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faq

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Importing Climate Source Data

Any GIS software capable of reading ArcInfo ASCII GRID format can import Climate Source climate data sets. The links below are guides to help you in importing Climate Source data into popular GIS packages.

ESRI ArcGIS using ArcMap/ArcToolbox
ESRI ArcView
ESRI ARCINFO
GEOMEDIA

General

What is the relationship between the Climate Source and OSU The PRISM Group?

Can I get new PRISM products elsewhere on the Web?

Why can't I just download the data instead of waiting for a CD-ROM to be mailed?

Quality of the Data Sets

What is so special about PRISM spatial climate data sets?

How do the enhanced Climate Source 2-km grids compare to the original 4-km grids?

Licensing Issues

What am I buying when I purchase a Climate Source data set?

Do I have to buy a special license if more than one user will have access to the data?

How do I determine the number of users I will have?

Can I create my own products from the Climate Source data?

Can I license others to use a Climate Source data set by passing on the CD or data set to them?

Can I post any of my Climate Source data sets on an FTP, Web site, or peer-to-peer file sharing service?

Future Products

What new climate data sets can I expect to see in the future at the Climate Source?

Are there plans to offer other data formats besides grids, such as polygons and shape files?

Can I get data for individual months instead of monthly normals?

answers

General

Q: What is the relationship between the Climate Source and The PRISM Group at Oregon State University?

A: Many enhanced climate data sets produced by SCAS PRISM climate mapping program are licensed by Oregon State University to the Climate Source for distribution to the public. The Climate Source is staffed with knowledgeable scientists and GIS experts, most of whom are involved in the creation of the climate maps. The Climate Source is the exclusive outlet for licensed PRISM climate data sets.

Q: Can I get any of the other new, enhanced PRISM products elsewhere on the Web?

A: No. You will not find these new PRISM climate products anywhere else on the Web. The Climate Source is the only place to buy these data sets.

Q: Why can't I just download the data instead of waiting for a CD-ROM to be mailed?

A: We now offer Digital Delivery options on all our 2km data sets. In some case, we can even deliver 400 meter data sets. Our sales department will contact you if this an option after your purchase of a 400 meter data set.

Quality of the Data Sets

Q: What is so special about PRISM spatial climate data sets?

A: PRISM climate data sets are unique. Unlike many GIS data sets offered on the Web, PRISM data are not simply repackaged versions of publically available data. They are the result of many years of research and development at the Spatial Climate Analysis Service, Oregon State University. All PRISM data sets are the most accurate and comprehensive available anywhere in the world. We will not create a spatial climate product unless we know it will be superior to any competing product.

Q: How do the new Climate Source 2-km enhanced resolution climate grids compare to the old 4-km grids?

A: The increased spatial precision is quite noticeable. Click here to see a comparison between 2- and 4-km versions of mean annual precipitation in central Idaho.

Licensing Issues

Q: What am I buying when I purchase a Climate Source data set?

A: You are not buying the data set, but rather a license to use the data in your work. The sale gives you certain limited rights to use Climate Source proprietary, copyrighted, climate data and accompanying documentation.

Q: Do I have to buy a special license if more than one user will have access to the data?

A: Yes. This is called a multi-user license. They are usually offered at a discounted price per user.

Q: How do I determine the number of users I will have?

A: The number of users is defined as the number of seats associated with computers or terminals or other workstations that are networked, connected to, or otherwise have access to the storage device(s) on which the Climate Source data reside, and from which there is a reasonable expectation that the data will be accessed. The number of users allowed to access the data may not exceed twenty (20) users in total per multi-user license. Additional licenses may be purchased to accommodate additional users.

Q: Can I create my own products from the Climate Source data?

Q: Yes, you may create new data sets from Climate Source data, as long as they are solely for internal use. In addition, you may derive noncommercial products from the data in hard-copy and in static, electronic (i.e., .gif, .jpeg, etc.) formats for use with the Internet, provided that the following notice is displayed in a clearly viewable manner on the product: “This product contains data from The Climate Source and is used herein by permission. Copyright © 200_ The Climate Source, www.climatesource.com. All Rights Reserved.” Arrangements for commercial licensing must be made directly with us. This includes hard copy products or graphics files that are used for commercial purposes, resold directly, or packaged or bundled with another product for resale using the data as part of the product. Write to us at sales(AT)climatesource(DOT)com if you want to do this.

Q: Can I license others to use a Climate Source data set by passing on the CD or data set to them? After all, I've already paid, and I don't intend to use the data again.

A: No, the license is yours only. You cannot not sell, rent, lease, sublicense, lend, assign, time-share, or transfer, in whole or in part, or provide unlicensed third parties access to the data, documentation, and any updates to the data.

Q: Can I post any of my Climate Source data sets on an FTP, Web site, or peer-to-peer file sharing service, provided they are secure from users outside my organization?

A: No. The data must be on a secure, internal computer system that serves your physical site only.

Future Products

Q: What new climate data sets can I expect to see in the future at the Climate Source?

A: We anticipate offering improved, higher-resolution PRISM data data sets for minimum and maximum temperature and precipitation in 2006. As always, they will be the most detailed and accurate data sets available.

Q: I would like to use polygon or shape file format data, not grids. Are there plans to offer these types of data sets?

A: For the moment, the format is a grid, but other formats may be added later.  Our first priority is to make data sets available for as many regions as possible in the native grid format, then revisit them and offer additional formats.

Q: Can I get data for individual months instead of monthly normals?

A: Yes. Climate Source now offers over 111 years (beginning in 1895) of PRISM monthly gridded minimum and maximum temperature and precipitation data for the lower 48 states. Call us for details.