MONTHLY AND ANNUAL HEATING AND COOLING DEGREE DAY NORMALS TO SELECTED BASES, 1961-90 TD-9641 National Climatic Data Center Federal Building Asheville, North Carolina NOVEMBER 1993 This document was prepared by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Enviromental Satellite Data and Information Service, National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, North Carolina. This document is designed to provide general information on the origin, format, integrity and the availability of these data. Errors found in this document should be brought to the attention of the Data Base Administrator, NCDC. See topics 58 for a summary of this data set. Table of Contents INTRODUCTORY TOPICS 1. Data Set ID 2. Data Set Name 3. Data Set Aliases. DESCRIPTION 4. Access Method and Sort for Archived Data 5. Access Method and Sort for Supplied Data 6. Element Names and Definintions 7. Start Date 8. Stop Date 9. Parameter 10. Discipline 11. Coverage 12. Location 13. Keyword 14. Storage Medium 15. File Mode 16. How to Aquire the Data 17. Historical and Current Data Sources 18. Data Derivation, Algorithms 19. Data Derivation Algorithms, Responsibility 20. Project DATA CENTER 21. Archiver 22. Data Center, Originating PERSONNEL 23. Archiver 24. Technical Contact 25. Investigator SENSORS 26. Sensor Name and Operating Principles 27. Sensor Siting 28. Sensor Accuracy and Calibration 29. Sensor Sampling Characteristics 30. Data Capture Method at/near Sensor STATIONS 31. Station Location Accuracy 32. Station Observation Schedule 33. Station Data Time Averaging 34. Station Grouping, Using Spatial Sampling STATIONS 35. Network Participation 36. Geographical Criteria for Selecting Stations 37. Geographical Distribution 38. Elevation Statement. DATA QUALITY 39. Instrument Problems 40. Missing Data Periods 41. Sampling Biases 42. Error Detection and Correction. 43. Missing Value Estimates 44. Quality Control Responsibility 45. Known Uncorrected Problems 46. Confidence Factors 47. History of Data Usage 48. Quality Statement DATES 49. Revision Date 50. Science Revision Date 51. Future Review Date OTHER DATA SETS 52. Input Sources to this Data Sets 53. Essential Companion Data Sets 54. Derived from this Data Set 55. Larger Collections 56. Similar Data Sets SUMMARIZATION 57. Reference 58. Summary MONTHLY AND ANNUAL HEATING AND COOLING DEGREE DAY NORMALS TO SELECTED BASES, 1961-90 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �1. INTRODUCTION: Data Set ID � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� TD-9641 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �2. INTRODUCTION: Data Set Name � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� MONTHLY AND ANNUAL HEATING AND COOLING DEGREE DAY NORMALS TO SELECTED BASES, 1961-90 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �3. INTRODUCTION: Data Set Aliases � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 Not applicable. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �4. DESCRIPTION: Access Method and Sort for Archived Data � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� The data in this data set contain the 1961-90 monthly and annual station heating and cooling degree day normals to several base temperatures. The file has a record size of 87 characters. Each record has the following format: Columns Description ------- ----------- 1- 6 Station Number (the Cooperative Network/CD Number) 7- 7 Element Code. Values are: 6 = heating degree days 7 = cooling degree days 8- 9 Base Temperature (degrees Fahrenheit). Values are: For heating degree days: 70, 65, 60, 57, 55, 50, 45, 43, 40, 35, 32, 30 For cooling degree days: 32, 40, 43, 45, 50, 55, 57, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80 10-15 Degree Day Normal Value for January (in whole degree days) 16-21 Value for February 22-27 Value for March 28-33 Value for April 34-39 Value for May 40-45 Value for June 46-51 Value for July 52-57 Value for August 58-63 Value for September 64-69 Value for October 70-75 Value for November 76-81 Value for December 82-87 Annual Value 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �5. DESCRIPTION: Access Method and Sort for Supplied Data � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Same as Topic 4 (Access Method and Sort for Archived Data). 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �6. Element Names and Definitions � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 Not applicable 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �7. DESCRIPTION: Start Date � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� January 1961. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �8. DESCRIPTION: Stop Date � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 December 1990. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �9. DESCRIPTION: Parameter � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 The climatic parameters in this data set are 30-year mean (normal) monthly and annual heating and cooling degree days. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �10. DESCRIPTION: Discipline � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Earth Science>Atmosphere>Meteorology Earth Science>Atmosphere>Climatology Earth Science>Land>Agriculture Public Utility Companies 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �11. DESCRIPTION: Coverage � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Southernmost Latitude 15S Northernmost Latitude 72N Westernmost Longitude 67W Easternmost Longitude 121E 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �12. DESCRIPTION: Location � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� North America>USA Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean>USA Troposphere Polar>USA Mid-Latitude>USA Equatorial>USA 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �13. DESCRIPTION: Keyword � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 Monthly Normals Degree Days Selected Bases Thom Method TD-9641 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �14. DESCRIPTION: Storage Medium � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� The digital data are archived in a fixed length ASCII format on one labeled cartridge magnetic tape. