Wind Speed for Idaho; Average Monthly (1960-89)

Wind Speed for Idaho; Average Monthly (1960-89)

Frequently-asked questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Wind Speed for Idaho; Average Monthly (1960-89)

Abstract: 
These data are spatially gridded Average Monthly Wind Speeds in Idaho. The coverage was created from data downloaded from the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project (ICBEMP) web site (http://www.icbemp.gov/).

Supplemental information: 
Surface winds were modeled using a single layer, hydrostatic wind model (WINFLO) that was modified and adapted for use in the ICBEMP by the PNW Research Station.  Surface winds were calculated by month from 1960 through 1989. Speed was calculated within 1 meter/second. The layer is accurate within about 3 meters/second. Surface winds are dependent upon underlying topographic, surface pressure, and surface thermal gradients. ICBEMP staff in Portland combined original IFSL grids, based on monthly averages of wind direction over 30 years, into one grid representing wind speed.

Geographic Information System (GIS) data layers or themes were compiled or created in support of the ICBEMP Assessment and the development of the Eastside and Upper Columbia River Basin Environmental Impact Statements. The themes were derived from source maps, photos, or transfer media ranging from 1:12,000 to 1:4,000,000 in scale. Some GIS themes mapped features continuously across the entire project area while others covered discrete areas only (e.g. subsample watershed areas). Major data providers included individual administrative units of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Bureau of Mines, Bonneville Power Administration, universities, state agencies, American Indian tribes, and non-governmental organizations.

The ICBEMP cannot assure the reliability or suitability of this information for a particular purpose.  Original data was compiled from various sources.  Spatial information may not meet National Map Accuracy Standards.  This information may be updated without notification.

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    University of Idaho Library , Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project, 20000512, Wind Speed for Idaho; Average Monthly (1960-89): University of Idaho Library, Moscow, Idaho.

    Online links:
    Other citation details:
    These data were contributed to INSIDE Idaho by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Interior Columbia River Basin Ecosystem Management Project.

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    Bounding coordinates:
    West: -117.61911996
    East: -110.60362727
    North: 49.06837938
    South: 41.86187519

  3. What does it look like?

    http://www.insideidaho.org/data/statewide/icbemp/atlas/wndspd30_id_icbemp.gif (GIF)
    Wind Speed in Idaho for July.

    Thumbnail image:

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning date: 1960
    Ending date: 1989
    Currentness reference: 
    Climatological period from which the point observations were taken.

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial data presentation form: raster digital data

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Raster data set. It contains the following raster data types:
      • Dimensions 86 x 55 x 1, type Grid Cell

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      The map projection used is Transverse Mercator.

      Projection parameters:
      Transverse Mercator
      Scale factor at central meridian: 0.999600
      Longitude of central meridian: -114.000000
      Latitude of projection origin: 42.000000
      False easting: 500000.000000
      False northing: 100000.000000

      Planar coordinates are encoded using Row and Column.
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 9317.005.
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 9317.005.
      Planar coordinates are specified in meters.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1927.
      The ellipsoid used is Clarke 1866.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378206.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/294.9786982.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    wndspd30.vat
    Attributes of the grid coverage (Source: unknown)

    ObjectID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    Value
    Range of values
    Minimum: 1
    Maximum: 1586

    Count
    Range of values
    Minimum: 1
    Maximum: 33

    Windspd30_jan
    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 7

    Windspd30_feb
    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 6

    Windspd30_mar
    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 5

    Windspd30_apr
    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 4

    Windspd30_may
    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 4

    Windspd30_jun
    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 4

    Windspd30_jul
    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 4

    Windspd30_aug
    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 3

    Windspd30_sep
    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 4

    Windspd30_oct
    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 6

    Windspd30_nov
    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 6

    Windspd30_dec
    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 7

    Entity and attribute overview: 
    Aveage Monthly Wind Speeds are depicted as grid cells.  Speeds are calculated within 1 meter per second.
See attribute difinitions here: http://www.icbemp.gov/spatial/metadata/atm/861.htm

    Entity and attribute detail citation: 
    none
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Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

    • University of Idaho Library
    • Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Jim Menakis
    USDA Forest Service
    Intermountain Fire Sciences Lab
5775 Highway 10 West
    Missoula, MT 59807
    USA

    406-329-4958 (voice)
    Email Id: jmenakis/rmrs_missoula@fs.fed.us
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Why was the data set created?

