United States Average Monthly or Annual Precipitation, 1971-2000

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Chris Daly, Wayne Gibson, and George Taylor of the Spatial Climate Analysis Service at Oregon State University.

Publication_Date: 200310

Title:

United States Average Monthly or Annual Precipitation, 1971-2000

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: raster digital data

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 precipitation of average monthly and annual precipitation for the climatological period 1971-2000. Distribution of the point measurements to a spatial grid was accomplished using the PRISM model, developed by Chris Daly of SCAS/OSU.

Purpose:

Display and/or analyses requiring spatially distributed monthly or annual precipitation for the climatological period 1971-2000.

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 an underlying grid such as a digital elevation model (DEM) or a 30 yr climatological average (e.g. 1961-1990 average) to generate gridded estimates of monthly and annual precipitation and 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. Grids were modeled on a monthly basis. Annual grids of temperature are produced by averaging the monthly grids, and summed for precipitation. 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: 19710101

Ending_Date: 20001231

Currentness_Reference:

Climatological period from which the point observations were taken.

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -126.010416

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -64.990559

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 50.010662

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.073577

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Theme_Keyword: raster data

Theme_Keyword: precipitation

Theme_Keyword: grid cell

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Place_Keyword: United States, USA

Access_Constraints: Access pursuant to license agreement

Use_Constraints:

Acknowledgement of the following agencies in products derived from these data: Spatial Climate Analysis Service at Oregon State University and Climate Source, Inc.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: George H. Taylor, State Climatologist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address

Address:

Strand Ag Hall 316, Spatial Climate Analysis Service, Oregon State University

City: Corvallis

State_or_Province: OR

Postal_Code: 97331-2209

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (541) 737-5705

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (541) 737-5710

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: taylor@coas.oregonstate.edu

Security_Information:

Security_Classification_System: None

Security_Classification: Unclassified

Security_Handling_Description: None

Native_Data_Set_Environment: SunOS 5.8, UNIX

Data_Quality_Information:

Logical_Consistency_Report:

All data were based on the same averaging period (1971-2000). Similar quality assurance procedures were used with all input data sets.

Completeness_Report:

Point estimates of precipitation originated from the following sources: National Weather Service Cooperative (COOP) stations, and 2) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) SNOTEL. All COOP station data were subjected to quality control checks by the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). All COOP and SNOTEL data were subjected to further quality control checks by the Spatial Climate Analysis Service.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

Accuracy of this data set is based on the original specification of the Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) 1 degree digital elevation models (DEM). The stated accuracy of the original DEMs are 130 m circular error with 90% probability.

Quantitative_Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 130 m with 90% probability.

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: The broad DMA production objective for 1-degree DEM's.

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

Publication_Date: 2003

Title: United States Summary of the Month Cooperative, (DSI-3220)

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Asheville, NC, USA

Publisher: National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

Type_of_Source_Media: digital files

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 19710101

Ending_Date: 20001231

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: DSI3220

Source_Contribution:

Location and values of known average monthly and annual precipitation

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Natural Resources Conservation Service

Publication_Date: 2001

Title: 1971-2000 Hydrologic Averages - Version 1.1

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, Water and Climate Center

Type_of_Source_Media: digital files

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 19710101

Ending_Date: 20001231

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: SNOTELDAY

Source_Contribution:

Location and values of known 30 year average daily precipitation

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Spatial Climate Analysis Service, Oregon State University

Publication_Date: 2003

Title: 1961-1990 United States Average Precipitation

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Corvallis, Oregon

Publisher: Spatial Climate Analysis Service, Oregon State University

Online_Linkage: <URL:http://www.ocs.oregonstate.edu/prism>

Type_of_Source_Media: digital files

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 2003

Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 1961-90AVERAGE

Source_Contribution:

Terrain surface input to PRISM model for estimation of precipitaion between known points.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Spatial Climate Analysis Service, Oregon State University

Publication_Date: 2003

Title:

Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM)

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Corvallis, OR, USA

Publisher: Spatial Climate Analysis Service

Online_Linkage: <http://www.ocs.oregonstate.edu/prism>

Type_of_Source_Media: proprietary software

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 2003

Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: PRISM

Source_Contribution:

PRISM was used to create gridded estimates of precipitation from point observations and an underlying grid (e.g. DEM, 30 year climatological average).

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Publication_Date: 200310

Title: Gaussian Filter

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Corvallis, OR, USA

Publisher: Spatial Climate Analysis Service

Type_of_Source_Media: proprietary software

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 200310

Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: FILTER

Source_Contribution:

The Gaussian filter was used to change the resolution of raster data from 4 km to 2 km. The Gaussian filter was implemented as custom software written in FORTRAN. For information about Gaussian filters see: Barnes, Stanley L., 1964; A Technique for Maximizing Details in Numerical Weather Map Analysis. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 3, 396- 409.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Process 30 year daily averages of SNOTEL data into monthly averages

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: SNOTELDAY

Source_Produced_Citation_Abbreviation: SNOTELMONTH

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Processed 30 years of monthly COOP DSI3220 data into 1971-2000 monthly averages

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: DSI3220

Source_Produced_Citation_Abbreviation: DSIMONTH

Process_Step:

Process_Description: All the station data was combined into one master data set.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: SNOTELMONTH

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: DSIMONTH

Process_Date: 200310

Source_Produced_Citation_Abbreviation: CLIM2000

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Combined station data set CLIM2000 was incorporated into the PRISM model and combined with the climatological grid to produce the initial 4 km-resolution PRISM model output.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: PRISM

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: CLIM2000

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 1961-90AVERAGE

Process_Date: 200310

Source_Produced_Citation_Abbreviation: GRID

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The PRISM model output was converted from 4 km to 2 km using a Gaussian filter.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: FILTER

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: GRID

Process_Date: 200310

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Raster

Raster_Object_Information:

Raster_Object_Type: Grid Cell

Row_Count: 1245

Column_Count: 2929

Vertical_Count: 1

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Geographic:

Latitude_Resolution: .0208333333

Longitude_Resolution: .0208333333

Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees

Planar:

Planar_Coordinate_Information:

Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: row and column

Coordinate_Representation:

Abscissa_Resolution: 0.020833

Ordinate_Resolution: 0.020833

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983

Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80

Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: average precipitation grid cell value

Entity_Type_Definition: ASCII values

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Self-evident

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ObjectID

Attribute_Definition: spatially gridded average precipitation

Attribute_Definition_Source:

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, 22, 99-113, 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: <=-1

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: no data available

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Spatial Climate Analysis Service PRISM Project

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Attribute_Units_of_Measure: mm

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Person: Climate Source, Inc.

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address

Address: 946 NW Circle Blvd. #222

City: Corvallis

State_or_Province: OR

Postal_Code: 97330-1410

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 541-231-3436

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: info@climatesource.com

Distribution_Liability:

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

Transfer_Size: 1.523

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Offline_Option:

Offline_Media: CD ROM

Recording_Format: ISO 9660

Fees: Based on states and/or regions ordered

Technical_Prerequisites: CD ROM drive with ISO 9660 software driver

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20031016

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Wayne Gibson

Contact_Organization:

Spatial Climate Analysis Service, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address

Address: Strand Agriculture Hall Rm 320

City: Corvallis

State_or_Province: OR

Postal_Code: 97331

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 541-737-5696

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Time_Convention: local time

Metadata_Security_Information:

Metadata_Security_Classification_System: None

Metadata_Security_Classification: Unclassified

Metadata_Security_Handling_Description: None

Metadata_Extensions:

Online_Linkage: <http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html>

Profile_Name: ESRI Metadata Profile