QUICK
REFERENCE
GLOBAL CLIMATE DATABASE, MAY 15, 1996
Gazetteer: Identification Information
Originator: Global
Change Department National Institute of Public Health and Environmental
Protection
Date: 1996
Title: Global
Climate Database
Purpose: unknown
Abstract: README for the updated global climate database, dd may
15, 1996
Reference to version
1.0 of this database:
Leemans, R., Cramer, W.,
1991. The IIASA database for mean monthly values of temperature, precipitation
and cloudiness on a global terrestrial grid. IIASA Research Report RR-91-18.
International Institute of Applied Systems Analyses, Laxenburg. 61 pp. November
1991.
The documentation of
the updated version is in preparation. The name of this updated version will be
CLIMATE (Cramer & Leemans Interpolated Meteorology for Applications in
Terrestrial Ecology).
The quality has been improved
by using stringent station selection criteria for the climatic normal period
1931-1960. The database is now based on c. high-quality 16000-20000 stations
world wide. The interpolation methodology has been improved by using a
emperical correction scheme with locally derived lapse rates. This scheme works
well for both temperature and precipiation.
The evapotranspiration
scheme used is developed by Prentice et al. It reference is: Prentice, I.C.,
Sykes, M. Cramer, W., 1993. A
simulation model for the transient effects of climate change on forest
landscapes. Ecological Modelling, 65: 51-70.
Global GIS NOTE: Cloud
Coverage or Cloudiness is defined as the actual number of bright sunshine hours
over the potential number, and is thus expressed as a percentage figure. The
number in the database can be confusing. A low percentage means more sunshine
and fewer clouds. To look at this from the assigned colors in the legend the
darker-blue the values are the more sunshine and fewer clouds. Inserted by Trent
Hare
The files all contain:
Longitute
(degrees (2 decimals), lower left corner of the 0.5 degree cells).
Latitude
(degrees (2 decimals), lower left corner of the 0.5 degree cells).
Altitude
(m asl)
12 monthly values
(jan, feb.....nov, dec.)
tmp.shp mean temperature (C, 1 decimal)
prc.shp mean
precipitation (mm, 0 decimal)
clo.shp mean sunshine or cloudines (%, 0 decimal)
pet.shp
potential evapotranspiration (mm, 0 decimal)
aet.shp actual
evapotranspiration (mm, 0 decimal)
Access Constraints: none
Use Constraints: It is ultimately
the user's responsibility to assess the accuracy and completeness of a data set
extracted from the database and to determine if these are sufficient for the
purposes to which the data set would be applied.
Ordering
Instructions: available online, see
online linkage below
Contact
Person: Rik Leemans
Contact
Organization: National Institute of Public Health and
Environmental Protection
Address: P.O.Box 12233
City: Research Triangle Park
State
or Province: NC
Postal
Code: 27709
Country: USA
Online Linkage:
http://www.niehs.nih.gov
Entity and Attribute
Information (table heading explanations)
Shape: ArcView file type (tmp.shp, prc.shp,
aet.shp, clo.shp, pet.shp)