1. Who is PRISM Group?
2. What is PRISM?
3. Who is ClimateSource?
4. Who can I contact for additional questions?
5. Help! I am having problems downloading the digital data!
6. Help! I need help importing an ASCII grid file into ESRI's Arcview GIS!
7. Where can I find a written description of the data I have downloaded?
8. How do I reference a data set I've seen on the webpage?
9. What are the grid dimensions, projection, resolution, units and formats of the data I downloaded?
10. Am I able to preview the digital data before I download it?
11. Where can I download 2-KM (high-resolution) data or parameters other than precipitation?
12. How do I obtain permission to reuse a digital image of a precipitation map?
13. How do I order a hardcopy version of a precipitation map?
14. Where can I find average temperature data?

General Questions:

Q: Who is PRISM Group?

PRISM Group is the offices at Oregon State University responsible for the development and operations of the PRISM model. For more information please visit http://prism.nacse.org/about_us.phtml.

Q: What is PRISM?

Our PRISM Climate Mapping Program is an ongoing effort to produce and disseminate the most detailed, highest-quality spatial climate datasets currently available. These digital climate maps are created using PRISM (Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model) an analytical tool that uses point data, a digital elevation model, and other spatial data sets to generate gridded estimates of monthly, yearly, and event-based climatic parameters, such as precipitation, temperature, and dew point. 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.

PRISM derived data sets have been and are being used in applications of climatology, hydrology, natural resources, global climate change, land use, planning, relocation, education, and geography. PRISM climate mapping projects are being conducted in the United States, Canada, China, Mongolia, Europe, Pacific Islands, and elsewhere.

The program is a collaboration between the PRISM Group, directed by Christopher Daly, Professor of Geosciences, and the Northwest Alliance for Computational Science and Engineering (NACSE), directed by Cherri Pancake, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. The PRISM Group is located within the NACSE office complex in the Kelley Engineering Center on the Oregon State University campus in Corvallis.

Q: Who is Climate Source? top

Climate Source is the exclusive distributor of the world's most up-to-date, highest quality and accurate spatial climate data sets, developed by the PRISM group at Oregon State University, the nation's premiere climate mapping center. http://www.climatesource.com/

Q: Who can I contact for additional questions? top

Please direct additional questions not addressed in the FAQs to individuals listed at http://prism.nacse.org/contacts.phtml.

Digital Data Questions:

Help! I am having problems downloading the digital data! top

For help downloading digital data from our website, please read our "Instructions for Downloading BINARY Data" guide.

Help! I need help importing an ASCII grid file into Arcveiw GIS! top

For help importing an ASCII grid file into Arcview GIS, please read our "Instructions for importing an ASCII grid file into Arcview GIS using ArcToolbox or Spatial Analyst" guide.

Q: Where can I find a written description of the data I have downloaded?

A specific dataset description for each downloadable dataset is contained in "readme" and "metadata" files. Links to these files are available on the webpage where the corresponding data is downloaded.

Q: How do I reference a dataset I've seen on the webpage? top

See the Terms of use.

Q: What are the grid dimensions, projection, resolution, units and formats of the data I downloaded? Specific grid information for each downloadable dataset is contained in a "metadata" file. The link to this file is available on the webpage where the corresponding data is downloaded. Look for a link to "raster metadata" or "vector metadata".

Q: Am I able to preview the digital data before I download it? top

Digital, colorized images of most datasets are available on the webpage where the corresponding data is downloaded. Look for a link to "color shaded annual map".

Q: Where can I download 2-KM (high-resolution) data or parameters other than precipitation? top

2K data and gridded data of parameters other than precipitation are distributed through Climate Source at http://www.climatesource.com.

Q: Where can I find Average Temperature grids?

Average Temperature has not been calculated as it is a simple formula and easy to do yourself:

Average Temperature = (Maximum Temperature + Minimum Temperature) / 2

Map Questions: Digital images and/or hardcopy maps

Q: How do I obtain permission to reuse a digital image of a precipitation map?

For permission to reuse images, please contact the PRISM Group by email at or by phone at 541-737-2531.

Q: How do I order a hardcopy version of a precipitation map? top

Hardcopy maps are no longer available.