NOAA Atlas 14, Volume 3, Version 2 Gridded Precipitation Frequency Estimates for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

NOAA/NWS/Office of Hydrologic Development, Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center

Publication_Date:06/28/2006

Title: prXyrYY.ver2 (X = return period, YY = duration; u = upper limit, l= lower limit)

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: raster digital data

Series_Information:

Series_Name: NOAA Atlas 14

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Silver Spring, MD, USA

Publisher:

NOAA/NWS/Office of Hydrologic Development, Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center

Online_Linkage: <http://hdsc.nws.noaa.gov/hdsc/pfds/>

Online_Linkage: <http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ohd/hdsc/index.html>

Description:

Abstract:

This GIS grid atlas contains precipitation frequency estimates for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is based on precipitation data collected between 1/1899-12/2004. This atlas is an updated version of Technical Paper 42 Generalized Estimates of Probable Maximum Precipitation and Rainfall-Frequency Data for Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands and Technical Paper 53, Two-to-Ten-Day Precipitation for Return Periods of 2 to 100 Years in Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands (1965). The grids provide information for durations from 5 minutes through 60 days, and for recurrence intervals of 1 year through 1000 years.

Purpose:

Precipitation frequency estimates are used as basic design criteria for a wide variety of hydraulic structures such as culverts, roadway drainages, bridges and small dams. This dataset is for the display and/or analyses of spatially distributed point precipitation frequency estimates.

Supplemental_Information: none.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 01/01/1899

Ending_Date: 12/31/2004

Currentness_Reference:

Climatological period from which the point precipitation observations were taken.

Status:

Progress: Complete.

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed.

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -68.00000

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -64.00000

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 19.00000

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 17.00000

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: none

Theme_Keyword: design criteria

Theme_Keyword: precipitation frequency

Theme_Keyword: hydrolometeorology

Theme_Keyword: precipitation

Theme_Keyword: TP-42

Theme_Keyword: TP-53

Theme_Keyword: climatology

Theme_Keyword: extreme precipitation

Theme_Keyword: maps

Theme_Keyword: GIS

Theme_Keyword: meteorology

Theme_Keyword: NOAA Atlas 14

Place:

Place_Keyword: U.S. Virgin Islands

Place_Keyword: Puerto Rico

Access_Constraints: n/a, no restrictions apply and data is public domain.

Use_Constraints:

Acknowledgement of NOAA/National Weather Service, Office of Hydrologic Development, Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center (HDSC)

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Mr. Geoff Bonnin

Contact_Organization:

NOAA/National Weather Service, Office of Hydrologic Development, Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center

Contact_Position: Chief

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address: NOAA/NWS/Office of Hydrologic Development

Address: SSMC2, W/OHD 13

Address: 1325 East-West Highway

City: Silver Spring

State_or_Province: MD

Postal_Code: 20910

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (301) 713-0640 X103

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (301) 713-0963

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Geoffrey.Bonnin@noaa.gov

Hours_of_Service: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, Monday-Friday

Security_Information:

Security_Classification: Unclassified

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows XP

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: NOAA/National Weather Serivce, Office of Hydrology

Publication_Date: 1961

Title:

Technical Paper 42 - Generalized Estimates of Probable Maximum Precipitation and Rainfall-Frequency Data for Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document

Series_Information:

Series_Name: TP-42

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Silver Spring, MD, USA

Publisher: NOAA/National Weather Serivce, Office of Hydrology

Online_Linkage:

Citation_Information:

Originator: NOAA/National Weather Serivce, Office of Hydrology

Publication_Date: 1977

Title:

Technical Paper 53, Two-to-Ten-Day Precipitation for Return Periods of 2 to 100 Years in Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands (1965)

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document

Series_Information:

Series_Name: Technical Paper 53

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Silver Spring, MD, USA

Publisher: NOAA/National Weather Serivce, Office of Hydrology

Online_Linkage:

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Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

All attributes created during the creation process were tested for internal consistency. In addition, thorough comparisons where conducted with Technical Paper 53 and 42.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

All data were based on precipitation-reporting stations that had at least 20 years of hourly and/or 30 years of daily precipitation data between 1899 and 2004. Similar quality assurance procedures were used with all input data sets.

Completeness_Report:

Observed point precipitation values originated from a variety of sources. All station data were subjected to quality control checks by the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) and the Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Some data what was not already digitized by NCDC was done so by the National Weather Service.