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �15. DESCRIPTION: File Mode � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 ASCII EBCDIC (at additional cost) 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �16. DESCRIPTION: How to Aquire the Data � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Ask NCDC's Customer Service Group about costs and how to order the data. Call 704-271-4800, fax 704-271-4876, or write to: Customer Service Group, National Climatic Data Center, Federal Building, Asheville, NC 28801-2733. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �17. DESCRIPTION: How to Aquire the Data � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 See next topic (Topic 18: Data Derivation Algorithms). 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �18. DESCRIPTION: Data Derivation Algorithms � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� The heating and cooling degree day normals in this data set were not computed from historical observed degree day data. Instrument changes and relocations can cause numerous inhomogeneities in a weather station's records. Missing daily data further complicates the process of computing degree day values. The Thom method of computing degree days was used as a solution to these problems. The rational conversion formulae developed by Thom (1954a, 1954b, 1966) allow the monthly temperature normals and their standard deviations over the 1961-90 period to be converted to degree day normals above and below any base with uniform consistency. Inhomogeneities in the temperature data were adjusted according to the procedure outlined in Owenby and Ezell (1992). The reader is referred to Thom for a detailed description of the conversion formulae and for the statistical theory behind the Thom model. The annual degree day normals were calculated by adding the corresponding monthly degree day normals. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �19. DESCRIPTION: Data Derivation Algorithms, Responsibility � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� NCDC 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �20. DESCRIPTION: Project � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 Decadal U.S. Climate Census, U.S. Climatography Program. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �21. DATA CENTER: Archiving Data Center � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 National Climatic Data Center NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC Federal Building Asheville, NC 28801-2733 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �22. DATA CENTER: Originating Data Center � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 NCDC 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �23. PERSONNEL: Archiver � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Chief, Data Base Management Branch NOAA/NCDC Federal Building Asheville, NC 28801-2733 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �24. PERSONNEL: Technical Contact � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 Chief, Climate Perspectives Branch NOAA/NCDC Federal Building Asheville, NC 28801-2733 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �25. PERSONNEL: Investigator � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Chief, Climate Perspectives Branch NOAA/NCDC Federal Building Asheville, NC 28801-2733 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �26. SENSOR: Sensor Name and Operating Principles � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 NWS instrumentation. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �27. SENSOR: Sensor Siting � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� The stations are NWS Cooperative and First Order stations. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �28. SENSOR: Sensor Accuracy and Calibration � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� NWS standard. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �29. SENSOR: Sensor Sampling Characteristics � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� NWS standard. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �30. SENSOR: Data Capture Method at/near Sensor � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 NWS observations. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �31. STATION: Station Location Accuracy � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 Stations are located primarily to degrees and minutes. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �32. STATION: Station Observation Schedule � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Various observation times. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �33. STATION: Station Data Time Averaging � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 NWS standard. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �34. STATION: Spatial Sampling Using Station Groupings � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Not Applicable. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �35. STATION: Network Participation � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 NWS First Order and Cooperative stations. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �36. STATION: Geographic Criteria for Selecting Stations � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Not Applicable. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �37. STATION: Geographical Distribution � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 See Topics 11 (Coverage) and 12 (Location). 