CoCoRaHS Monitoring Colorado s s Water Resources through Community Collaborations Nolan Doesken Colorado Climate Center Atmospheric Science Department Colorado State University Presented at Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference, Breckenridge, CO, October 5, 2006 Prepared by Odie Bliss
Why Do We Monitor Our Climate?
1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 Because Climate is Variable Because Climate is Variable Fraction of Colorado in Drought Based on 48 month SPI (1890 - Aug 2006) 1890 1892 1895 1897 1900 1902 1905 1907 1910 1912 1915 1917 1920 1922 1925 1927 1930 1932 1935 1937 1940 1942 1945 1947 1950 1952 1955 1957 1960 1962 1965 1967 1970 1972 1975 1977 1980 1982 1985 1987 1990 1992 1995 1997 2000 2002 2005 Year Fraction (in percent)
Climate Variations Affect Water Resources
How Do We Monitor Colorado s Climate?
By Collecting Data Over Time and At Many Places From Kelly Redmond, WRCC
Climate Monitoring A Long History Elements: Temperature, Precipitation, Snow, Wind, Solar, Evaporation, Soil temperatures, Humidity, Cloud cover
National Weather Service Collaboration Picture of a standard coop station, potentially map showing coop station location (CO, WRCC map) Cooperative Weather Stations in Colorado Typical Cooperative Weather Station
USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service Typical NRCS Snotel Site NRCS Snotel Sites for Colorado
CoAgMet Weather Data for Agriculture Automated weather stations with daily and hourly readings of: Temperature Humidity Wind Precipitation Solar energy Evapotranspiration http://www.coagmet.com
State Engineer s s Office
U.S. Geological Survey
Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) Denver International Airport ASOS, Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service
Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS)
Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS)
School Weather Stations
Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)
Urban Drainage and Flood Control District (UDFCD) ALERT system New ALERT weather station & stream gage on Marston Lake North Drainageway.
And Other Local Sources
30 25 20 15 10 5 0 What Do We Learn From What Do We Learn From Climate Monitoring? Fort Collins Annual Precipitation Precipitation (inches) 1880 1885 1890 1895 1900 1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 ( Jan-Aug)
Precipitation Is The Most Variable and Critical Climate Element in Colorado
Colorado Average Annual Precipitation
Rainfall Intensity and Duration 100-YR 24-HR Frequency Map
Average Monthly Precipitation I-70 Transect Water Year Average Precipitation for Selected Stations Grand Junction Glenwood Spr Vail Pass Loveland Pass Denver Limon 5.0 4.5 4.0 Precipitation (inches) 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
Average Monthly Precipitation Mountain Communities Water Year Average Precipitation for Selected Stations 3.5 Silverton Aspen Breckenridge Buena Vista Steamboat Spr 3.0 Precipitation (inches) 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
1999 Water Year Precipitation
2000 Water Year Precipitation
2001 Water Year Precipitation
2002 Water Year Precipitation
2003 Water Year Precipitation
2004 Water Year Precipitation
2005 Water Year Precipitation
2006 Water Year Through August
Pueblo Reservoir Precipitation Deficits Pueblo Reservoir Precipitation Deficits Pueblo Reservoir Precipitation Deficits 5 Departure Accum Dep 0-5 -10-15 -20 Jan-00 Apr-00 Jul-00 Oct-00 Jan-01 Apr-01 Jul-01 Oct-01 Jan-02 Apr-02 Jul-02 Oct-02 Jan-03 Apr-03 Jul-03 Oct-03 Jan-04 Apr-04 Jul-04 Oct-04 Jan-05 Apr-05 Jul-05 Oct-05 Jan-06 Apr-06 Jul-06 Precipitation (inches)
Altenbern Precipitation Deficits Altenbern Precipitation Deficits 5 0-5 -10-15 -20 Precipitation (inches) Jan-00 Apr-00 Jul-00 Oct-00 Jan-01 Apr-01 Jul-01 Oct-01 Jan-02 Apr-02 Jul-02 Oct-02 Jan-03 Apr-03 Jul-03 Oct-03 Jan-04 Apr-04 Jul-04 Oct-04 Jan-05 Apr-05 Jul-05 Oct-05 Jan-06 Apr-06 Jul-06 Departure Accum Dep
Hoosier Pass WY2006 Precipitation
Common Theme from Monitoring Inadequate Spatial Density of Rain and Snow Data Feb
How can we gather more data without breaking the bank?? Photo by Henry Reges
Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network
The Origin of CoCoRaHS The Fort Collins Flood of July 28, 1997
What is CoCoRaHS? CoCoRaHS is a unique, non-profit community based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow). Photo by Henry Reges
CoCoRaHS: Simple tools to study rain Example Station Rain Gauge
CoCo RaHS Gauge March 2003 Snowstorm Arapahoe County CoCo RaHS observer near Cherry Creek, Colorado
CoCoRaHS: Simple Tools to Study Hail Hail Pad Damaged Hail Pad
Example Hail Pad Stands
Photo by Henry Reges CoCoRaHS Supplementing NWS Cooperative Program to Improve Precipitation Measurements
Fort Collins Daily Rainfall Examples
Colorado Hailstorm July 10, 2002, Parker, CO
Expanded Hail Information from Web Site
Example CoCoRaHS Map, July 9, 2006
Example CoCoRaHS Map, July 3, 2006 Denver Metro, July 3, 2006
Example CoCoRaHS Map, July 8, 2006 Denver Metro July 8, 2006
Example CoCoRaHS Map, Jan 19, 2006 Summit County Snowfall, 1/19/06
Example CoCoRaHS Map, Feb 2, 2006 Summit County, Precip,, 2/2/06
Example CoCoRaHS Map, Feb 2, 2006 Summit County, Snowfall, 2/2/06
Example CoCoRaHS Map, Sep 21, 2006 Summit County, Precip,, 9/21/06
How many volunteers do we need? Our goal is at least one per square mile over urbanized areas. As many as we can find in rural areas.
Participating CoCoRaHS States
For More Information, Visit the CoCoRaHS Web Site http://www.cocorahs.org Support for this project provided by NSF Informal Science Education Program, NOAA Environmental Literacy Program and many local charter sponsors.
Colorado Climate Center Data and Power Point Presentations available for downloading http://ccc.atmos.colostate.edu