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: vector digital data 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: Online_Linkage: Description: Abstract: This data set 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 . Additional information is available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service web pages at the National Water and Climate Center at or through the National Cartography and Geospatial Center at . Other source PRISM data sets are also available in Arc/INFO coverage and Arc/INFO ASCII GRID formats from the Spatial Climate Analysis Service. See for more information. The source PRISM data is packaged on 3 CD-ROM's covering the Lower 48 United States and is available from NRCS for $50 per CD-ROM. 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 . 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: -124.755791 East_Bounding_Coordinate: -66.954002 North_Bounding_Coordinate: 49.385620 South_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.518322 Keywords: 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: Oregon Postal_Code: 97331-2202 Contact_Voice_Telephone: 541-737-5705 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 541-737-5710 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: oregon@oce.orst.edu Native_Data_Set_Environment: Microsoft Windows 2000 Version 5.0 (Build 2195) Service Pack 4; ESRI ArcCatalog 8.3.0.800 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 . 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 . 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 . 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: 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: 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: G-polygon Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 6243 Spatial_Reference_Information: Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition: Geographic: Latitude_Resolution: 0.000001 Longitude_Resolution: 0.000001 Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees Geodetic_Model: Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1927 Ellipsoid_Name: Clarke 1866 Semi-major_Axis: 6378206.400000 Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 294.978698 Entity_and_Attribute_Information: Detailed_Description: Entity_Type: Entity_Type_Label: prism0p020 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: FID Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number. Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI 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 Unrepresentable_Domain: Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. Attribute: Attribute_Label: Shape Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry. Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.00000 Range_Domain_Maximum: 115.09402 Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features. Attribute: Attribute_Label: AREA Attribute_Definition: The area of the shape in coverage units. 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: PERIMETER Attribute_Definition: The perimeter of the shape in coverage units Attribute_Definition_Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 2 Range_Domain_Maximum: 6244 Attribute: Attribute_Label: PRISM0M020 Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number. Attribute_Definition_Source: Natural Resources Conservation 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 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 Resource_Description: Downloadable Data 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 Transfer_Size: 9.706 Digital_Transfer_Option: Online_Option: Computer_Contact_Information: Network_Address: Network_Resource_Name: 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 . Resource_Description: Downloadable Data 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 Transfer_Size: 9.706 Digital_Transfer_Option: Online_Option: Computer_Contact_Information: Network_Address: Network_Resource_Name: Digital_Transfer_Option: Offline_Option: Offline_Media: CD-ROM Recording_Format: tar Digital_Form: Digital_Transfer_Information: Format_Name: SDTS Transfer_Size: 9.706 Digital_Transfer_Option: Online_Option: Computer_Contact_Information: Network_Address: Network_Resource_Name: Digital_Transfer_Option: Offline_Option: Offline_Media: CD-ROM Recording_Format: tar Fees: There is no charge for the online option. For National Atlas files ordered on CD-ROM there is a base price of $45.00 per disc, a handling fee of $5.00, and a per-file charge based on file size. The charge for files less than 10 megabytes in size is $1.00. The charge for files that range in size from 10 to 150 megabytes is $7.50. The charge for files of 150 megabytes or larger is $15.00. The charge is $1.00 for the United States Average Annual Precipitation, 1961-1990 data set. Ordering_Instructions: To order files on CD-ROM, please see . Metadata_Reference_Information: Metadata_Date: 20041008 Metadata_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Person_Primary: Contact_Person: Peg Rawson Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing address Address: 521 National Center 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_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