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

Publication_Date: 2000

Title: Hourly Precipitation Data

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data

Series_Information:

Series_Name: TD3240

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Asheville, NC, USA

Publisher: National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

Online_Linkage: <http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html>

Type_of_Source_Media: online

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 01/01/1948

Ending_Date: 12/31/2004

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: TD3240

Source_Contribution: Location and values of known hourly precipitation amounts.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

Publication_Date: 2004

Title: Daily Cooperative Summary of the Day

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data

Series_Information:

Series_Name: TD3200

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Asheville, NC, USA

Publisher: National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

Online_Linkage: <http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html>

Type_of_Source_Media: online

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 01/01/1899

Ending_Date: 12/31/2004

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: TD3200

Source_Contribution: Location and values of known daily precipitation amounts.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

Publication_Date: 2004

Title: First Order Summary of the Day

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data

Series_Information:

Series_Name: First Order Summary of the Day

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Asheville, NC, USA

Publisher: National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

Online_Linkage: <http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html>

Type_of_Source_Media: online

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 01/01/1899

Ending_Date: 12/31/2004

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: TD3210

Source_Contribution:

Location and values of known hourly and daily precipitation amounts at National Weather Service First Order stations.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

This spatial dataset was prepared by spatially interpolating point precipitation frequency estimates. The precipitation frequency estimates were calculated using regional L-moment statistics based on an annual maximum data series. The spatial interpolation of the point precipitation frequency estimates was accomplished with PRISM coupled with a derivation process called the cascade, residual add-back (CRAB) procedure. So-called "index flood," otherwise known as the mean annual maximum, grids were created using PRISM, Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model, at Oregon State University. PRISM is an analytical tool that uses point data, a digital elevation model, and other spatial data sets to generate gridded estimates of climatic parameters. PRISM is uniquely designed and constantly updated to map climate in the most difficult situations, including high mountains, rain shadows, temperature inversions, coastal regions, and other complex climatic regimes. Meanwhile, CRAB is used to actually derive the precipitation frequency grids. CRAB is a derivation process that utilizes the strong, linear relationship between a particular duration and frequency (e.g. 50-year 24-hour) and the next higher frequency (e.g. 100-year 24-hour). In fact, within an L-moment region this relationship is constant and known as the Regional Growth Factor (RGF). With the CRAB procedure however, a global (all-region) relationship is developed based on actual observing-site data, then the linear relationship is applied to the preceding grid (i.e. 50-year 24-hour) to establish a first guess 100-year 24-hour grid. Knowing regional differences occur, residuals (predicted minus observed) are calculated for each observing-site and then normalized (divided by) by the preceding estimate (50-year 24-hour). These (point) normalized residuals are then spatially interpolated to a grid. The resultant grid is then un-normalized by multiplying it by the preceding grid to obtain a grid of actual residuals, in inches. The last step is to simply add the residual grid to the first guess grid to arrive at the final 100-year 24-hour grid. The process, as the term cascade implies, utilizes a previously derived grid to derive the next grid. So the same process is followed for deriving the 200-year 24-hour grid, but instead of the 50-year 24-hour grid being used as the predictor, the new 100-year 24-hour grid is used. For more details about the processes used to create this grid, please see the project quarterly reports posted here: <http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ohd/hdsc/current-projects/project.html> or the NOAA Atlas 14 Documention.

Process_Date:062006

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Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Raster

Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: String

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 999

Raster_Object_Information:

Raster_Object_Type: Grid Cell

Row_Count: 2400

Column_Count: 4800

Vertical_Count: 1

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Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Geographic:

Latitude_Resolution: 0.0041666667

Longitude_Resolution: 0.0041666667

Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees

Planar:

Planar_Coordinate_Information:

Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: row and column

Coordinate_Representation:

Abscissa_Resolution: 0.0041666667

Ordinate_Resolution: 0.0041666667

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: D_WGS_1972 (WGS72)

Ellipsoid_Name: D_WGS_1972

Semi-major_Axis: 6378135.000000

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.260000

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Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: precipitation frequency grid cell value

Entity_Type_Definition: ASCII integer from GRASS 4.2 (Geographic Resources Analysis Support System) GIS

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Self-evident

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: precipitation frequency grid cell value

Attribute_Definition: spatially gridded precipitation frequency estimates

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Value

Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry. Grid cell precipitation in inches*1000

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.

Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Information:

Attribute_Value_Accuracy: 0.01 inches

Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Explanation: measurement accuracy of precipitation gauges

Attribute_Units_of_Measure: 1000ths of inches

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Count

Overview_Description:

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Distribution_Information:

Resource_Description: Downloadable data.

Distribution_Liability:

Users must assume responsibility to determine the appropriate use of these data.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Transfer_Size: ~4 MB (compressed with gzip)

Technical_Prerequisites:

An grid-based GIS such as ArcInfo (GRID) or Arcview 3.x/8.x/9.x (with Spatial Analyst Extension). The grids can however be converted into GRASS ASCII grids by manipulating the header.

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Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date:06/06/2006

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Tye W. Parzybok

Contact_Organization: NOAA/NWS/OHD/Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center

Contact_Position: Meteorologist/GIS Specialist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address

Address: NOAA/NWS/Office of Hydrologic Development

Address: SSMC2, W/OHD 13

Address: 1325 East-West Highway

City: Silver Spring

State_or_Province: MD

Postal_Code: 20910

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (970) 686-1253

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (301) 713-1669 x100

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (208) 728-7256

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: tye.parzybok@noaa.gov

Hours_of_Service: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, Monday-Friday

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Time_Convention: local time

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