United States Average Annual Precipitation, 1961-1990

Metadata:

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

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Chris Daly, Spatial Climate Analysis Service

Originator:

George Taylor, the Oregon Climate Service at Oregon State University

Publication_Date: 200009

Title: United States Average Annual Precipitation, 1961-1990

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Map

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Corvallis, OR, USA

Publisher:

Spatial Climate Analysis Service, Oregon State University; USDA - NRCS National Water and Climate Center, Portland, Oregon; USDA - NRCS National Cartography and Geospatial Center, Fort Worth, Texas

Online_Linkage:

<http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html?openChapters=chpclim#chpclim>

Online_Linkage:

<http://www.ncgc.nrcs.usda.gov/products/datasets/climate/data/index.html>

Description:

Abstract:

This map layer shows polygons of average annual precipitation in the contiguous United States, for the climatological period 1961-1990. Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) derived raster data is the underlying data set from which the polygons and vectors were created. PRISM is an analytical model that uses point data and a digital elevation model (DEM) to generate gridded estimates of annual, monthly and event-based climatic parameters.

Purpose:

These data are intended for geographic display and analysis at the national level, and for large regional areas. The data should be displayed and analyzed at scales appropriate for 1:2,000,000-scale data. No responsibility is assumed by the Spatial Climate Analysis Service, the USDA - NRCS National Water and Climate Center, the USDA - NRCS National Cartography and Geospatial Center, or the U.S. Geological Survey in the use of these data.

Supplemental_Information:

There are many methods of interpolating precipitation 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 precipitation 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 precipitation (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 precipitation in such regions.

Detailed descriptions of the PRISM raster data can be found on the Oregon State University PRISM web page at <http://www.ocs.orst.edu/prism/>. Additional information is available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service web pages at the National Water and Climate Center at <http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/climate/prism.html> or through the National Cartography and Geospatial Center at <http://www.ncgc.nrcs.usda.gov/products/datasets/climate/>.

Other source PRISM data sets are also available in Arc/INFO ASCII GRID format from the Spatial Climate Analysis Service. See <http://www.ocs.orst.edu/prism/products/> for more information.

NRCS offers the source PRISM data packaged on 3 CD-ROM's covering the Lower 48 United States. The CD-ROM's are available as a set for $150.00. The 48 States are broken into three regions: East, Central and West. Each CD contains the annual and monthly precipitation coverages, as well as the gridded data. The CD-ROM's may be ordered through <http://www.ncgc.nrcs.usda.gov/products/datasets/climate/data/precipitation>- order.html>.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 19610101

Ending_Date: 19901231

Currentness_Reference: Ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency:

No updates are planned for the 1961-1990 climatological period. However, a similar data set will probably be produced in 2001 for the 1971-2000 climatological period.

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -124.762142

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -66.957227

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 49.371731

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.545220

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category

Theme_Keyword: environment

Theme_Keyword: geoscientificInformation

Theme_Keyword: inlandWaters

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Theme_Keyword: Precipitation

Theme_Keyword: Rainfall

Theme_Keyword: Climate

Theme_Keyword: PRISM

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Place_Keyword: United States

Place_Keyword: Alabama

Place_Keyword: Arizona

Place_Keyword: Arkansas

Place_Keyword: California

Place_Keyword: Colorado

Place_Keyword: Connecticut

Place_Keyword: Delaware

Place_Keyword: District of Columbia

Place_Keyword: Florida

Place_Keyword: Georgia

Place_Keyword: Idaho

Place_Keyword: Illinois

Place_Keyword: Indiana

Place_Keyword: Iowa

Place_Keyword: Kansas

Place_Keyword: Kentucky

Place_Keyword: Louisiana

Place_Keyword: Maine

Place_Keyword: Maryland

Place_Keyword: Massachusetts

Place_Keyword: Michigan

Place_Keyword: Minnesota

Place_Keyword: Mississippi

Place_Keyword: Missouri

Place_Keyword: Montana

Place_Keyword: Nebraska

Place_Keyword: Nevada

Place_Keyword: New Hampshire

Place_Keyword: New Jersey

Place_Keyword: New Mexico

Place_Keyword: New York

Place_Keyword: North Carolina

Place_Keyword: North Dakota

Place_Keyword: Ohio

Place_Keyword: Oklahoma

Place_Keyword: Oregon

Place_Keyword: Pennsylvania

Place_Keyword: Rhode Island

Place_Keyword: South Carolina

Place_Keyword: South Dakota

Place_Keyword: Tennessee

Place_Keyword: Texas

Place_Keyword: Utah

Place_Keyword: Vermont

Place_Keyword: Virginia

Place_Keyword: Washington

Place_Keyword: West Virginia

Place_Keyword: Wisconsin

Place_Keyword: Wyoming

Access_Constraints: None.

