title: A spatially comprehensive, hydrometeorological data set for Mexico, the U.S., and Southern Canada 1950-2013.
abstract: A data set of observed daily precipitation, maximum and minimum temperature, gridded to a 1/16° (~6 km) resolution, is described that spans the entire country of Mexico, the conterminous U.S. (CONUS), and regions of Canada south of 53° N for the period 1950-2013. The dataset improves previous products in spatial extent, orographic precipitation adjustment over Mexico and parts of Canada, and reduction of transboundary discontinuities. The impacts of adjusting gridded precipitation for orographic effects are quantified by scaling precipitation to an elevation-aware 1981-2010 precipitation climatology in Mexico and Canada. Differences are evaluated in terms of total precipitation as well as by hydrologic quantities simulated with a land surface model. Overall, orographic correction impacts total precipitation by up to 50% in mountainous regions outside CONUS. Hydrologic fluxes show sensitivities of similar magnitude, with discharge more sensitive than evapotranspiration and soil moisture. Because of the consistent gridding methodology, the current product reduces transboundary discontinuities as compared with a commonly used reanalysis product, making it suitable for estimating large-scale hydrometeorologic phenomena.
authors: Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science (CIRES), University of Colorado , Boulder, 216 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA ; NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory Physical Sciences Division , 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA.
authors: Ben
authors: B
authors: Livneh
authors: School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University , Tempe, AZ, 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe, Arizona 85287-6004, USA.
authors: Theodore J
authors: TJ
authors: Bohn
authors: Climate, Atmospheric Sciences, and Physical Oceanography, Scripps Institution of Oceanography , La Jolla, California 92093-0224, USA.
authors: David W
authors: DW
authors: Pierce
authors: Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln , 246L. W. Chase Hall P. O. Box 830726, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0726, USA.
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Munoz-Arriola
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington , Box 352700, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
authors: Bart
authors: B
authors: Nijssen
authors: NOAA/National Climatic Data Center , 151 Patton Avenue, Asheville, North Carolina 28801, USA.
authors: Russell
authors: R
authors: Vose
authors: Climate, Atmospheric Sciences, and Physical Oceanography, Scripps Institution of Oceanography , La Jolla, California 92093-0224, USA.
authors: Daniel R
authors: DR
authors: Cayan
authors: Water and Climate Research Coordinator, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
authors: Levi
authors: L
authors: Brekke
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D008685:Meteorological Concepts; D008800:Mexico; D014481:United States