Precipitation for Idaho; Mean Annual (1961-90)

Frequently-asked questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. Where did the data come from?
  2. What changes have been made?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
  6. Is there some other way to get the data?
  7. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
• Who wrote the metadata?

These data represent mean annual precipitation (in inches) for Idaho for the climatological period 1961-90.  Average annual precipitation is the average of the annual amount of precipitation for a location over a year.  Data used to delineate these boundaries are from Idaho weather stations (1961-90).

Printed map is available at the University of Idaho Moscow Libarary Map Room.  See the following link for more information:  http://uidaho.worldcat.org/oclc/18996905

1. How should this data set be cited?
   
   
   Idaho State Climate Services, 20000307, Precipitation for Idaho; Mean Annual (1961-90): Idaho State Climate Services, Moscow, ID, USA.
   
   
   Online links:

   • http://data.insideidaho.org/util/zip.ashx?fn=http://data.insideidaho.org/data/ICS/downdata/ppt_id_ics.zip

   
   
2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
   
   
   Bounding coordinates:

   West: -117.531769

   East: -110.655440

   North: 49.039293

   South: 41.946096
   
   
3. What does it look like?
   
   
   Thumbnail image:
   
   
   
4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
   
   
   Beginning date: 1961

   Ending date: 1990
   Currentness reference:

   Climatological period

   
   
5. What is the general form of this data set?
   
   
   Geospatial data presentation form: vector digital data
   
   
6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   
   
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      
      
      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • G-polygon (313)
      
      
   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: 2500000.000000

      False northing: 1200000.000000

      
      

      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair.

      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000000.

      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000000.

      Planar coordinates are specified in meters.

      
      

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.

      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.

      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.

      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222.

      
      
7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
   
   
   ppt_id_ics.dbf

   Attributes of the precipitation zones. (Source: University of Idaho Library)

   
   

   FID

   Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)
                     

   
   

   Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

   
   

   Shape

   Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)
                     

   
   

   Coordinates defining the features.

   
   

   ISO_VAL

   The isoline values for mean annual precipitation. This value represents the lower number in the range of values that may be present within the polygon. For instance: the value of a polygon bounded by 20" and 25" isolines will be 20. The exception to this rule is in depressions, where the lower range might not be achieved. (Source: Idaho State Climate Services)
                     

   
   

   Range of values
   Minimum:	5
   Maximum:	80
   Units:	inches

   
   

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   
   
   • Idaho State Climate Services
   
   
2. Who also contributed to the data set?
   
   

   Idaho State Climate Services -- Myron Molnau

   
   
3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   
   
   Idaho State Climate Services

   Department of Biological and Agriclutural Engineering

   University of Idaho

   EP425

   Moscow, Idaho 83844-0904

   USA

   
   

   208-885-7004 (voice)

   208-885-7908 (FAX)

   climate@uidaho.edu

   Hours of Service: 0900-1700 Pacific Time

These data are intended to serve as a reference for mean annual precipitation for Idaho. No responsibility is assumed by Idaho State Climate Services in the use of these data.

1. Where did the data come from?
   
   
   WSTNS (source 1 of 3)

   
   

   Idaho State Climate Services, Unknown, Idaho Weather Stations.

   
   

   Type of source media: online

   Source contribution:

   Idaho weather stations

   
   
   DRG (source 2 of 3)

   
   

   U.S. Geological Survey, Unknown, 1:250,000 scale quadrangle maps: USGS, Reston, Virginia.

   
   

   Online links:

   • http://mcmcweb.er.usgs.gov/drg/

   
   

   Type of source media: paper

   Source scale denominator: 250000

   Source contribution:

   1:250000-scale DRG's

   
   
   PPT_ICS (source 3 of 3)

   
   

   Idaho State Climate Services -- Myron Molnau, 199403, Mean Annual Precipitation in Idaho: University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho.

   
   

   Online links:

   • ftp://ftp.uidaho.edu/pub/gis/idaho/

   
   

   Other citation details:

   Additional information can be found at: http://www.uidaho.edu/~climate

   
   

   Type of source media: online

   Source scale denominator: 250000

   Source contribution:

   File name: precip.e00.Z; Source projection: Lambert (Arc/Info polygon coverage).  Metadata created on 2/16/94 and reviewed on 3/3/94.

   
   
2. What changes have been made?
   
   
   Date: 1992-1993 (change 1 of 8)

   Original design and implementation on mylar sheets.

