LIVE INTERACTIVE LEARNING @ YOUR DESKTOP Citizen Science Networks Presented by: Henry Reges and James Zdrojewski October 12, 2011
CoCoRaHS Because every drop counts
What is CoCoRaHS? An overview
CoCoRaHS is a grassroots, highdensity, precipitation network. It is made up of over 15,000 volunteers of all ages and backgrounds who take daily precipitation measurements in their own backyards each morning
Our volunteers are trained to assure accurate, high quality data In person trainings or via the Web Once trained our volunteers collect data using low-cost measurement tools 4-inch diameter High capacity rain gauges Aluminum foil-wrapped Styrofoam hail pads
Just Precipitation! Rain Hail Snow
Our volunteers report their daily observations on our interactive Web site: www.cocorahs.org
Sonoma County, California Locally Nationally Volunteer s observations are immediately available in map and table form for the public to view.
Severe Thunderstorm over Fort Collins, Colorado Monday, July 20, 2009 9:49PM 9:58PM 10:08PM Ft. Collins Ft. Collins Ft. Collins Loveland Loveland Loveland
Ted s Place Old Town CSU Hughes Stadium Interstate 25 Harmony
A short history of CoCoRaHS
1. The extreme local variations in rainfall possible from convective storms A B 2. The important role individuals can play in measuring, mapping and reporting precipitation. Distance between A and B = 5 miles A = 14.5 inches B = 2.0 inches
1998 A few dozen volunteers in Northern Colorado Today 15,000+ volunteers in all 50 states
CoCoRaHS s goal is to provide: High Quality Precipitation Data and Educational Resources and Outreach
Rainfall Data CoCoRaHS has quickly become the largest source of daily precipitation measurements in the United States
0.25 0.00 0.00 Rainfall can be extremely variable. With a dense network of rain gauges we hope to capture observations from that obscure storm.
7.12 May 6, 2008, Comal, Texas New Braunfels San Antonio
Without CoCoRaHS data With CoCoRaHS it s like increasing the number of pixels on your digital camera. With CoCoRaHS data You get a much clearer picture of where precipitation did and did not fall!
In many cases radar doesn t measure snow well, while satellite-based products have many limitations. With our local volunteers CoCoRaHS is providing additional winter weather measurement capabilities in many states across the country. In some Colorado cities, there is approximately one CoCoRaHS observer per sq. mile.
CoCoRaHS Volunteers measure both snowfall depth (new and accumulated) as well as the water content of the snow (SWE)
CoCoRaHS has become one of the largest repositories of hail data in the United States
Educational Outreach Opportunities Helping to provide the public with a better understanding of weather and climate
Is CoCoRaHS data used? You bet!
National Weather Service Other Meteorologists Hydrologists Emergency Managers City Utilities -Water supply -Water conservation -Storm water Insurance adjusters USDA Crop production Engineers Scientists studying storms Mosquito control Farm Service Agency Ranchers and Farmers Outdoor & Recreation Teachers and Students Geoscience education tool Taking measurements Analyzing data Organizing results Conducting research Helping the community
Improved Drought Awareness Making citizens aware of how the lack of precipitation can impact they daily lives Citizens Reporting Drought Impacts
"We use the CoCoRaHS data in our post-storm summary to describe the overall impacts of a tropical cyclone event." 2008 Tropical Storm Fay Dan Brown - National Hurricane Center
Precip data used to determine when to close shellfish beds
Used in ground truthing satellite precipitation measurements GROUND TRUTH http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/htdocs_dyn/public/nexsat/pages/conus/nexsat_conus.html
Hail Reports DENCCRAHS Instant Snow Reports Possible Flash Flood or Severe Thunderstorm Warnings issued Significant Weather Reports Additional Real-Time Reports
CoCoRaHS hopes to one day achieve a network of... one observer every square mile in urban areas one observer every 36 square miles in rural areas
Educational Resources for Teachers and Students
CoCoRaHS School Pilot Program
CoCoRaHS Schools Page
CoCoRaHS/4-H Lesson Plans
A Rain Gauge at every school in Colorado for 2012
What about weekends and summer reporting?
No one will miss the gauge for a day or two! Wait until they get a hold of this rainfall amount! Vandals hit Lopez School Rain Gauge July 20, 2011 Fort Collins, Colorado The risks of putting a rain gauge in a public place
What s ahead for CoCoRaHS?
CoCoRaHS 2012-2013 Additional 20-30,000 new volunteers over the next five years. Expand our volunteer base to new unreached audiences through mobile device technology, social networking and targeted recruiting efforts. Enhanced training through video and webinars to improve the connection between scientists and volunteers.
