Dr. Christopher Daly of the Spatial Climate Analysis Service at Oregon
State University.
Publication_Date: 20020408
Title: Western Canada Average Monthly or Annual Maximum 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 maximum
temperature for the climatological period 1961-90 for the following Canadian
provinces: Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
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
maximum 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 maximum 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. Temperature was
modeled monthly. An annual grid was produced by averaging the monthly
grids. A Gaussian filter was applied to increase the resolution of the
grids from the base resolution 2.5 arc-minutes (~4 km) to 1.25 arc-minutes
(~2 km). This filter is a modification of the Barnes filter (Barnes, 1964),
originally adapted by Dr. Stephen Esbensen of Oregon State University,
and later modified for use here by Wayne P.Gibson, also of Oregon State
University.
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: -142.01041666666
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -87.989583333333
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 72.010416666666
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 46.98958333333
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: raster data
Theme_Keyword: maximum temperature
Theme_Keyword: grid cell
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: Canada
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 maximum temperature originated from the National Climate
Data Archive of Canada, operated and maintained by the Meteorological Service
of Canada, Environment Canada.
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.
Terrain surface input to PRISM model for estimation of maximum 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 maximum 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/>.
Process_Date: 200008
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Raster
Raster_Object_Information:
Raster_Object_Type: Grid Cell
Row_Count: 1201
Column_Count: 2593
Spatial_Reference_Information:
Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
Geographic:
Latitude_Resolution: .0208333333
Longitude_Resolution: .0208333333
Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees
Geodetic_Model:
Horizontal_Datum_Name: World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84)
Ellipsoid_Name: WGS84
Semi-major_Axis: 6378135.0
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.26
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_Label: average maximum temperature grid cell value
Entity_Type_Definition: ASCII values
Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Self-evident
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: average maximum temperature grid cell value
Attribute_Definition: spatially gridded average maximum 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: -265
Range_Domain_Maximum: 322
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: Degrees C times 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