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WERA1012: Managing and Utilizing Precipitation Observations from Volunteer Networks

Annual/Termination Reports (SAES-422): [06/01/2009] [07/30/2010] [07/28/2011] [01/02/2013]

Date of Annual Report: 06/01/2009

Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 05/19/09 to 05/22/09
  • Period the Report Covers: 10/2008 to 09/2009

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    This was the first meeting of the WERA-1012 group and it served to establish an executive committee, determine goals, and to form working groups to accomplish those goals. The Executive Committee for 2009 is comprised of Chair Henry Reges, Chair-Elect Adnan Akyuz, and Secretary Tony Bergantino. Each will serve in the current position for one year with the Chair-Elect transitioning to the Chair the next year.

    The following sections were covered during the course of the meeting: 1. History of Rain Gauge Networks - A lot of Territory to Cover...with Volunteer Rain Gauges 2. Rain Gauge Performance -- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 3. Volunteer Recruiting/Retention -- How to Catch "Observation Fever" 4. Metadata for 'unofficial' Networks 5. Volunteer Education -- Volunteer Observing as a method for Extending Climate and Environmental Literacy 6. Training Volunteers -- Best Practices...Developing Great Observers 7. Volunteer Support -- Helping Volunteers Feel Needed and Supported 8. Network Funding -- Garnering Support for Volunteer Networks 9. Data Quality Control -- Did you really measure seventy-two inches of rain in ten minutes? Following each of these nine sessions, participants broke into two groups for detailed discussions on each of the topics with the aim of deciding specific areas that the WERA-1012 group could help.

    Accomplishments:
    Five major working groups were established.

    1. CoCoRaHS/COOP Collaboration 2. Sustainability/Funding

    3. Training and Education

    4. Data Quality Assurance and Control

    5. Precipitation Measurement References

    CoCoRaHS/COOP Collaboration: Chaired by Scott Archer (USDI-BLM) with Mike Borengasser (AR), Dave Robinson (NJ), Henry Reges (CoCoRaHS), Joel Kline (NWS), and William Angel (NCDC).

    Identify ways to help tie together the NWS Cooperative Observer Network and it's long term functions with the higher resolution but more flexible and low cost Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network CoCoRaHS

    Sustainability/Funding: Chaired by Laura Edwards (WRCC) with Henry Reges (CoCoRaHS), Leeann DeMouche (NM), Phil Mote (OR), Ryan Boyles (NC), Kevin Stewert (Denver Urban Drainage and Flood Control District), and Dennis Todey (SD). Develop and pursue specific and achievable goals to provide support to volunteer observing networks.

    Training and Education: Chaired by Melissa Griffin (FL) with Mary Knapp (KS), Steve Hilberg (MWRCC), Leeann DeMouche (NM), Nolan Doesken (CO), Adnan Akyuz (ND), Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux (VT), Kris Stepenuck (WI), Matt Kelsch (UCAR-COMET), Dave Robinson (NJ), Zach Schwalbe (CoCoRaHS), Julian Turner (CoCoRaHS), Dennis Todey (SD), and a NOAA Office of Education representative (yet to be named). Gather together training products that have been developed and put into a Training Library. Develop ways of evaluating deficiencies in the training programs.

    Committee for Data Quality Assurance and Control: Chaired by Steve Hilberg (MWRCC), Tim Kearns (NWS), Tony Bergantino (WY), Zach Schwalbe (CoCoRaHS), and William Angel (NCDC). Develop a set of checks that can be implemented in CoCoRaHS.

    Committee for Precipitation Measurement References: Chaired by Steven Quiring (TX) with Tony Bergantino (WY), Nolan Doesken (CO), Adnan Akyuz (ND), and Matt Kelsch (UCAR-COMET). -Develop a comprehensive bibliography of literature on precipitation measurements. -Provide in PDF where possible

    One additional committee was discussed although. This committee could serve to motivate NOAA to have a well planned and coordinated program tailored after the very successful Centennial Celebration to raise the awareness and visibility of the COOP network, its leaders, and its wonderful volunteers. The 125th Anniversary will be in 2015, so planning should begin around 2012 with some institutional preparation within NOAA prior to that time.

    NWS COOP 125th Anniversary Planning Committee: Mike Asmus (NWS).

    Assist NOAA with the preparations for the 125th Anniversary of the COOP network.

