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Modeled Historical Monthly Temperature Metrics, Wisconsin 1981-2010

Identification Information

Citation
Title
Modeled Historical Monthly Temperature Metrics, Wisconsin 1981-2010
Originator
Dr. Eric Compas, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Creation Date
2023-01-23
Publication Date
2023-01-23
Geospatial Data Presentation Form
mapDigital
Collection Title
Climate
Abstract
This raster dataset contains a simplified version of the historical downscaled climate data produced by the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts' (WICCI) Climate Working Group. This dataset contains several temperature metrics averaged by month across the 30-year period from 1981-2010. These metrics include average maximum temperature, average minimum temperature, and inter-model standard deviation for both minimum and maximum temperature. In addition, the data includes the estimated number of days per month that meet commonly used thresholds: the days where the maximum temperature exceeds 90 F, 95 F, or 100 F; the days where the minimum temperature exceeds 70 F or falls below 32 F or 0 F; and the "comfortable" days where the maximum temperature lies between 70 and 85 F. The spatial resolution of the data is 0.1 x 0.1 degrees (approximately 6x6 miles on the ground). This historical climate data is a subset of the downscaling "de-biasing" process where the 1950-2005 time period in the climate model is matched to the 1950-2009 in the observed station record. The slight mismatch in the climate and observed time period has negligible impact because climate change operates slowly over decades. Instead it is more important that the climate record is long enough to "average out" natural climate variability. More details about the original data this is derived from can be found at https://registry.opendata.aws/noaa-uwpd-cmip5/ and the WICCI's two climate assessment reports from 2011 and 2021 (available at https://wicci.wisc.edu/). The python code used to produce this simplified version is available at https://github.com/TheGeographer/DownscaledClimateData.
Purpose
The goal is to provide historical climate modeling data in a GIS-friendly format that allows practitioners, researchers, and businesses to access the change from historical climatic averages to future climates for specific purposes. This data can be used (along with other modeled climate data included in this package) to compare future modeled climatic conditions to historical averages or to evaluate the changing likelihood of extreme weather events such as heat waves.
Supplemental Information
This is an archived copy of the data held at UW-Madison. For detailed variable definitions please review the full data dictionary: https://gisdata.wisc.edu/public/metadata/includes/WI_Downscaled_Climate_Data_Dictionary_Temp.pdf In addition, please refer to the Downscaled Climate Data User Guide for more information about how to view and analyze these data: https://gisdata.wisc.edu/public/metadata/includes/Guide to using downscaled climate data.pdf (The user guide and data dictionary are also included with individual file downloads).
Temporal Extent
Time Period
Begin
1981-01-01T00:00:00
End
2010-12-31T00:00:00
Bounding Box
West
-92.950002
East
-86.750006
North
47.149998
South
42.350002
ISO Topic Category
climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere
environment
geoscientificInformation
health
planningCadastre
Place Keyword
Wisconsin
Place Keyword Thesaurus
Temporal Keyword
1981-2010
Theme Keyword
climate change
Theme Keyword Thesaurus
Resource Constraints
Use Limitation
These data are based on 22-24 Global Climate Model(s) (GCMs) as part of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) global modelling effort. While these models generally agree on the degree and timing of changing temperature and precipitation, they differ for some metrics and seasons in Wisconsin, and, as such, the average values in this simplified version hides some of the variability in the underlying models. This data should be used with this uncertainty in mind.
Resource Constraints
Use Limitation
Although this data is being distributed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, no warranty expressed or implied is made by the University as to the accuracy of the data and related materials. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the University in the use of this data, or related materials.
Maintenance and Update Frequency
notPlanned
Language
eng
Credit
The aggregation and conversion to this GIS-friendly format was conducted by Dr. Eric Compas, UW-Whitewater, compase@uww.edu The original probabilistic downscaled climate data was produced by the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts' (WICCI) Climate Working Group including Dr. Steve Vavrus, sjvavrus@wisc.edu, Dr. David Lorenz, dlorenz@wisc.edu, and Dr. Dan Vimont, dvimont@wisc.edu.
Point of Contact
Contact
Dr. Eric Compas, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Position Name
Professor, Department of Geography, Geology, and Environmental Sciences

Spatial Reference Information

Reference System Identifier
Code
4326
Code Space
EPSG
Version
6.2(3.0.1)

Data Quality Information

Quantitative Attribute Accuracy Report
Evaluation Method
To validate the data within this dataset, multiple derived products, e.g. total number of days with temperature above 95 F, were compared between this dataset and the data produced by the WICCI Climate Working Group. Despite using different methods to aggregate the data, there are only minor differences between these two datasets.
Lineage
Statement
The original downscaled probabilistic data is available at https://registry.opendata.aws/noaa-uwpd-cmip5/ and was provided to Dr. Compas directly by the WICCI Climate Working Group. These data were processed using a Python script (available at https://github.com/TheGeographer/DownscaledClimateData). Please see this code repository for details. In summary, the individual daily netCDF files for each twenty-year period and climate model, e.g. RCP4.5, are loaded into a large matrix for summarizing. From this matrix, the monthly averages and estimated number of days meeting temperature thresholds are calculated. Finally, the script exports a simplified netCDF of the results. This netCDF file was imported into ArcGIS Pro (version 2.9.5) and converted into ESRI's cloud raster format (CRF) for distribution.
Process Step
Description
Archived data at UW-Madison
Process Date
2023-01-25T00:00:00

Distribution Information

Format Name
Cloud Raster Format (CRF)
Format Version
1.0
Distributor
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Online Access
https://gisdata.wisc.edu/public/temp_historical_2021-2040_monthly.crf.zip
Protocol
WWW:DOWNLOAD-1.0-http—download
Name
GeoData@Wisconsin
Function
download

Content Information

Content Type
image

Spatial Representation Information

Raster
Number of Dimensions
2
Column Count
62
Row Count
48
Cell Geometry Type
area
Corner Points
Point
-92.950002 42.350002
Point
-92.950002 47.149998
Point
-86.750006 47.149998
Point
-86.750006 42.350002
Center Point
-89.850004 44.750000

Metadata Reference Information

Hierarchy Level
dataset
Metadata File Identifier
851725F8-3E45-466E-B3D4-62E07C5F146A
Metadata Date Stamp
2023-03-08
Metadata Standard Name
ISO 19139 Geographic Information - Metadata - Implementation Specification
Metadata Standard Version
2007
Character Set
utf8
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