Spatially distributed monthly and annual temperature. Each file represents 1 month of 1 year for the period 1895-1997. Distribution of the point measurements to a spatial grid was accomplished using the PRISM model, developed by Christopher Daly, Director, Spatial Climate Analysis Service, Oregon State University. Care should be taken in estimating temperature values at any single point on the map. Temperature estimated for each grid cell is an average over the entire area of that cell; thus, point temperature can be estimated at a spatial precision no better than half the resolution of a cell. For example, the temperature data were distributed at a resolution of approximately 4km. Therefore, point temperature can be estimated at a spatial precision no better than 2km. However, the overall distribution of temperature features is thought to be accurate. For further information, the online PRISM homepage can be found at
<URL:http://prismclimate.org>.
Further information on the current state of this project can be found at
<URL:ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/prism100>