Metadata for Relative Effective Annual Precipitation for Montana and Yellowstone National Park, 1971-2000

- Identification Information
- Data Quality Information
- Spatial Data Organization Information
- Spatial Reference Information
- Entity and Attribute Information
- Distribution Information
- Metadata Reference Information
- Full FGDC Metadata in XML Format

Identification Information:

Citation:
  Originator: Natural Resources Conservation Service Montana State Office
  Publication date: 05/08/2007
  Title:
    Relative Effective Annual Precipitation for Montana and Yellowstone National Park, 1971-2000
    Publication place: Helena, Montana
    Publisher: Montana State Library
  Online linkage: http://nris.mt.gov/nrcs/reap
Abstract:
  Relative Effective Annual Precipitation (REAP) values were developed for each Montana county and Yellowstone Park by the Natural Resources Conservation Service Montana State Office (NRCS). DAYMET precipitation data from the University of Montana were verified/adjusted to the 30-year precipitation data period from the National Water and Climate Center and then sensitized to the landscape according to slope and aspect. This was calibrated by soil scientists to known vegetation breaks on the landscape based on imagery, experience in assigned areas, and published SSURGO/NASIS soils data.
Purpose:
  For display of relative effective precipitation values across Montana and input into decision processes that require knowledge of effective precipitation values.
Time period of content:
  Beginning date: 1971
  Ending date: 2000
  Currentness reference: ground condition
Status:
  Progress: complete
  Maintenance and update frequency: Updates will be determined by availability of 10-meter DEMs.
Access constraints: none
Use constraints:
  This data should be used for planning purposes only. This data set is provided "as-is" without warranty of any kind. The NRCS makes no representations or warranties whatsoever with respect to the accuracy or completeness of this data set and assumes no responsibility for the suitability of this data set for a particular purpose; and NRCS will not be liable for any damages incurred as a result of errors in this data set.
Point of contact:
  Michael Hansen
  Natural Resources Conservation Service Montana Office
  10 East Babcock, Room 443
  Bozeman, MT 59715-4704
  Telephone: 406-587-6960
  E-Mail: michael.hansen@mt.usda.gov

Back to Top

Data Quality Information:

Completeness report:
  Data is available for all 56 Montana counties and Yellowstone Park. Edge-matching of data between counties and Yellowstone Park has been completed. Where available 10-meter DEMs were used, otherwise the REAP was developed using 30-meter DEMs, resampled to 10 meters. These areas will be updated periodically as additional 10-meter DEMs become available.
Lineage:
  Source information:
    Originator:
      University of Montana Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group (NTSG)
    Title: DAYMET Daily Surface Weather Data
    Publication place: Missoula, Montana
    Publisher:
      University of Montana, Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group (NTSG)
    Online linkage: http://www.daymet.org/
    Source scale denominator: 1 kilometer resolution data
    Source contribution:
      This data was used to provide the initial precipitation values that were then adjusted to 30-year averages.
    Beginning date: 1980
    Ending date: 1997
  Source information:
    Originator: NRCS National Water and Climate Center (NWCC)
    Publication date: 10/04/2003
    Title: Temperature and Precipitation Summary (TAPS)
    Publication place: Portland, OR
    Publisher: National Water and Climate Center
    Online linkage: ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/support/climate/taps/
    Online linkage: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/climate/foguide.html
    Source contribution:
      This data was used to expand the DAYMET period of coverage to 30 years from 18.
  Source information:
    Originator: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) EROS Data Center
    Publication date: 2007
    Title: National Elevation Dataset
    Publication place: Sioux Falls, SD
    Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey
    Online linkage: http://seamless.usgs.gov/
    Source contribution:
      The 10-meter and 30-meter elevation data were used to derive slope and aspect which were incorporated in the model to adjust the precipitation for slope, aspect, and elevation.
  Process step:
    Adjust the DAYMET precipitation data using available TAPS and other precipitation station data to accommodate the 30 year data period used by the NRCS.
  Process step:
    Re-sample the adjusted and verified 1 km DAYMET to the 10 or 30 meter DEMs.
  Process step:
    Sensitize the adjusted data to the landscape to represent relative effective precipitation. Depending upon the geographic location and varying with degree of slope, actual precipitation for southerly aspects may be adjusted downward and northerly aspects may be adjusted upward, also varying on degree of slope. Neutral aspects (all slopes less than 15 percent as well as neutral compass points regardless of slope) were not adjusted up or down.
  Process step:
    Calibrate and refine the REAP data using the expert knowledge of field soil scientists and results from mining the SSURGO soils dataset.

Back to Top

Spatial Data Organization Information:

Raster object information:
  Raster object type: Grid Cell
  Vertical count: 1

Back to Top

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

Back to Top

Entity and Attribute Information:

  Attribute label: Rowid
    Attribute definition: Internal feature number.
  Attribute label: VALUE
    Attribute definition: Average annual effective precipitation, centimeters
  Attribute label: COUNT
    Attribute definition: Number of cells in the data set with this value
  Attribute label: INCHES
    Attribute definition:
      Average annual effective precipitation, inches. Calculated as centimers * 0.3937007874

Back to Top

Distribution Information:

Distributor:
  Montana State Library
  PO Box 201800
  Helena, MT 59620-1800
  Telephone: 406-444-5355
  E-Mail: nris@mt.gov
Resource description: Downloadable Data
Distribution liability:
  This data should be used for planning purposes only. This data set is provided "as-is" without warranty of any kind. The NRCS makes no representations or warranties whatsoever with respect to the accuracy or completeness of this data set and assumes no responsibility for the suitability of this data set for a particular purpose; and NRCS will not be liable for any damages incurred as a result of errors in this data set.
Standard order process:
  Digital form:
    Format name: ESRI Grid
    Online option: http://nris.mt.gov/nrcs/reap

Back to Top

Metadata Reference Information:

Metadata date: 05/08/2008
Metadata contact:
  Gerry Daumiller
  Montana State Library
  PO Box 201800
  Helena, Montana 59620-1800
  Telephone: 406-444-5355

Back to Top