Abstract: The data represents the annual solar radiation in Alberta over the 30-year period from 1971 to 2000. A 30-year period is use to describe the present climate since it is enough time to filter out short-term fluctuation by is not dominated by any long-term trend in the climate. Daily total incoming solar radiation is measured in megajoules per square metre (MJ/m2). Southern Alberta receives the greatest amount of annual global solar radiation with the amount gradually decreasing as you move farther north. However, cropping is successful in the northern (Peace River) area of Alberta because the longer summer day length helps compensate for the less intense solar radiation. Cloud cover in the mountains will reduce the amount of solar radiation received there.The amount of solar radiation received at the earth’s surface varies with two factors that depend on latitude: the angle of the sun’s rays and the hours of daylight. The distance from the equator, and therefore the intensity of the sun’s radiation has the greatest effect on climate. Canada’s position in the northern portion of the earth’s northern hemisphere means that it receives less solar radiation compared to countries near the equator. The northward decrease in solar radiation is also noticeable within Alberta. Temperatures are generally higher in southern Alberta in comparison to northern Alberta because the south receives more solar radiation. This resource was created using ArcGIS.
Metadata:
File identifier:
DDE6AD60-DD08-4F21-BBDA-7934C8CBDF1F
Language:
Language Code:
eng
Character set:
Character set code:
utf8
Hierarchy level:
Scope code:
dataset
Metadata author:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development, Government of Alberta
Position name:
Environmental Stewardship Branch, GIS Unit
Contact info:
Contact:
Phone:
Telephone:
Voice:
403-742-7901
Address:
Address:
Delivery point:
7000 – 113 St
City:
Edmonton
Administrative area:
Alberta
Postal code:
T6H 5T6
Country:
Country:
CA
Electronic mail address:
duke@gov.ab.ca
Hours of service:
08:00-17:00 Monday to Friday except for statutory holidays
Contact instructions:
Questions regarding the metadata for this data set submitted through electronic mail must include the
salutation “Attention: Geographic Information Systems Lead
(currently David Spiess, david.spiess@gov.ab.ca or in his absence: David Hildebrand,
david.hildebrand@gov.ab.ca; or Karen Raven, karen.raven@gov.ab.ca) – Annual Solar Radiation”
Role:
Role code:
publisher
Date stamp:
2020-03-10
Metadata standard name:
NAP - Metadata
Metadata standard version:
1.2
Dataset URI:
https://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex10305
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Reference system:
Reference system identifier:
RS Identifier:
Authority:
Citation:
Title:
EPSG Geodetic Parameter Registry
Date:
Date:
Date:
2016-07-13
Date type:
Date type code:
publication
Cited responsible party:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
OGP Geomatics Committee
Contact info:
missing
Role:
Role code:
custodian
Code:
3400
Code Space:
EPSG
Version:
8.6.2
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Data identification:
Citation:
Citation:
Title:
Annual Solar Radiation 1971-2000
Date:
Date:
Date:
2005-09-01
Date type:
Date type code:
publication
Cited responsible party:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development, Government of Alberta
Position name:
Environmental Stewardship Branch, GIS Unit
Contact info:
Contact:
Phone:
Telephone:
Voice:
403-742-7901
Address:
Address:
Delivery point:
7000 – 113 St
City:
Edmonton
Administrative area:
Alberta
Postal code:
T6H 5T6
Country:
Country:
CA
Electronic mail address:
duke@gov.ab.ca
Hours of service:
08:00-17:00 Monday to Friday except for statutory holidays
Contact instructions:
Queries about the creation and/or characteristics of the data set submitted through electronic
mail must include the salutation "Attention: Geographic Information Systems Lead (currently
David Spiess, david.spiess@gov.ab.ca or in his absence: David Hildebrand,
david.hildebrand@gov.ab.ca; or Karen Raven, karen.raven@gov.ab.ca) – Annual Solar Radiation”
Role:
Role code:
originator
Presentation form:
Presentation form code:
tableDigital
Abstract:
The data represents the annual solar radiation in Alberta over the 30-year period from 1971 to 2000. A 30-year
period is use to describe the present climate since it is enough time to filter out short-term fluctuation
by is not dominated by any long-term trend in the climate. Daily total incoming solar radiation is measured
in megajoules per square metre (MJ/m2). Southern Alberta receives the greatest amount of annual global solar
radiation with the amount gradually decreasing as you move farther north. However, cropping is successful in
the northern (Peace River) area of Alberta because the longer summer day length helps compensate for the
less intense solar radiation. Cloud cover in the mountains will reduce the amount of solar radiation
received there.The amount of solar radiation received at the earth’s surface varies with two factors that
depend on latitude: the angle of the sun’s rays and the hours of daylight. The distance from the equator,
and therefore the intensity of the sun’s radiation has the greatest effect on climate. Canada’s position in
the northern portion of the earth’s northern hemisphere means that it receives less solar radiation compared
to countries near the equator. The northward decrease in solar radiation is also noticeable within Alberta.
