Nebraska Average Monthly or Annual Precipitation, 1961-90

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 of Oregon State University and George Taylor of the Oregon Climate Service at Oregon State University

Publication_Date: 199804

Title: Nebraska Average Monthly or Annual Precipitation, 1961-90

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Portland, Oregon, USA

Publisher:

Water and Climate Center of the Natural Resources Conservation Service

Description:

Abstract:

This ftp site contains spatially gridded precipitation of average monthly and annual precipitation for the climatological period 1961-90. Distribution of the point measurements to a spatial grid was accomplished using the PRISM model, developed by Chris Daly of PRISM Services/Oregon State University. Care should be taken in estimating precipitation values at any single point on the map. Precipitation estimated for each grid cell is an average over the entire area of that cell; thus, point precipitation can be estimated at a spatial precision no better than half the resolution of a cell. For example, the Oregon precipitation data was distributed at a resolution of approximately 4km. Therefore, point precipitation can be estimated at a spatial precision no better than 2km. However, the overall distribution of precipitation features is thought to be accurate. For further information, the online PRISM homepage can be found at http://www.ocs.orst.edu/prism/.

Purpose:

Display and/or analyses requiring spatially distributed monthly or annual precipitation for the climatological period 1961-90.

Supplemental_Information:

This data set was re-projected to Stateplane, NAD83, fipszone 2600 for use in the Platte River Cooperative Hydrology Study using the ARCINFO PROJECT command. 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 orographic precipitation.

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. However, this data set will most likely be updated in 2001 for the new 1971-2000 climatological period.

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -104.895833333333

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -94.812500000000

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 43.479166666667

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 39.229166666667

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Theme_Keyword: raster data

Theme_Keyword: precipitation

Theme_Keyword: grid cell

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Place_Keyword: Nebraska, USA

Access_Constraints:

n/a, no restrictions apply

Use_Constraints:

Acknowledgement of the following agencies in products derived from these data: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Water and Climate Center, NRCS National Cartography and Geospatial Center (NCGC), PRISM Model, and the Oregon Climate Service at Oregon State University.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Oregon Climate Service at Oregon State University

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address

Address:

Strand Ag Hall 326, Oregon Climate 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: oregon@oce.orst.edu

Security_Information:

Security_Classification_System: None

Security_Classification: Unclassified

Security_Handling_Description: None

Native_Data_Set_Environment: SunOS, 5.5.1, sun4m UNIX

Data_Quality_Information:

Logical_Consistency_Report:

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 precipitation originated from the following sources: National Weather Service Cooperative (COOP) stations, 2) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) SNOTEL, 3) local networks. All COOP station data were subjected to quality control checks by the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC).

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: 1991

Title:

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

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: 19610101

Ending_Date: 19901231

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: CLIM81

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: 1991

Title:

Cooperative Snow Survey Data of Federal - State - Private Cooperative Snow Surveys

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, paper reports, 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 (SNOwpack TELemetry)

Source_Contribution:

Location and values of known average monthly and annual precipitation

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Natural Resources Conservation Service, 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 monthly and annual precipitation

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Defense Mapping Agency

Publication_Date: 1985

Title:

1:250,000-scale Digital Elevation Models (DEM) also known as 1-Degree DEM's

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

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Washington, DC

Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

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 PRISM model for estimation of precipitaion between known points.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

It is beyond the scope of this metadata to document the processes involved in generating spatially gridded precipitation using the PRISM model. However, the processes are documented in numerous conference proceedings and journal articles. The references can be found online at http://www.ocs.orst.edu/prism/.

Process_Date: 199804

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Oregon Climate Service

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address

Address: 316 Strand Agricultural Hall

City: Corvallis

State_or_Province: OR

Postal_Code: 97331

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (541) 737-5705

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (541) 737-5710

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: oregon@oce.orst.edu

Distribution_Liability:

This ftp site was prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, make any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or misuse of the data, or for damage, transmission of viruses or computer contamination through the distribution of these data sets or for the usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed in this report, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference therein 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 or any agency thereof. Any views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: ARC/INFO ASCII Grid

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address: :http://www.ocs.orst.edu/prism/

Fees: none

Technical_Prerequisites:

Geographic data are intended for use in a Geographic Information System (GIS). In addition, this publication contains menu and display programs that operate 16 Mb RAM (absolute minimum), CD-ROM drive with ISO 9660 software driver, Graphics card (640x480 pixels with 256 colors, prefer 1024x1024 with 65,535 colors), Color monitor, mouse, and keyboard.