Part 1: Retrieve Data

The basic tool used to select and order data from EOS-WEBSTER is the Search and Retrieve Tool. Go to EOS-WEBSTER and invoke the Search and Retrieve Tool by selecting the Data button on the EOS-WEBSTER home page:

EOS-WEBSTER offers 5 methods (called filters) to select and order data from their database. We can search the database by Collection Name, Spatial Region, Temporal Range, Keyword, or Freetext, using one filter or a combination of filters to locate the data we want. Since for this chapter we are only interested in climate projection data for 2 specific states for the years 2000 through 2100, we will use the Collection, Spatial, Temporal, and Freetext filters.

First, let's use the Collection filter.

The VEMAP2 Transient Dynamics Data collection is near the bottom of the list.

Next, let's use the Spatial Filter to select California holdings from the database.

Select the Spatial filter and then choose the Gazetteer link:

Choose "USA States" as the category (you will need to use the scroll bar) and then click the Select Category and View Map button to choose a location from within that category:

Select California and click the Update Holding Count button:

As you click the Update Holding Count button, notice the Matching Holding Count box in the upper right hand corner of the Search and Retrieve Tool. The Matching Holding Count is the number of holdings in the EOS-WEBSTER database that match your search criteria. Using the Spatial Filter and selecting only California holdings has significantly reduced the Matching Holding Count:



We'll continue to refine our search until we have a manageable number of holdings to examine in greater detail.

Now, let's specify the time period of interest. Select the Temporal filter and specify the Begin Year as 2000 and the End Year as 2100.

Execute this search by clicking the Update Holding Count button.

Next, use the Freetext filter to query the database to find all solar radiation, precipitation, or temperature holdings. Use the operator 'OR' (must be capitalized) to join the search terms and enter the search string as:

solar radiation OR precipitation OR temperature

When finished, click the Update Holding Count button.

Since we now have a manageable number of holdings, let's view these holdings in greater detail. Select the View Matching Holdings tab:

Select the View Matching Holdings tab:

Scroll through the list of data holdings and select the four holdings for annual (not mean monthly) minimum temperature, maximum temperature, solar radiation, and precipitation from the Canadian Climate Center. You can differentiate the Canadian Climate Center holdings from the Hadley model holdings from the text in the holding note: Canadian Climate Center holdings are abbreviated CGCM1.

You will probably need to scroll to the middle of the page to find the holdings you want. Select holdings from the VEMAP2 Transient Dynamics Data collection. The maximum and minimum temperature holdings should look like this:

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Select each of the four holdings by clicking the check box next to the holding. We will use the output format, ASCII Tabular , since it is easily imported into a spreadsheet.

The four holdings that you've selected should now look like this:

After you've selected your holdings, scroll to the top of the page and click the Place Order button. Proceed to the next step and select a compression type to place your order.

Choose a compression type and then use the Place Order button to place your order. You will be prompted to log-in if you haven't done so already:

Generally, your order will be ready in only a few minutes:

You'll receive an e-mail notification from EOS-WEBSTER when your data order has been processed and is ready. Each order will have a e-mail associated with it, which will contain a link from which you can retrieve the data.

Click on the order link to take a closer look at the contents of your order:

Each holding within the order has two associated files: a data file (in ASCII Tabular format) and an auxiliary file. The auxiliary file provides additional information about the data:

Now download the data to your computer. Download all the files (in a compressed format) by selecting the download.zip file link or the Download button:

Since you will have one e-mail notification per order you have placed, you should have two e-mails (one for each state) in your inbox. You may find it helpful to download the data into different subdirectories, organized by state name.