Metadata for Montana Average Annual Precipitation, 1961-1990

Identification Information
Data Quality Information
Spatial Data Organization Information
Spatial Reference Information
Entity and Attribute Information
Distribution Information
Metadata Reference Information

Identification Information:

Citation:

Originator:: Chris Daly of Oregon State University and George Taylor of the Oregon Climate Service at Oregon State University
Publication date: 04/1998
Title: Montana Average Annual Precipitation, 1961-1990
Online linkage: http://nris.mt.gov/nsdi/nris/e00/precip.zip
Online linkage: http://nris.mt.gov/nsdi/nris/shape/precip.zip

Browse graphic file name: http://nris.mt.gov/nsdi/nris/precip.gif

Abstract:

This data contains vector and polygon coverages of average monthly and annual precipitation for the climatological period 1961-90. 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. Detailed descriptions of the PRISM raster data can be found with the accompanying raster data sets. For further information, the online PRISM homepage can be found at <URL:http://www.ocs.orst.edu/prism/prism_new.html>.

Purpose:

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

Time period of content:

Beginning date: 01/01/1961
Ending date: 12/31/1990
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.

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:

Oregon Climate Service at Oregon State University
Strand Ag Hall 326, Oregon Climate Service, Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331-2209
Telephone: 541) 737-5705
Fax: (541) 737-5710
E-Mail: oregon@oce.orst.edu

Security information:

Security classification system: none
Security classification: Unclassified
Security handling description: none

Data Quality Information:

Logical consistency report:

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

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).

Lineage:

Source 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

Source information:

Originator: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Publication date: 1991
Title:: Cooperative Snow Survey Data of Federal - State - Private Cooperative Snow Surveys
Source contribution:: Location and values of known average monthly and annual precipitation
Beginning date: 1961
Ending date: 1990

Source information:

Originator:: Natural Resources Conservation Service, Water and Climate Center
Publication date: Unpublished Material
Title: Local Precipitation monitoring networks
Beginning date: 1961
Ending date: 1990

Source information:

Originator: Defense Mapping Agency
Publication date: 1985
Title:: 1:250,000-scale Digital Elevation Models (DEM) also known as 1-Degree DEM's
Source contribution:: Terrain surface input to PRISM model for estimation of precipitaion between known points.
Calendar date: 1985

Process step:

Filter raster data from a resolution of 4 km to 2 km using a Gaussian filter


Process date: 04/1998

Process step: Contour 2 km raster data


Process date: 04/1998

Process step:

Convert adjacent contour lines to areas or polygons using custom software


Process date: 04/1998

Spatial Data Organization Information:

Point and vector object information:

SDTS object type: Complete chain

SDTS object count: 5310

SDTS object type: Label point

SDTS object count: 3474

SDTS object type: GT-polygon composed of chains

SDTS object count: 3474

SDTS object type: Point

SDTS object count: 4

Spatial Reference Information:

Horizontal coordinate system definition:

Grid coordinate system name: State Plane Coordinate System

SPCS zone identifier: 2500

Lambert conformal conic:

Standard parallel: 45.000000
Standard parallel: 49.000000
Longitude of central meridian: -109.500000
Latitude of projection origin: 44.250000
False easting: 600000.000000
False northing: 0.000000

Planar distance units: meters

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:

Entity type label: precip.aat

Attribute label: FID

Attribute definition: Internal feature number.

Attribute label: Shape

Attribute definition: Feature geometry.

Attribute label: FNODE#

Attribute definition:: Internal node number for the beginning of an arc (from-node).

Attribute label: TNODE#

Attribute definition: Internal node number for the end of an arc (to-node).

Attribute label: LPOLY#

Attribute definition: Internal node number for the left polygon.

Attribute label: RPOLY#

Attribute definition: Internal node number for the right polygon.

Attribute label: LENGTH

Attribute definition: Length of feature in meters.

Attribute label: PRECIP#

Attribute definition: Internal feature number.

Attribute label: PRECIP-ID

Attribute definition: User-defined feature number.

Attribute label: CONTOUR

Attribute definition: Average annual precipitation, inches

Attribute label: TEXT

Attribute definition: Average annual precipitation, inches

Attribute label: CONTOUR_TXT

Attribute definition: Average annual precipitation, inches

Entity type label: precip.pat

Entity type definition:

Polygons representing an area with a fixed value of precipitation. The precipitation value is stored as the item RANGE in the attribute table.

Attribute label: FID

Attribute definition: Internal feature number.

Attribute label: Shape

Attribute definition: Feature geometry.

Attribute label: AREA

Attribute definition: Area of feature in internal square meters.

Attribute label: PERIMETER

Attribute definition: Perimeter of feature in meters.

Attribute label: PRECIP#

Attribute definition: Internal feature number

Attribute label: PRECIP-ID

Attribute definition: User-defined feature number.

Attribute label: RANGE

Attribute definition:: Precipitation value, in inches, from the Oregon Climate Service

Attribute label: LEGEND

Attribute definition: Bounding precipitation values in inches.

Distribution Information:

Distributor:

Montana State Library
PO Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620-1800
Telephone: 406-444-6910
E-Mail: nris@mt.gov

Distribution liability:

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:

Format name: Arc Export
Online option:

Digital form:

Format name: ESRI Shape file
Online option:

Fees: none

Technical prerequisites:

Geographic data are intended for use in a Geographic Information System (GIS).

Metadata Reference Information:

Metadata date: 04/23/1998

Metadata contact:

Tye Parzybok
Oregon Climate Service
Strand Ag Hall 326, Oregon Climate Service, Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331-2209
Telephone: (541) 737-5705
Fax: (541) 737-5710
E-Mail: parzy@oce.orst.edu

Metadata security information:

Metadata security classification system: none
Metadata security classification: Unclassified
Metadata security handling description: none