A new instrumental precipitation dataset for the greater alpine region for the period 1800-2002
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2005
Citazione:
A new instrumental precipitation dataset for the greater alpine region for the period 1800-2002 / I. Auer, R. Bohm, A. Jurkovic, A. Orlik, R. Potzmann, W. Schoner, M. Ungersbock, M. Brunetti, T. Nanni, M. Maugeri, K. Briffa, P. Jones, D. Efthymiadis, O. Mestre, J.M. Moisselin, M. Begert, R. Brazdil, O. Bochnicek, T. Cegnar, M. Gajic-Capkaj, K. Zaninovic, Z. Majstorovic, S. Szalai, T. Szentimrey, L. Mercalli. - In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY. - ISSN 0899-8418. - 25:2(2005), pp. 139-166.
Abstract:
The paper describes the development of a dataset of 192 monthly precipitation series covering the greater alpine region
(GAR, 4 18 ° E by 43 49 ° N). A few of the time series extend back to 1800. A description is provided of the sometimes
laborious processes that were involved in this work: from locating the original sources of the data to homogenizing the
records and eliminating as many of the outliers as possible. Locating the records required exhaustive searches of archives
currently held in yearbooks and other sources of the states, countries and smaller regional authorities that existed at
various times during the last 200 years. Homogeneity of each record was assessed by comparison with neighbouring
series, although this becomes difficult when the density of stations reduces in the earliest years. An additional 47 series
were used, but the density of the sites in Austria and Switzerland was reduced to maintain an even coverage in space
across the whole of the GAR. We are confident of the series back to 1840, but the quality of data before this date must
be considered poorer. Of all of the issues involved in homogenizing these data, perhaps the most serious problem is
associated with the differences in the height above ground of the precipitation gauges, in particular the general lowering
of gauge heights in the late 19th century for all countries, with the exception of Italy. The standard gauge height in the
early-to-mid 19th century was 15 30 m above the ground, with gauges being generally sited on rooftops. Adjustments to
some series of the order of 30 50% are necessary for compatibility with the near-ground location of gauges during much
of the 20th century. Adjustments are sometimes larger in the winter, when catching snowfall presents serious problems.
Data from mountain-top observatories have not been included in this compilation (because of the problem of measuring
snowfall), so the highest gauge sites are at elevations of 1600 1900 m in high alpine valley locations. Two subsequent
papers will analyse the dataset. The first will compare the series with other large-scale precipitation datasets for this
region, and the second will describe the major modes of temporal variability of precipitation totals in different seasons
and determine coherent regions of spatial variability.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
Monthly precipitation time series ; homogeneity ; instrumental period ; greater alpine region
Elenco autori:
I. Auer, R. Bohm, A. Jurkovic, A. Orlik, R. Potzmann, W. Schoner, M. Ungersbock, M. Brunetti, T. Nanni, M. Maugeri, K. Briffa, P. Jones, D. Efthymiadis, O. Mestre, J.M. Moisselin, M. Begert, R. Brazdil, O. Bochnicek, T. Cegnar, M. Gajic-Capkaj, K. Zaninovic, Z. Majstorovic, S. Szalai, T. Szentimrey, L. Mercalli
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