The purpose of the cartographic data resulting from analyses of the ecological connectivity of natural environments in the St. Lawrence lowlands is to equip users by making it possible to integrate the concepts of ecological connectivity and the quality of the habitat of natural terrestrial environments into conservation issues. It is a knowledge tool for recognizing natural environments of importance for ecological connectivity in the St. Lawrence Lowlands region. This data is the result of research conducted by McGill University and its partners (Apex Resource Management Solutions, Quebec Center for Biodiversity Science and Habitat) on behalf of the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, and its partners (Apex Resource Management Solutions, Wildlife and Parks) (MELCCFP).**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

HREPA is part of the NSRPS (National Surface and River Prediction System) experimental system dependent on two other systems. It uses surface station observations and radar QPEs pre-processed by HRDPA and disturbed trial fields generated by the Canadian Land Data Assimilation System (CaLDAS). HREPA produces four precipitation analyses per day on 6-hour accumulations valid at synoptic times (00, 06, 12, and 18 UTC). Each analysis set contains 24 members plus the control member. A quality index (confidence index) is also available on the same grid as the precipitation fields. Finally, two percentiles, 25th and 75th, estimated on these sets are also provided for each synoptic hour. Currently, there is only a high-resolution version of the system, whose domain covers Canada and the northern United States with a horizontal resolution of about 2.5km.

The Canadian Precipitation Analysis System (CaPA) produces a best estimate of 6 and 24 hour precipitation amounts. This objective estimate integrates data from in situ precipitation gauge measurements, radar QPEs and a trial field generated by a numerical weather prediction system. In order to produce the High Resolution Deterministic Precipitation Analysis (HRDPA) at a resolution of 2.5 km, CaPA is connected to the continental HRDPS for its trial field. CaPA-HRDPA produces four analyses of 6 hour amounts per day, valid at synoptic hours (00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC) and two 24 hour analyses valid at 06 and 12 UTC. A preliminary production is started 1 hour after valid time and a final one is launched 7 hours later. This translates into a production of 12 analyses per day.

The Regional Deterministic Precipitation Analysis (RDPA) produces a best estimate of precipitation amounts that occurred over a period of 6 hours. The estimate integrates data from in situ precipitation gauge measurements, weather radar, satellite imagery and numerical weather prediction models. Geographic coverage is North America (Canada, United States and Mexico). Data is available at a horizontal resolution of 10 km. The 6 hour analysis is produced 4 times a day and is valid at 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC. A preliminary analysis is available approximately 1 hour after the end of the accumulation period and a final one is generated 7 hours later in order to assimilate more gauge data.

The Regional Deterministic Precipitation Analysis (RDPA) produces a best estimate of precipitation amounts that occurred over a period of 24 hours. The estimate integrates data from in situ precipitation gauge measurements, weather radar, satellite imagery and numerical weather prediction models. Geographic coverage is North America (Canada, United States and Mexico). Data is available at a horizontal resolution of 10 km. The 24 hour analysis is produced twice a day and is valid at 06 and 12 UTC. A preliminary analysis is available approximately 1 hour after the end of the accumulation period and a final one is generated 7 hours later in order to assimilate more gauge data.

The Regional Deterministic Air Quality Analysis (RDAQA) is an objective analysis of surface pollutants which combines numerical forecasts from the Regional Air Quality Deterministic Prediction System (RAQDPS) and hourly observational data from monitoring surface networks over North America in order to produce a better description of the air quality at every hour. Chemical constituents include 03, SO2, and NO2 gases, as well as fine particulate matter PM2.5 (2.5 micrometers in diameter or less) and coarse particulate matter PM10 (10 micrometers in diameter or less). Geographical coverage is Canada and the United States. Data is available only for the surface level, at a horizontal resolution of 10 km. The products are presented as historical, annual or monthly, averages which highlight long-term trends in cumulative effects on the environment.

The Canadian Precipitation Analysis System (CaPA) produces a best estimate of 6 and 24 hour precipitation amounts. This objective estimate integrates data from in situ precipitation gauge measurements, radar QPEs and a trial field generated by a numerical weather prediction system. In order to produce the High Resolution Deterministic Precipitation Analysis (HRDPA) at a resolution of 2.5 km, CaPA is connected to the continental HRDPS for its trial field. CaPA-HRDPA produces four analyses of 6 hour amounts per day, valid at synoptic hours (00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC) and two 24 hour analysis valid at 06 and 12 UTC. A preliminary production is started 1 hour after valid time and a final one is launched 7 hours later. This translates into a production of 12 analyses per day.

The nowCOAST 'analyses' Web Map Service (WMS) provides layers containing various NOAA gridded weather and oceanographic surface analysis products. The 'analyses' WMS is one of several map services provided by NOAA's nowCOAST project (http://nowcoast.noaa.gov). For further layer information such as layer icons, legend graphics, layer descriptions, and valid timestamps, see the nowCOAST 'LayerInfo Web Service' description page at: http://nowcoast.noaa.gov/help/layerinfo.shtml. For more information about nowCOAST's available Web Map Services, see the nowCOAST Map Services information page at: http://nowcoast.noaa.gov/help/mapservices.shtml. nowCOAST is a product of the NOAA/NOS/OCS Coast Survey Development Laboratory.

The nowCOAST 'geolinks' Web Map Service (WMS) provides layers containing geo-referenced hyperlinks to various observing station, forecast model guidance and forecast location web pages. To obtain the URL and other attributes of a particular location of interest via WMS, a GetFeatureInfo request should be issued by your WMS client. The 'geolinks' WMS is one of several map services provided by NOAA's nowCOAST project (http://nowcoast.noaa.gov). For further layer information such as layer icons, legend graphics, layer descriptions, and valid timestamps, see the nowCOAST 'LayerInfo Web Service' description page at: http://nowcoast.noaa.gov/help/layerinfo.shtml. For more information about nowCOAST's available Web Map Services, see the nowCOAST Map Services information page at: http://nowcoast.noaa.gov/help/mapservices.shtml. nowCOAST is a product of the NOAA/NOS/OCS Coast Survey Development Laboratory.

The nowCOAST 'guidance' Web Map Service (WMS) provides layers containing Forecast Model Guidance visualizations from various oceanographic forecast systems developed by the National Ocean Service and the U.S. Navy. The 'guidance' WMS is one of several map services provided by NOAA's nowCOAST project (http://nowcoast.noaa.gov). For further layer information such as layer icons, legend graphics, layer descriptions, and valid timestamps, see the nowCOAST 'LayerInfo Web Service' description page at: http://nowcoast.noaa.gov/help/layerinfo.shtml. For more information about nowCOAST's available Web Map Services, see the nowCOAST Map Services information page at: http://nowcoast.noaa.gov/help/mapservices.shtml. nowCOAST is a product of the NOAA/NOS/OCS Coast Survey Development Laboratory.