PCIC archives and distributes datasets related to climate, hydrology, bio-physical and socio-economic impacts. Links to the sources are provided below. Some of these datasets are also available from PCIC by request. Most datasets are available for research purposes only and may require a statement of planned use.
The following are the datasets that have been assembled:
CRU climate data (TS2.1)
Parameters: temperature and precipitation
Spatial extent: Global
Spatial resolution: 0.5 degrees
Temporal resolution: Monthly (1901-2002 time series)
Source: Climate Research Unit, University of East Anglia
CANGRID climate data
Parameters: temperature and precipitation
Spatial extent: Canada
Spatial resolution: 50 km
Temporal resolution: Monthly (1895-2005 time series)
Source: Ain Niitsoo, Environment Canada
NCEP Reanalysis climate data
Parameters: temperature, precipitation, u wind, v wind, wind speed, others
Spatial extent: North America
Spatial resolution: 2.5 degree
Temporal resolution: Monthly (1947-2005 time series)
Source: NCEP
NARR climate data
Parameters: air temperature, u wind, v wind at 29 different levels of the atmosphere
Spatial extent: North America
Spatial resolution: 32km
Temporal resolution: 3-hourly (1979-2006 time series)
Source: NCEP
PRISM climate normals
Parameters: temperature and precipitation
Spatial extent: Western Canada / United States
Spatial resolution: 4 km / 800 m
Temporal resolution: 30-year annual climatology (1961-1990) (also 1971-2000 for United States)
Source: Oregon State University
PRISM climate data timeseries
Parameters: temperature and precipitation
Spatial extent: United States
Spatial resolution: 4 km
Temporal resolution: Monthly (1895-2007 time series)
Source: Oregon State University
Historical gridded timeseries of Canada
Parameters: temperature and precipitation
Spatial extent: North America
Spatial resolution: 10 km
Temporal resolution: Annual (1901-2003 time series)
Source: Dr. Dan McKenney, Great Lakes Forestry Center
VIC driving data: historical gridded daily timeseries of BC
Parameters: precipitation, minimum temperature, maximum temperature, wind speed
Spatial extent: BC
Spatial resolution: 0.06 degrees
Temporal resolution: Daily (1915-2006 and 1950 - 2006 time series)
Source: Markus Schnorbus, Arelia Werner, Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium
Climate normals computed using ClimateBC software (CRU 1 degree data downscaled to 400 m)
Parameters: temperature and precipitation
Spatial extent: BC and some surrounding areas
Spatial resolution: 400 m
Temporal resolution: 30-year annual climatology (1961-1990)
Source: Dr. Andreas Hamann, University of Alberta and Dr. Tongli Wang, University of British Columbia, Department of Forestry
Canadian Digital Elevation Data (CDED) data, regridded for BC
Parameters: Elevation
Spatial extent: BC extracted from national dataset
Spatial resolution: 1:250,000k resampled in ArcGIS to 600 m
Source: http://www.geobase.ca
Climate timeseries computed using ClimateBC software (CRU 0.5 degree data downscaled to 400 m)
Parameters: temperature, precipitation, and several annual indices: growing degree days, chilling degree days, annual heat:moisture index, summer heat: moisture index, number of frost-free days, frost-free period, precipitation as snow, extreme minimum temperature over 30 years, mean warmest month temperature, mean coldest month temperature, continentality, annual temperature, annual precipitation as well as seasonal temperature and precipitation.
Spatial extent: BC and some surrounding areas
Spatial resolution: 400 m
Temporal resolution: Monthly (1901-2002 time series)
Source: Dr. Tongli Wang, University of British Columbia, Department of Forestry
Presence plot data
Parameters: Douglas-fir and spruce presence
Spatial extent: BC
Source: Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC)
Parameters: Douglas-fir and spruce presence
Spatial extent: Washington State
Source: Will MacKenzie, BC Ministry of Forests and Don McKenzie, USDA Forest Service
Parameters: Douglas-fir and spruce presence
Spatial extent: Alberta
Source: Alberta Government: Sustainable Resource Development
Vegetation resources inventory data
Parameters: mature conifer presence and absence from aerial photography
Spatial extent: British Columbia
Source: Pacific Forestry Centre
Forest inventory data
Parameters: mature conifer presence and absence from aerial photography
Spatial extent: Yukon
Source: Yukon Government: Energy, Mines, and Resources: Forestry
BEC zone projections computed using ClimateBC software
Parameters: BEC zones
Spatial extent: BC
Spatial resolution: 400 m
Temporal resolution: 30-year annual climatologies (1961-1990, 2020s, 2050s, 2080s)
Source: Dr. Andreas Hamann, University of Alberta
Forest inventory data
Parameters: pest outbreak data from aerial photography and ground verification
Spatial extent: Canada
Temporal resolution: Monthly time series (1950-present for spruce bark beetle; 1910-present for spruce budworm)
Source: Pacific Forestry Centre
BIOSim pest outbreak simulation and historical climate data
Parameters: pest outbreak simulations (past and future)
Spatial extent: BC
Temporal resolution: Daily time series
Source: Pacific Forestry Centre