   
   

   Person responsible for change:
   

   Idaho State Climate Services

   Department of Biological and Agriclutural Engineering

   University of Idaho

   EP425

   Moscow, Idaho 83844-0904

   
   

   208-885-7004 (voice)

   208-885-7908 (FAX)

   climate@uidaho.edu

   Hours of Service: 0900-1700 Pacific Time

   
   
   Date: 1993 (change 2 of 8)

   Mylar sheets digitized, PC ARC/INFO.

   
   

   Person responsible for change:
   

   Idaho State Climate Services

   Department of Biological and Agriclutural Engineering

   University of Idaho

   EP425

   Moscow, Idaho 83844-0904

   
   

   208-885-7004 (voice)

   208-885-7908 (FAX)

   climate@uidaho.edu

   Hours of Service: 0900-1700 Pacific Time

   
   
   Date: 19940216 (change 3 of 8)

   Removed extraneous label points and rebuilt coverage.  Tolerances:  Fuzzy = 78.475, Dangle = 0.1

   
   

   Person responsible for change:
   

   Idaho State Climate Services

   Department of Biological and Agriclutural Engineering

   University of Idaho

   EP425

   Moscow, Idaho 83844-0904

   
   

   208-885-7004 (voice)

   208-885-7908 (FAX)

   climate@uidaho.edu

   Hours of Service: 0900-1700 Pacific Time

   
   
   Date: 19940217 (change 4 of 8)

   Added iso_val item to the arc and polygon attribute tables to hold data.

   
   

   Person responsible for change:
   

   Idaho State Climate Services

   Department of Biological and Agriclutural Engineering

   University of Idaho

   EP425

   Moscow, Idaho 83844-0904

   
   

   208-885-7004 (voice)

   208-885-7908 (FAX)

   climate@uidaho.edu

   Hours of Service: 0900-1700 Pacific Time

   
   
   Date: 19940228 (change 5 of 8)

   Made several corrections to the line file, (errors), corrected several mis-labeled polygon iso_val range values, rebuilt coverage to above specs.

   
   

   Person responsible for change:
   

   Idaho State Climate Services

   Department of Biological and Agriclutural Engineering

   University of Idaho

   EP425

   Moscow, Idaho 83844-0904

   
   

   208-885-7004 (voice)

   208-885-7908 (FAX)

   climate@uidaho.edu

   Hours of Service: 0900-1700 Pacific Time

   
   
   Date: 19950407 (change 6 of 8)

   Coverage was projected from Lambert to Idaho Transverse Mercator.

   
   
   Date: 20000223 (change 7 of 8)

   The polygon coverage converted to a shapefile. This metadata recored was created using a hardcopy of the IGIAC metadata form (v3.0) produced by Idaho State Climate Service.

   
   

   Person responsible for change:
   

   Bruce Godfrey

   University of Idaho Library

   GIS Specialist

   Box 442350

   Moscow, ID 83844-2350

   USA

   
   

   208-885-6463 (voice)

   208-885-6817 (FAX)

   bgodfrey@uidaho.edu

   
   

   Data sources used in this process:

   • PPT_ICS

   
   
   Date: 20060215 (change 8 of 8)

   Projected from IDTM27 to IDTM83 using ArcToolbox 9.0.

   
   

   Person responsible for change:
   

   Bruce Godfrey

   Idaho Geospatial Data Clearinghouse

   GIS Specialist

   Box 442350

   Moscow, Idaho 83844-2350

   
   

   208.885.6463 (voice)

   bgodfrey@uidaho.edu

   
   

1. How well have the observations been checked?
   
   

   varies

   
   
2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
   
   

   +/- 500 meters

   
   
3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
   
   
4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
   
   

   none

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

   Topologically structured polygon data / intersections at all arc nodes structured with BUILD, using LINE and POLY options
   
   Polygon and chain-node topology present.
   

   
   

None

Who distributes the data set?


Bruce Godfrey
Idaho Geospatial Data Clearinghouse
GIS Specialist
Box 442350
Moscow, Idaho 83844-2350


208.885.6463 (voice)
bgodfrey@uidaho.edu


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


Downloadable Data


What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?


Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the Idaho State Climate Services office, 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.


How can I download or order the data?


• Availability in digital form:




Data format:	in format ESRI Shapefile (.shp) Size: 2.300
Network links:	http://data.insideidaho.org/util/zip.ashx?fn=http://data.insideidaho.org/data/ICS/downdata/ppt_id_ics.zip




Data format:	in format Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf)
Network links:	http://data.insideidaho.org/data/IGDC/staticmap/ppt_id_igdc.pdf



• Cost to order the data: None



• Availability in non-digital form:
  
  
  Hard copy map in the UI Moscow Library Map Room: http://uidaho.worldcat.org/oclc/18996905
  
  
Is there some other way to get the data?


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

Box 442350