Divisional Normals and Standard Deviations of Temperature, Precipitation, and Heating and Cooling Degree Days, 1971-2000 (and previous normals period). Section 2: Precipitation. Climatography of the United States No. 85

摘要

This Climatography includes normals and standard deviations for the five 30-year normals periods and the 70-year period between 1931-2000 for each climate division. A climate division represents a region within a state that is as climatically homogeneous as possible. The divisional data are used for research applications in hydrology, agriculture, energy supply, etc., where data averaged over an area rather than for a point (station) is needed. Divisional data are used to assess large-scale climatic features with respect to a long period (i.e., decadal, 30-year period, etc.). There are 344 climate divisions in the conterminous U.S., with additional divisions in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Pacific trust territories. Divisional boundaries generally coincide with county boundaries except in the western U.S., where they are based largely on drainage basins. The normals and standard deviations include values for each of the 12 calendar months and an annual value. The divisional data are displayed by name and number for a state or territory. Data for the conterminous United States are presented alphabetically, followed by data for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Pacific trust territories. The data elements, presented in separate sections, include time of observation-corrected mean temperature (degrees F), precipitation (inches), and heating and cooling degree days (base 65 degrees F).