GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Montana Climate Framework, Montana Climate Normals 1991-2020

Data Provider Montana Climate Office, University of Montana
Date 1971 - 2000
Content Type Downloadable Data
Abstract This directory contains GeoTIFFs of climate normals for the state of Montna for the 1991 - 2020 reference period. All normals are derived from gridMET climate data. The base gridMET units and coordinate system (WGS 84) are maintained to minimize any errors introduced by unit conversion or reprojection.Annual and monthly measurements are available for the following: Precipitation - Total amount of rainfall and snowfall (mm). Minimum Temperature - Daily average minimum temperature (deg F). Maximum Temperature - Daily average maximum temperature (deg F). Minimum Relative Humidity - Average minimum amount of water vapor in air relative to theoretical maximum potential vapor (%). Maximum Relative Humidity - Average maximum amount of water vapor in air relative to theoretical maximum potential vapor (%). Solar Radiation - Average daily incoming shortwave solar radiation (W/m^2). Vapor Pressure Deficit - Average daily difference between moisture currently in the air vs theoretical maximum moisture (kPa). Wind Speed - The daily average wind speed (m/s). Reference Evapotranspiration - The average amount of water lost from a hypothetical well-watered grass surface to the atmosphere.Files for each varaible adhere to a naming convention of {time}_{statistic}.tif, where time is the time period of the normal (e.g., annual, jan, feb, etc.) and statistic is the climate normal summary statistic (e.g., mean, median, etc). Within each directory is another subdirectory titled quantiles/{time}_{n}th.tif, where n is a quantile value for a given variable. All .tif files are stored as Cloud Otimized GeoTIFFs (cog) to enhance rendering and display on the web.For more details about how the climate normals were created, please visit the information tab on the Montana Climate Atlas (https://climate.umt.edu/archive/atlas/default.php). If you have any other questions about the data, please reach out to Colin Brust at the Montana Climate Office (colin.brust@mso.umt.edu).
Purpose
Supplemental Information gridMET is a dataset of daily high-spatial resolution (~4-km, 1/24th degree) surface meteorological data covering the contiguous US from 1979-yesterday. We have also extended these data to cover southern British Columbia in our real time products. These data can provide important inputs for ecological, agricultural, and hydrological models. These data are updated daily. gridMET is the preferred naming convention for these data; however, the data are also known as cited as METDATA. gridMET blends spatial attributes of gridded climate data from PRISM with desirable temporal attributes (and additional variables) from regional reanalysis (NLDAS-2) using climatically aided interpolation. The resulting product is a spatially and temporally complete, high-resolution (1/24th degree ~4-km) gridded dataset of surface meteorological variables. Validation of the resulting gridded surface meteorological data was conducted against an extensive network of weather stations including RAWS, AgriMet, AgWeatherNet and USHCN-2. For more information on validation measures see Abatzoglou (2013).
The Montana Climate Office (MCO) provides products and services for informational purposes only. Any products created or distributed by the MCO were not produced for, nor are they suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. Consumers of MCO information should review or consult the primary data and information sources to ascertain the viability of the information for their purposes. The MCO provides these data in good faith but does not represent or warrant its accuracy, adequacy, or completeness. In no event shall the MCO be liable for any incorrect results or analysis; any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages to any party; or any lost profits arising out of or in connection with the use or the inability to use the data or the services provided. The MCO makes these data and services available as a convenience to the public, and for no other purpose. The MCO reserves the right to change or revise published data and/or services at any time.
Data Access https://data.climate.umt.edu/mt-normals/cog/
Distributor Montana State Library
PO Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620-1800
Telephone: 406-444-5354
TDD/TTY: 406-444-4799
Fax: 406-444-0266
Email: geoinfo@mt.gov
Distribution liability The Montana State Library provides this product/service for informational purposes only. The Library did not produce it for, nor is it suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. Consumers of this information should review or consult the primary data and information sources to ascertain the viability of the information for their purposes. The Library provides these data in good faith but does not represent or warrant its accuracy, adequacy, or completeness. In no event shall the Library be liable for any incorrect results or analysis; any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages to any party; or any lost profits arising out of or in connection with the use or the inability to use the data or the services provided. The Library makes these data and services available as a convenience to the public, and for no other purpose. The Library reserves the right to change or revise published data and/or services at any time.
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Metadata date 01/24/2014

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