    Impact Statements:
    1. Collaborative activities are just beginning, as this was the first ever meeting of this coordinating committee. Many impacts are anticipated for the future that have not yet been realized.
    2. a)Improved training materials for volunteer weather observing programs b)Effective low-cost ways to support and encourage rain gauge volunteers c)Improvements in data quality from volunteer weather networks resulting from entry-point data checks, visualizations, and observer feedback
    3. d)An easy-access bibliography of publications and studies focused on precipitation measurement accuracy, gauge comparisons, wind effects on gauge catch, data quality control, etc. e) Integration of data from the National Weather Service Cooperative Observer network with data from the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow network to provide the most extensive national precipitation network of all time for monitoring the nation‘s climate f)Stronger Federal, State, University partnerships in support of low tech volunteer programs.(began the early planning stages for the 2015 national celebration of the 125th anniversary of the National Weather Service Cooperative Observer network) g)Stable long-term funding for managing and promoting volunteer precipitation networks.
    Last Modified: 23-Sep-2009

    Date of Annual Report: 07/30/2010

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 05/19/10 to 05/21/10
  • Period the Report Covers: 10/2009 to 09/2010

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    The third meeting of the 1012 WERA Committee met in May at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado.

    Our two and a half day meeting was divided in two parts.

    The first day was focused on the National Weather Service's COOP network. The program's health and status were discussed, as well as perspectives from the field and the National Climatic Data Center. Concrete steps were taken towards 1) plans to write an "Economic Value of Cooperative Weather Observations" and 2) Beginning the early planning for the COOP's 125th anniversary in 2015.

    The second day focused on CoCoRaHS (The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network). An annual update was given along with reports from the WERA 1012 subcommittees that relate to CoCoRaHS. Issues and concerns for the ever expanding network were examined and commented upon. The second day concluded with a field trip to several rain gauges with the vicinity of Estes Park, including a COOP, CoCoRaHS and Snotel station.

    The final half day focused on setting priorities for the coming year, extending new charges to the committees which included optimizing cooperation between the COOP and CoCoRaHS networks. The final items included the introduction of the new WERA 1012 Chair, Adnan Akyuz and a decision to return to the YMCA of the Rockies for next year's meeting.

    *Please see attached document for a detailed accounting of the Meeting Minutes


    URL: Copy of minutes

    Accomplishments:
    1. Training and Outreach: Training videos showing an Overview, In Depth Snow Measuring, Ice Accretion, Measuring the Water Content of Snow by Weight, and Reporting Drought Impacts, were produced and are available for download from the CoCoRaHS website.

    2. Data Quality Assurance and Control: Common data entry errors were determined and methods of flagging and correcting them developed. A survey was conducted from which information was gathered related to types of errors, methods of QA/QC used, and suggestions given for improving the abilities of coordinators to perform QA/QC. A prototype ticketing system has been developed at the Midwest Regional Climate Center which allows for reports to be flagged and assigned to appropriate coordinators. The type of error and resolution is recorded as a means of tracking their frequency.

    3. Precipitation Measurements: An initial listing of publications pertaining to precipitation and its measurement has been compiled. Several of the documents in the list have been scanned and placed into PDF.

    4. Sustainability: The fact that COOP and CoCoRaHS continue on despite economic challenges and that quality data are available to a wide range of public and academic users.

    5. Evaluation: the CoCoRaHS network conducted a lengthy survey that was completed by 7,000 of it volunteers. Valuable feedback has been gathered and is being evaluated for future direction.

    6. Portal for Discussion: The WERA 1012 meeting has become one of the new forums for non-NWS folks to chime in and provide input to the COOP networks planning and evaluation.