Use_Constraints:

None. Acknowledgement of the PRISM model, the Spatial Climate Analysis Service at Oregon State University, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Water and Climate Center, the NRCS National Cartography and Geospatial Center (NCGC), and (or) the National Atlas of the United States would be appreciated in products derived from these data.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: Spatial Climate Analysis Service

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and physical address

Address: 316 Strand Agricultural Hall, Oregon State University

City: Corvallis

State_or_Province: OR

Postal_Code: 97331-2202

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 541-737-2531

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 541-737-5710

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: daly@coas.oregonstate.edu

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Windows NT Version 4.0 (Build 1381) Service Pack 4; ESRI Arc/INFO 8.0.345

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

Point estimates of precipitation from the U.S. National 1961-1990 Climate Normals were subjected to manual quality control checks by the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). PRISM precipitation estimates were reviewed by the PRISM Evaluation Group, a panel of climatologists, meteorologists, and hydrologists. The task of this group was to assess the assumptions made by the model and compare model output with the best available precipitation maps from several western States. The group found that the PRISM maps equaled or exceeded the accuracy of the best maps available.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Precipitation data were derived from two main sources, NCDC Climate Normals and NRCS Cooperative Snow Survey Data (SNOTEL). In general, NCDC stations are located at low elevations and in valley bottoms, and encompass the entire United States. SNOTEL stations are located primarily at high elevations in the western United States.

Polygon and chain-node topology are present. Checks were made to ensure that no two adjacent polygons are labeled with the same precipitation value. A manual spot check was made of peaks, depressions, and islands.

Completeness_Report:

This data set includes observations and interpolated values for the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia, for the climatological period 1961-1990. This data set is a compilation of the best available data from the various data sources.

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Spatial Climate Analysis Service, Oregon State University

Publication_Date: 1998

Title:

Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM)

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:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 1994

Ending_Date: 1998

Source_Currentness_Reference: Publication date

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: PRISM

Source_Contribution:

PRISM was used to create gridded estimates of precipitation from point observations and digital elevation model data. For a more detailed description of the PRISM process, see: 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, <http://www.ocs.orst.edu/pub/prism/docs/climres02-kb_approach>_ statistical_mapping-daly.pdf>.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Spatial Climate Analysis Service, Oregon State University

Publication_Date: 1998

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:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 1994

Ending_Date: 1998

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.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

Publication_Date: 1991

Title:

U.S. National 1961-1990 Climate Normals, Climatography of the United States No. 81 - Monthly Normals

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Asheville, NC, USA

Publisher: National Climatic Data Center

Other_Citation_Details:

For more information on this source, please see <http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/normals/usnormalshist.html#clim81>.

Type_of_Source_Media: Online database

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 annual precipitation.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Publication_Date: 1991

Title:

Cooperative Snow Survey Data of Federal-State-Private Cooperative Snow Surveys (SNOTEL)

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

Other_Citation_Details:

For more information on this source, please see <http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/>.

Type_of_Source_Media: Database, paper, and 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

Source_Contribution:

Location and values of known average monthly and annual precipitation.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Water and Climate Center

Publication_Date: Unpublished material

Title: Local precipitation 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 annual precipitation.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Defense Mapping Agency

Publication_Date: 1985

Title: 1:250,000-scale Digital Elevation Models (DEM)

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Washington, DC

Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Online_Linkage: <http://edc.usgs.gov/geodata/>

Type_of_Source_Media: Digital files

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 1985

Source_Currentness_Reference: Publication date

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: DEM

Source_Contribution:

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

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: U.S. Geological Survey

Publication_Date: 1999

Title: State Boundaries of the United States

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA

Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Online_Linkage:

<http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html?openChapters=chpbound#chpbound>

Type_of_Source_Media: Online

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 1999

Source_Currentness_Reference: Publication date

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Atlas-ST

Source_Contribution:

This file was used to determine the boundary of the data included.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The DEM resolution was changed to 4 km using the Gaussian filter.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: DEM

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: FILTER

Process_Date: 199804

Process_Step:

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

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: CLIM81

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: SNOTEL

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: LOCAL

Process_Date: 199804

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Data from CLIM81, SNOTEL, and LOCAL were incorporated into the PRISM model and combined with the DEM to produce the initial 4 km-resolution PRISM model output.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: PRISM

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: DEM

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: CLIM81

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: SNOTEL

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: LOCAL

Process_Date: 199804

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

Process_Date: 199804

Process_Step:

Process_Description: The 2 km raster data was contoured using Arc/INFO.