Temperatures are generally higher in southern Alberta in comparison to northern Alberta because the south
receives more solar radiation. This resource was created using ArcGIS.
Purpose:
Provides users with representation of solar radiation. The data is suitable for indexing and analysis
purposes. Producers use climate information, including solar radiation, as a long-term planning tool. For
example, in selecting a location for a farm or planning a cropping program, this information is important.
Knowing that southern Alberta receives more solar radiation, making temperatures generally higher there,
will affect the copping choices and management option available. By combining knowledge of the agricultural
operation with knowledge of what is likely to happen (climate), the producer can then decide on the
acceptable level of risk due to adverse conditions.
Status:
Progress code:
completed
Resource maintenance:
Maintenance information:
Maintenance and update frequency:
Maintenance frequency code:
asNeeded
Descriptive keywords:
Keywords:
Keyword:
Alberta
Type:
Keyword type code:
place
Descriptive keywords:
Keywords:
Keyword:
plant production
Keyword:
climate-smart agriculture
Keyword:
cropping systems
Keyword:
weather
Keyword:
sunlight
Type:
Keyword type code:
theme
Thesaurus name:
Citation:
Title:
Agrovoc
Date:
Date:
Date:
2016-01-21
Date type:
Date type code:
revision
Cited responsible party:
missing
Descriptive keywords:
Keywords:
Keyword:
Downloadable Data
Thesaurus name: uuidref: 723f6998-058e-11dc-8314-0800200c9a66
Resource constraints:
Legal constraints:
Use constraints:
Restriction code:
license
Other constraints:
Your use of this information will be governed by the terms of the Open Government Licence - Alberta, in
force as of the date you accessed the information , found at http://open.alberta.ca/licence
Resource constraints:
Legal constraints:
Access constraints:
Restriction code:
otherRestrictions
Other constraints:
To access the data you must agree to the terms of the Open Government Licence - Alberta found at
http://open.alberta.ca/licence
Resource constraints:
Legal constraints:
Use limitation:
Distribution Liability: Under the terms of the Open Government Licence - Alberta, the Information is
licensed as is, and the Information Provider excludes all representations, warranties, obligations, and
liabilities, whether express or implied, to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Information
Provider is not liable for any errors or omissions in the Information, and will not under any
circumstances be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, or other loss,
injury or damage caused by its use or otherwise arising in connection with this licence or the
Information, even if specifically advised of the possibility of such loss, injury or damage.
