ClimateWNA—High-Resolution Spatial Climate Data for Western North America

• DOI: 10.1175/jamc-d-11-043.1
• Publication Date: 2011-09-09T23:47:25Z
• Authors: Tongli Wang; Andreas Hamann; David L. Spittleh...; Trevor Q. Murdock
• Keywords: Baseline (sea); Dryness

Abstract This study addresses the need to provide comprehensive historical climate data and change projections at a scale suitable for, readily accessible to, researchers resource managers. database for western North America (WNA) includes over 20 000 surfaces of monthly, seasonal, annual variables from 1901 2009; several normal periods; multimodel 2020s, 2050s, 2080s. A software package, ClimateWNA, allows users access query point locations, obtain time series, or generate custom any resolution. The uses partial derivative functions temperature along elevation gradients improve medium-resolution baseline estimates calculates biologically relevant such as growing degree-days, number frost-free days, extreme temperatures, dryness indices. Historical projected future climates are obtained by using monthly precipitation anomalies adjust interpolated location interest. All algorithms used in package described evaluated against observations weather stations across WNA. downscaling substantially accuracy surfaces. Climate that usually calculated daily estimated with high statistical accuracy.