minimum temperature grid cell value
Entity_Type_Definition: ASCII values
Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Self-evident
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: average minimum temperature grid cell value
Attribute_Definition: spatially gridded average minimum temperature
Attribute_Definition_Source:
Daly, C., R.P. Neilson, and D.L. Phillips, 1994: A Statistical-Topographic
Model for Mapping Climatological Precipitation over Mountainous Terrain.
J. Appl. Meteor., 33,140-158.
Daly, C., W. P. Gibson, G.H. Taylor, G. L. Johnson, P. Pasteris.
2002. A knowledge-based approach to the statistical mapping of climate.
Climate Research, in press.
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Range_Domain:
Range_Domain_Minimum: -374
Range_Domain_Maximum: 129
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: Degrees Celsius * 10
Attribute_Measurement_Resolution: 1
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: <=-9999
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: no data available or outside
of range domain
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Spatial Climate Analysis
Service PRISM Project
This is a license agreement and not an agreement for sale. This agreement
between the end user (Licensee) and The Climate Source (TCS) grants certain
limited rights to use proprietary climate data (the Database) distributed
by TCS. All rights not specifically granted in this agreement are reserved
to TCS. Licensee acknowledges that the Database may contain some defects,
errors, or inconsistencies. TCS does not warrant that the Database will
meet the needs of the Licensee or that all defects can or will be corrected.
TCS assumes no responsibility for decisions, judgments, or analyses which
are based in any way on the Database.
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: ARC/INFO ASCII Grid; XYZ; custom formats available
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Offline_Option:
Offline_Media: CD ROM
Recording_Format: ISO 9660
Fees: Packaged price per CD
Technical_Prerequisites: CD ROM drive with ISO 9660 software driver