Utah Climate Center

by

Donald T. Jensen and Gaylen L. Ashcroft

The Utah Climate Center houses all of the climate and weather data for Utah. It is a responsive group of people dedicated to using archived data to link yesterday with today and tomorrow. Located on Utah State University campus, the Utah Climate Center has a three-fold mission:

1.) Research climate and its affects on living organisms.

2.) Provide workshops and materials for weather and climate education of Utah’s residents.

3.) Collect, archive, analyze and distribute quality climate data.

Research and Publication

Climate and bioclimate research conducted at the Utah Climate Center includes: methods of screening for data errors, thunderstorm research, spatial interpolation of climate data, mapping techniques, orchard heating studies, and studies of effects of weather on poison plant ingestion by range cattle. We have produced several books, including Utah Climate, and are currently doing World Climate Atlas for Agriculture. We also produce a weekly climate bulletin.

Education in Utah

An interactive computer program called The Climate Time Machine has been developed to retrieve, manipulate, graph, and display climate data. The program has been distributed on CD-ROM to all Utah elementary schools. The ROM also contains world climate data, a tutorial, and lesson plans to help teachers utilize The Climate Time Machine in teaching, science, mathematics, and social studies. We also host tours for elementary and secondary school students.

Collecting and Archiving Data

There are 22 climate or weather networks collecting data throughout Utah. These networks include:

Cooperative Observer - exceeds 700 stations

Manual stations in populated areas

RAWS - exceeds 170 stations

Automated stations in forest and range

SNOTEL - exceeds 150 stations

Automated stations in high mountains

Utah Climate Center - exceeds 40 stations

Automated agriculture stations

Storage Gages - exceeds 40 stations

Manual, remote mountain stations

Data for individual stations are archived for the period of record. Records include observations taken the late 1800's.

Distributing Data

Cooperative observers record daily maximum and minimum temperature and precipitation. Most also record snowfall and depth of snow on the ground. A limited number also record daily pan-evaporation data and/or soil temperatures.

Most automated stations record hourly values for: air and soil temperature, precipitation, wind speed and direction, humidity, and solar radiation. A limited number of stations record hourly values of barometric pressure, soil moisture, and ultraviolet radiation in the UVb band.

Data are made available as hourly, daily, 10-day, monthly, seasonal, or annual values. The data can be distributed in digital form via FTP or computer disk and in hard copy by fax or mail. There is a charge for data. The price depends on the type, amount, and distribution format of the data.

Utah Climate Center also provides calculated climate data such as heating degree days, cooling degree days, growing degree days, free-water-surface evaporation, pan evaporation, evapotranspiration, plant hardiness zone, drought indices, moisture adequacy, spring and fall freeze data, and length of freeze-free season.

In addition, to supplying measured and calculated climate data, Utah Climate Center can provide summaries for hourly, daily, 10-day, monthly, seasonal, or annual data. The summaries include tables (such as those in this book), graphs, charts, and maps (gray scale or color up to 36 inches wide and any length). Utah Climate Center provides raw climate data and climate products to meet client specifications.

For more information, see Utah Climate Center Home Page on the Internet, or contact the Utah Climate Center at one of the following:

Home page: http://climate.usu.edu/

Mail: Utah Climate Center

Utah State University

Logan, Utah, 84322-4825

Phone: (801) 797-2190

Fax: (801) 797-2117