To display Average Monthly Wind Speeds in Idaho.

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How was the data set created?

  1. Where did the data come from?

    IFSL (source 1 of 2)

    USDA Forest Service Intermountain Fire Sciences Lab, Unknown, Intermountain Fire Sciences Lab: Intermountain Fire Sciences Lab, Missoula, MT.

    Type of source media: unknown
    Source contribution: 
    Source system: ARC/INFO; Source scale: 5 minutes; Source projection: Latitude/Longitude.

    ATMWEAAW (source 2 of 2)

    U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Interior Columbia River Basin Ecosystem Management Project, 19970321, Weather - 30 Year Average Winds by Month (Grid): ICBEMP -- Atmospheric861, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, Walla Walla, Washington.

    Type of source media: online
    Source contribution: 
    File Name: BGBWEAAW (Arc/Info grid coverage; cell size: 9317.005 meters); Attribute information is in auxiliary metadata WordPerfect document bgbweaaw.wpd.

Projection: Albers
Datum: NAD27
Units: Meters
Spheriod: CLARKE 1866
1st Standard Parallel: 43 00 00
2nd Standard Parallel: 48 00 00
Central Meridian: -117 00 00
Latitude of Projection's Origin: 41 00 00
False Easting (meters): 700000
False Northing (meters): 0

  2. What changes have been made?

    Date: Unknown (change 1 of 2) 
    Loaded into GRID by using the ASCIIGRID command in ARC/INFO. Projected into ICBEMP Albers using the standard PROJECT command in GRID.

    Person responsible for change:
    Sue Ferguson
    Pacific Northwest Research Station
    unknown
    Seattle, WA unknown
    USA

    unknown (voice)

    Data sources used in this process:
    • IFSL

    Date: 20000512 (change 2 of 2) 
    The grid coverage was imported into ArcInfo.

GRIDASCII was used to create an ASCII file for each of the 12 months.

ASCIIGRID was used to create individual grids for each month in order to project them.

PROJECT was used (Interpolation method: BILINEAR; Out_cellsize: 9317.005) to project each grid from Albers to Idaho Transverse Mercator (IDTM).

A buffer coverage (buffer_distance 6500 meters) of the state boundary coverage was created to use for clipping the grids.

LATTICECLIP was used to clip each projected grid with the state boundary buffer coverage.

The GRID function COMBINE was used to create one grid with 12 attributes.

This metadata file was created in SMMS using metadata downloaded with the original coverage.

    Person responsible for change:
    Lily Wai
    University of Idaho Library
    Head of Government Documents
    University of Idaho Library
    Moscow, ID 83844-2350
    USA

    208-885-6344 (voice)
    208-885-6817 (FAX)
    lwai@uidaho.edu
    Hours of Service: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (Pacific Time), Monday - Friday

    Data sources used in this process:
    • ATMWEAAW

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How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    The layer is accurate within about 3 meters/second

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    Unknown

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    Unkown

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    Unknown

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How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access constraints: none
Use constraints: 
User is responsible for determining appropriate useable scale

Distributor 1 of 1

  1. Who distributes the data set?

    Lily Wai
    University of Idaho Library
    Head of Government Documents
    University of Idaho Library
    Moscow, ID 83844-2350
    USA

    208-885-6344 (voice)
    208-885-6817 (FAX)
    lwai@uidaho.edu
    Hours of Service: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (Pacific Time), Monday - Friday

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    Downloadable Data

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the University of Idaho Library, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

  5. Is there some other way to get the data?

  6. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

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Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 20000512
Last reviewed: 20030708

Metadata author:
Lily Wai
University of Idaho Library
Head of Government Documents
University of Idaho Library
Moscow, ID 83844-2350
USA

208-885-6344 (voice)
208-885-6817 (FAX)
lwai@uidaho.edu
Hours of Service: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (Pacific Time), Monday - Friday

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata(FGDC-STD-001-1998)

Metadata extensions used:
  • http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html

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