Process_Date: 199804

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Adjacent isohyets were converted to areas or polygons using a custom- designed macro (AML) in Arc/INFO.

Process_Date: 199804

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The coverage was created by the Spatial Climate Analysis Service using custom software. The Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Cartography and Geospatial Center edited the file in Arc/INFO to match the coastlines and boundaries (Atlas-ST) from the National Atlas of the United States. The data were converted to shapefile format for inclusion in the National Atlas of the United States.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: Atlas-ST

Process_Date: 200002

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: GT-polygon composed of chains

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 6243

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Geographic:

Latitude_Resolution: 0.02083333

Longitude_Resolution: 0.02083333

Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983

Ellipsoid_Name: GRS1980

Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label:

Area of equal average annual precipitation (described by prismp020.dbf)

Entity_Type_Definition:

Each polygon represents an area with a constant value for the average annual precipitation, as determined by the PRISM model.

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Spatial Climate Analysis Service PRISM Project

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Shape

Attribute_Definition: The representation of the entity in the data.

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Polygon

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: A 2-dimensional element.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: ESRI GIS software

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Area

Attribute_Definition:

The size of the shape in square coverage units. In the distributed file, coverage units represent square decimal degrees.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.00000

Range_Domain_Maximum: 115.09402

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Perimeter

Attribute_Definition:

The perimeter of the shape in coverage units. In the distributed file, coverage units represent decimal degrees.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.00647

Range_Domain_Maximum: 874.33448

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Prism0p020

Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 2

Range_Domain_Maximum: 6244

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Range

Attribute_Definition: The average annual precipitation.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Spatial Climate Analysis Service

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.000

Range_Domain_Maximum: 200.000

Attribute_Units_of_Measure: Inches

Attribute_Measurement_Resolution: 2.5

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: USDA - NRCS National Cartography and Geospatial Center

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and physical address

Address: 501 W Felix, PO Box 6567

City: Ft. Worth

State_or_Province: TX

Postal_Code: 76115

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 817-509-3366

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: snechero@ftw.nrcs.usda.gov

Distribution_Liability:

These spatial datasets, associated metadata and documentation are provided at media cost, without restriction or restraint of use, from the USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Spatial Climate Analysis Service. The project was directed and sponsored by the NRCS National Water and Climate Center in Portland, Oregon. None of the agencies involved, nor any of their employees, make any warranty, expressed or implied, or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or misuse of the data, nor represent that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. The agencies involved are not responsible for damage, transmission of viruses, or computer contamination through the distribution of this data set. Neither do they assume any responsibility for the usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed in this metadata. Reference in this metadata to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government, the State of Oregon, or any agency thereof. Any views and opinions of authors expressed in this metadata do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government, the State of Oregon, or any agency thereof.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: ESRI Shapefile

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

<http://www.ncgc.nrcs.usda.gov/products/datasets/climate/data/index.html>

Fees: None

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: Earth Science Information Center, U.S. Geological Survey

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing address

Address: 507 National Center

City: Reston

State_or_Province: VA

Postal_Code: 20192

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747)

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 703-648-5920

Contact_Instructions:

In addition to the address above there are other ESIC offices throughout the country. A full list of these offices is at <http://ask.usgs.gov/esic_index.html>.

Distribution_Liability:

Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made by the U.S. Geological Survey regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. No responsibility is assumed by the U.S. Geological Survey in the use of these data.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: ESRI Shapefile

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

<http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html?openChapters=chpclim#chpclim>

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: SDTS

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

<http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html?openChapters=chpclim#chpclim>

Fees:

There is no charge for the map layer.

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20060607

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Peg Rawson

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing address

Address: 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive

Address: MS 561

City: Reston

State_or_Province: VA

Postal_Code: 20192

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 703-648-4183

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: atlasmail@usgs.gov

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Security_Information:

Metadata_Security_Classification_System: None

Metadata_Security_Classification: Unclassified

Metadata_Security_Handling_Description: None