Continue to seek collaborators/partners CoCoRaHS is a lowest common denominator that continues connections to scientists at universities, federal agencies and citizen-science networks all across the country. Please let us know of interested parties!
AMS Weatherfest New Orleans January 21, 2012
www.cocorahs.org
Contact Noah Newman at: nnewman@atmos.colostate.edu www.cocorahs.org
National Weather Service Cooperative Observer Program Jim Zdrojewski Acting National Cooperative Program Manager National Science Teachers Association - October 2011
50 Cooperative Observing Program Who s idea was it? Thomas Jefferson conceived the notion of an all volunteer weather reporting network He personally maintained unbroken weather observation records from 1776 until just days before his death in 1816
51 Cooperative Observing Program Other Notables Prior to Thomas Jefferson s notion of a volunteer weather network, the Reverend John Campanius Holm was the person in the American Colonies to take systematic weather observations in 1644 Benjamin Franklin was also noted with his weather observations being used to make the first hurricane forecast
52 Cooperative Observing Program Where was this heading? After the war of 1812, Post surgeons became official observers In 1874, observers were transferred to the Army Signal Corp and then finally to the US Weather Bureau
53 Cooperative Observing Program It s Official! Congress passes The Organic Act of 1890 from request of President Benjamin Harrison The Organic Act charged the Weather Bureau with Providing weather and river forecasts and warnings Dissemination of forecasts and warnings Reporting temperature, precipitation and river conditions Taking of data necessary to establish and record the climatic conditions of the United States
54 Cooperative Observing Program Fast Forward To The Present Who are today s Cooperative Observers They could be anyone Federal/State/Local Government Offices People with special interests such as farming or construction or just plain interest in weather Let s not forget Mom & Pop folks that are just interested in helping out
55 Cooperative Observing Program Types of stations There are almost 10,000 observing sites today The A Network Comprised of sites that the data are used for climate purposes The B Network Comprised of sites that the data are used for hydrological purposes The C Network Comprised of sites that the data are used for other meteorological purposes
56 Cooperative Observing Program A Network Coverage
57 Cooperative Observing Program B Network Coverage
58 Cooperative Observing Program C Network Coverage
59 Cooperative Observing Program All Network Stations
Let s pause for questions from the audience
61 Cooperative Observing Program How are they managed? With so many sites it would be impossible to manage the network from one location Here at NWS Headquarters we maintain oversight for the entire program This includes instruction on how to run the program, making sure supply is stocked, planning for the future and more Offer assistance to the Regional offices
62 Cooperative Observing Program Regional Responsibility
63 Cooperative Observing Program Regional Responsibility At the Regional offices Help is given directly to the field office Plans and instruction from the National office are administered to the field office Track performance within their Region
64 Cooperative Observing Program Local Responsibility
65 Cooperative Observing Program Local Responsibility At the local field office This is where hands get dirty The technicians are responsible for finding or replacing observers in their respective area They are also responsible for installing, and at times, removing observing equipment They are also responsible for working with the observers by offering training, advice and just a pat on the back at times
66 Cooperative Observing Program Local Responsibility The field office is the true heart in the management of the Cooperative Program It s the work of the technicians that make or break the program in their area
Let s pause for questions from the audience
68 Cooperative Observing Program What do we measure? Precipitation This includes rain, snow, hail and everything in between generally if it was produced from a cloud, it gets measured
69 Cooperative Observing Program What do we measure? Temperature How warm has it been? It s from stations like these that get that information from There are different types of temperature equipment from the older, manual equipment to newer electronic sensors
70 Cooperative Observing Program What do we measure? Other measurements taken We also measure things like evaporation, soil temperature and river levels Hourly precipitation is also measured
71 Cooperative Observing Program What s next? Future plans for the Cooperative Program include updating of equipment We are currently working on; Wireless temperature sensors Data loggers to record hourly measurements Soil thermometers
72 Cooperative Observing Program What Won t Change? THE OBSERVER! There are no plans at looking to remove the observer from the observation process Even in times of automation you will only get an accurate, full element observation from the observer
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National Science Teachers Association Dr. Francis Q. Eberle, Executive Director Zipporah Miller, Associate Executive Director Conferences and Programs Al Byers, Assistant Executive Director e-learning NSTA Web Seminars Paul Tingler, Director Jeff Layman, Technical Coordinator LIVE INTERACTIVE LEARNING @ YOUR DESKTOP