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �38. STATION: Elevation Distribution � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Most of the stations had elevations below 1000 meters above sea level. Elevation ranged from -30 meters to 3000 meters. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �39. DATA QUALITY: Instrument Problems � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Not Applicable. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �40. DATA QUALITY: Missing Data Periods � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 Not Applicable. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �41. DATA QUALITY: Sampling Biases � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� The source temperature data were adjusted for some inhomogeneities (e.g., instrument changes, time of observation changes) at some stations (see Owenby and Ezell, 1992), however some temperature biases may exist for some stations (e.g., urban heat island). 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �42. DATA QUALITY: Error Detection and Correction � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 Station data QC'd at monthly scale. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �43. DATA QUALITY: Missing Value Estimates � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Missing values in the temperature source data were estimated (see Owenby and Ezell, 1992). 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �44. DATA QUALITY: Quality Control Responsibility � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 NCDC 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �45. DATA QUALITY: Known Uncorrected Problems � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 See Topic 41 (Sampling Biases). 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �46. DATA QUALITY: Confidence Factors � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 No information available at this time. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �47. DATA QUALITY: History of Data Usage � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Used to calculate departures from normal, and other applications. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �48. DATA QUALITY: Quality Statement � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� High quality. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �49. DATES: Revision Date � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 January 1, 1993. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �50. DATES: Science Review Date � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 January 1, 1993. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �51. DATES: Future Review Date � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Not Applicable. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �52. OTHER DATA SETS: Source Data Sets � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� The 1961-90 monthly station temperature normals and standard deviations, as archived in the data set TD-9641: MONTHLY STATION NORMALS ALL ELEMENTS, were used as input to compute the degree day normals in this data set. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �53. OTHER DATA SETS: Essential Companion Data Sets � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 TD-9641: 1961-90 NORMALS NAME TAPE. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �54. OTHER DATA SETS: Derived Data Sets � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 The publication, CLIMATOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED STATES NO. 81 SUPPLEMENT NO. 2: ANNUAL DEGREE DAYS TO SELECTED BASES DERIVED FROM THE 1961-90 NORMALS, was derived from this data set. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� �55. OTHER DATA SETS: Larger Collections � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Not Applicable. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �56. OTHER DATA SETS: Similar Data Sets � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 Not Applicable. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �57. SUMMARIZATION: Reference � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 Guttman, N.B., 1989: "Statistical descriptors of climate". BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, vol. 70, pp. 602-607. National Climatic Data Center, 1992: ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION SUMMARY C-23: 1961-90 CLIMATIC NORMALS. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC. Owenby, J.R. and D.S. Ezell, 1992: CLIMATOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED STATES NO. 81: MONTHLY STATION NORMALS OF TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION, AND HEATING AND COOLING DEGREE DAYS 1961-90 (by state). U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC. Owenby, J.R., D.S. Ezell, and R.R. Heim Jr., 1992: CLIMATOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED STATES NO. 81 SUPPLEMENT NO. 2: ANNUAL DEGREE DAYS TO SELECTED BASES DERIVED FROM THE 1961-90 NORMALS. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC. Thom, H.C.S., 1954a: "The rational relationship between heating degree days and temperature", MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW, vol. 82, pp. 1-6. Thom, H.C.S., 1954b: "Normal degree days below any base", MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW, vol. 82, pp. 111-115. Thom, H.C.S., 1966: "Normal degree days above any base by the universal truncation coefficient", MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW, vol. 94, pp. 461-465. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 �58. SUMMARIZATION: Summary � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 This data set contains 1961-90 station monthly and annual heating and cooling degree day normals derived from monthly station temperature normals and standard deviations using the Thom algorithm. The heating degree days are to twelve base temperatures and the cooling degree days are to twelve base temperatures.