Resource constraints:
Security constraints:
Classification:
Classification code:
unclassified
User note:
Unrestricted under Government of Alberta Security Classification System
Classification system:
Government of Alberta Security Classification System
Handling description:
https://imtpolicy.sp.alberta.ca/standards/pdf/Data-and-Information-Security-Classification-Standard.pdf
Spatial representation type:
Spatial representation type code:
vector
Spatial resolution:
Resolution:
Equivalent scale:
Representative fraction:
Denominator:
3000000
Language:
Language Code:
eng
Character set:
Character set code:
utf8
Topic category:
Topic category code:
climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere
Topic category:
Topic category code:
farming
Environment description:
Microsoft Windows 7 Version 6.1 (Build 7601) Service Pack 1; Esri ArcGIS 10.3.1.4959
Extent:
Extent:
Geographic element:
Geographic bounding box:
Extent type code:
true
West bound longitude:
-120.001515
East bound longitude:
-110.004998
South bound latitude:
48.996832
North bound latitude:
60.000353
Temporal element:
Temporal extent:
Extent:
Time period:
Begin date:
1971-01-01T00:00:00
End date:
2000-01-01T00:00:00
Extent:
Extent:
Geographic element:
Geographic bounding box:
Extent type code:
true
West bound longitude:
-120.902378
East bound longitude:
-108.443844
South bound latitude:
48.894852
North bound latitude:
60.097731
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Distribution:
Distribution format:
Format:
Name:
SDE Raster Dataset
Version:
10.3.1
Distribution format:
Format:
Name:
FGDB
Version:
ArcGIS 10.3.1
Distributor:
Distributor:
Distributor contact:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development, Government of Alberta
Position name:
Environmental Stewardship Branch, GIS Unit
Contact info:
Contact:
Phone:
Telephone:
Voice:
403-742-7901
Address:
Address:
Delivery point:
7000 – 113 St
City:
Edmonton
Administrative area:
Alberta
Postal code:
T6H 5T6
Country:
Country:
CA
Electronic mail address:
duke@gov.ab.ca
Hours of service:
08:00-17:00 Monday to Friday except for statutory holidays
Contact instructions:
Queries about the distribution of the data set may be addressed to Geographic Information Systems
Lead (currently David Spiess, david.spiess@gov.ab.ca or in his absence: David Hildebrand,
david.hildebrand@gov.ab.ca; or Karen Raven, karen.raven@gov.ab.ca
Role:
Role code:
distributor
Distribution Order Process:
Standard order process:
Ordering instructions:
PDF of the map can be downloaded from Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development website at
https://open.alberta.ca/publications/agricultural-land-resource-atlas-of-alberta-2nd-edition
There are also KML and SHP files available for download through the online transfer options listed.
Transfer options:
Digital transfer options:
Online:
Online Resource:
Linkage:
URL:
https://geospatial.alberta.ca/titan/rest/services/agriculture/Agricultural_Land_Resource_Atlas/MapServer/
Protocol:
HTTPS
Name:
REST
Online:
Online Resource:
Linkage:
URL:
https://geospatial.alberta.ca/titan/services/agriculture/agricultural_land_resource_atlas/MapServer/WMSServer
Protocol:
HTTPS
Name:
WMS
Online:
Online Resource:
Linkage:
URL:
https://extranet.gov.ab.ca/srd/geodiscover/srd_pub/AG_FOR/LandResourceAtlas/Annual_Solar_Radiation_1971-2000.zip
Protocol:
FTP
Name:
Contains TIF and KMZ for Annual Solar Radiation 1971-2000 dataset
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Data quality:
Scope:
Scope:
Hierarchy level:
Scope code:
dataset
Lineage:
Lineage:
Statement:
The number of weather stations in Alberta that collect solar radiation data is very limited. This makes
the interpolated pattern less reliable than if data was received from more locations in the province.
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
The synoptic weather stations, which collect weather data over a broad area at a single given time,
collect data to measure solar radiation. These stations report near real-time (hourly, 6-hourly and
daily) automated weather information used to prepare weather forecasts and in calculating climatic
information. Few Alberta stations measure solar radiation, therefore, calculation of the likely
values between the points (stations) where measurements are taken is done by interpolation.
The data collected by Environment Canada and the United States National Climate Data Center weather
stations, over the 30 years period, was interpolated across the province and converted in to vector
format. Solar radiation was calculated for each township of Alberta using an interpolation process.
In order to avoid the blocky appearance of townships on the map, a township generalization was
produced using smoothing procedures of computer graphics software for final presentation on the map.
Source:
Source:
Description:
Annual Solar Radiation of Alberta
Source citation:
Citation:
Title:
Agroclimactic Atlas of Alberta, 1971 to 2000
Date:
Date:
Date:
2003-09-09
Date type:
Date type code:
publication
Identifier:
Identifier:
Code:
Agdex 071-1
Cited responsible party:
Responsible party:
Individual name:
Chetner, S. and the Agroclimactic Atlas Working Group
Contact info:
missing
Role:
Role code:
author
Cited responsible party:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Alberta Agriculture and Food
Contact info:
Contact:
Address:
Address:
City:
Edmonton
Administrative area:
Alberta
Role:
Role code:
publisher
Other citation details:
Paper copies (Agdex 071-1) are available from the AF Publications office in Edmonton by calling
(780) 427-0391, or 1-800-292-5697 toll-free in Canada.
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Maintenance information:
Maintenance and update frequency:
Maintenance frequency code:
notPlanned
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