Gridded Köppen classification metadata

Dataset

Title Köppen climate classification (base climate related classification datasets)

Custodian

Custodian Bureau of Meteorology
Jurisdiction Australia

Description

Abstract The grids shows the Köppen classification indicies across Australia in the form of two-dimensional array data. 
The classification is based on the standard 30-year period 1961-1990. 
See LINEAGE below for more information.
Search Word(s) Gridded, spline, analyses, climatology, rainfall, classification, meteorology
Geographic Extent Names(s) Australia
General Category Gridded climatological data
General Custodian Jurisdiction Australian Government
Australia
Geographic Extent Polygon Not applicable
Geographic Bounding Box See below
North Bounding Latitude -9.975
South Bounding Latitude -44.00
East Bounding Longitude 154.025
West Bounding Longitude 112.00

Data Currency

Beginning Date 1961
Ending Date 1990

Dataset Status

Progress Completed
Maintenance and
Update frequency
Ongoing

Access

Stored Data Format Arc/InfoTM grids - all Australia
Available Format Type ASCII grid-point, Arc/InfoTM grid Interchange (.e00),Shapefiles.
Access Constraint Please note that the copyright for any data supplied by the Bureau of Meteorology is held in the Commonwealth of Australia and the purchaser shall give acknowledgement of the source in reference to the data. Apart from dealings under the Copyright Act 1968, the purchaser shall not reproduce (electronically or otherwise), modify or supply (by sale or otherwise) these data without written permission from the supplier.  Please contact us (see details below) for more information.

Data Quality

Lineage The classification was based on mean monthly and annual rainfall, maximum temperature and minimum temperature grids. 
For more information see : Stern, H., de Hoedt, G. and Ernst, J. 1999. Objective classification of Australian climates. Aust. Met. Mag. 49 (2000) 87-96. 
The base grids were generated using the ANU (Australian National University) 3-D Spline (surface fitting algorithm). 
The resolution of the data is 0.025 degrees ( approximately 2.5km) - as part of the 3-D analysis process a 0.025 degree resolution digital elevation model (DEM) was used. 
All input station data underwent a high degree of quality control before analysis, and conform to WMO (World Meteorological Organisation) standards for data quality. 

Grid-point indices on the classification grid are as follows: 
Equatorial 
42 rainforest (monsoonal) 
41 savanna 
Tropical 
37 rainforest (persistently wet) 
36 rainforest (monsoonal) 
35 savanna 
Subtropical 
34 no dry season 
33 distinctly dry summer 
32 distinctly dry winter 
31 moderately dry winter 
Desert 
24 hot (persistently dry) 
23 hot (summer drought) 
22 hot (winter drought) 
21 warm (persistently dry) 
Grassland 
15 hot (persistently dry) 
14 hot (summer drought) 
13 hot (winter drought) 
12 warm (persistently dry) 
11 warm (summer drought) 
Temperate 
9 no dry season (hot summer) 
8 moderately dry winter (hot summer) 
7 distinctly dry (and hot) summer 
6 no dry season (warm summer) 
5 moderately dry winter (warm summer) 
4 distinctly dry (and warm) summer 
3 no dry season (mild summer) 
2 distinctly dry (and mild) summer 
1 no dry season (cool summer) 
Positional Accuracy The observational (station) data on which the analyses were based have an associated accuracy of the order of 0.01 degrees (approximately 1km) or better.
Attribute Accuracy Grid point data are post processed. 
For more information (metadata) on observing stations please contact us.
Logical Consistency Not applicable
Completeness No missing data

Contact Information

Contact Organisation Bureau of Meteorology
Contact Position Climate Data Services
Mail Address PO BOX 1289, Melbourne 3001, Australia
Locality  
State Victoria
Country Australia
Postcode 3001
Telephone (03) 9669 4082
Facsimile (03) 9669 4515
Electronic Mail climatedata@bom.gov.au

Metadata date

Metadata date 2006
Additional Metadata Additional information available on request (see contact above).
Page updated: 3 October 2011

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