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Climate
Data
Western
Regional Climate Center Summaries for Towns in Colorado
This
site provides detailed summaries of daily and monthly precipitation
and temperature data from 1960 to the present. Summaries are provided
in graphical and tabular formats. A great resource!
The
NRCS PRISM Climate Mapping Project Dataset for Colorado
PRISM
(Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model)
was developed by Dr. Christopher Daly of Oregon State University,
and is a hybrid statistical-geographic approach to mapping climate.
PRISM uses point measurements of climate data and a digital elevation
model (DEM, a digital, gridded version of a topographic map) to
generate estimates of annual, monthly and event-based climatic
elements. PRISM is not a static system of equations; rather, it
is a coordinated set of rules, decisions and calculations designed
to mimic the decision-making process an expert climatologist would
invoke when creating a climate map. This dataset is provided in
Shapefile format and requires GIS software.
NRCS
Monthly Preciptitation Data for Colorado
These
datasets contain 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. Datasets are provided in ascii
grid or ArcInfo Export formats and require GIS Software.
Online
Climate Resources
The
National Climate Data Center
The
Center has long served the Nation as a national resource for climate
information. NCDC's data is used to address issues that span the
breadth of this Nation's interests. As climate knows no boundaries,
the NCDC works closely with scientists and researchers world-wide.
The Center develops both national and global data sets that have
been used by both government and the private sector to maximize
the resource provided by our climate and minimize the risks of
climate variability and weather extremes. In Colorado the National
Climate Data Center Partners with The Colorado Climate Center
(below) and the Western Regional Climate Center (also below) to
provide a wide variety of weather data.
The
Colorado Climate Center
The
Colorado Climate Center is part of the Department of Atmospheric
Science at Colorado State University. It's goal is to assist the
state of Colorado in monitoring climate over time scales of weeks
to years. They also recognize that climate involves complex interactions
between the atmosphere, the oceans, continental glaciers, and
the land. Vegetation processes are an important component of the
climate system. This service should contribute to a reduction
in the state's vulnerability to climate variability and change.
NOAA-CIRES
Climate Diagnostic Center
The
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has partnered
with the University of Colorado and CIRES to produce this site.
The goal of their work is to develop the ability to predict important
climate variations on various time scales. Short-term climate
variations of interest include major droughts and floods over
the continental U.S., and the global anomalies associated with
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). These events attract
great public interest, and often have enormous social and economic
consequences. On longer time scales, basic research goals include
identifying the causes for decadal to centennial climate variations,
and separating natural variability from anthropogenically induced
climate changes in order to provide an improved scientific basis
for public planning and policy decisions.
Western
Regional Climate Center
The
mission of the Western Regional Climate Center is to disseminate
high quality climate data and information pertaining to the western
United States; foster better use of this information in decision-making;
conduct applied research related to climate issues; and improve
the coordination of climate-related activities at state, regional
and national scales.
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