    Impact Statements:
    1. Tennessee Flood: Comparisons were shown of rainfall maps generated using COOP, CoCoRaHS, and COOP/CoCoRaHS combined. Each of the two used individually gave similar but slightly different interpretations of the event. Combining the two datasets gives a much stronger and fuller picture of the event.
    2. NWS Northern Indiana: The National Weather Service Office in Northern Indiana is producing Daily 24-Hour Precipitation and Snowfall Maps using combined COOP/CoCoRaHS data. http://www.crh.noaa.gov/iwx/program_areas/hydrology/precipmaps.php. Together they provide a powerful tool for assessing rainfall totals.
    3. Improvements in Funding: The status of CoCoRaHS was tenuous at the time of the meeting, but the evidence shown by a very successful winter fund raising effort among the volunteers (including their supportive comments) showed that the network was very valuable to its observers. COOP seemed to be holding its place in the NWS budget.
    4. Across the nation CoCoRaHS "real-time" Significant Weather reports have provided data used by the NWS to issue special weather statements which have provided the public with lead time to reach safety in flash flood and other precipitation related events
    5. Economic Value: The CoCoRaHS and COOP combination provide an invaluable national data resource for monitoring weather and climate at a very low cost.
    6. Data from the CoCoRaHS network are being used by a growing number of organizations in a variety of ways (water supply prediction and assessment, storm water management, engineering, agricultural production, etc.).
    7. Implementation of NWS WxCoder III and IVROCS is greatly improving real time access to COOP data for many hydro and other applications while also improving observer feedback and data quality.
    Last Modified: 31-Jul-2010

    Date of Annual Report: 07/28/2011

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 05/25/11 to 05/27/11
  • Period the Report Covers: 10/2010 to 09/2011

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    The fourth WERA-1012 Committee meeting was held in Estes Park, Colorado at the YMCA of the Rockies 23-25 May 2011.

    During the meeting, the vision of the future of CoCoRaHS was laid out through a series of discussions and presentations pertaining to various enhancements that could be made because of new funding that had been secured. These enhancements include data analysis, mapping, usability, data entry, etc.

    Perspectives from the states represented were given, with a common theme being the need for continued communication not only with the participants, but also with the various levels of coordinators from the regional to the local levels.

    There were also presentations given that described some of the additional networks that exist and the different things they have had to overcome and the types of audiences they serve.

    Uses of the data from the CoCoRaHS network were also discussed with emphasis on needing to show its value. Again the need for communication and education arose, for example stressing to participants the value that an observation of 0.0 has.

    The subcommittees that had been established previously gave updates as to their progress. (See the Accomplishments section for the actions of these subcommittees.) The active committees are:


    URL: Copy of minutes

    Accomplishments:
    1. The March Madness Regulations committee established two contests to be run simultaneously each March. After looking at various methods to count points, it was decided that the first awards would be given to the state with the highest raw number of new recruits. A second trophy would be given to the state with the highest number of population-weighted recruits, which would keep less populated states in contention.

    2. The Web Site Design committee presented a suggested user interface for the CoCoRaHS website that would help eliminate some of the errors that are seen in data entry, and which would also present a less-complicated entry screen.

    3. Two major grants (NOAA Education and NSF) were secured for sustaining the network. As far as funding, two successful fundraisers were also held.

    4. As part of the Data Quality Assurance and Control committee efforts, QC Tips of the Week were compiled and sent out and the CoCoRaHS Data QC Ticketing system was rolled out to Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, South Dakota, and Wyoming in addition to Illinois which was doing the initial testing. The system allows coordinators to file a ticket when a suspicious value is seen and allows for tracking of how the issue is resolved.

    5. A training guide handout was prepared by the Training and Education Committee. Additional training materials (videos and handouts) are being considered to answer What If questions such as how to handle special events like fog, large snow cores, etc.

    Impact Statements:
    1. 1. QA/QC Ticketing system will enhance the quality of the data going into CoCoRaHS and will provide means of tracking the recurring types of errors. This tracking will highlight areas for further training materials to target and reduce these errors.
    2. 2. New funding sources will allow for enhancements to the CoCoRaHS system across a wide range of areas from data entry to data analysis and increased performance.
    3. 3. Increased data points for analysis of drought impacts and reports to the Drought Monitor
    4. 4. Some school districts in North Dakota and Minnesota started observing and reporting precipitation data. It not only made K-12 students understand how precipitation events are quantified but also gave them an opportunity to analyze weather data, use simple statistical method to display data spatially and temporally.
    5. 5. National Weather Service (NWS) in every watch/warning area of the country were able to ingest the significant weather events (hail, intense rain, localized flooding) from CoCoRaHS observers to assist NWS forecasters issuing and verifying watches and warnings for severe thunderstorms in their respective Watch and Warning Areas.
    Last Modified: 08-Aug-2011

    Date of Annual Report: 01/02/2013

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 05/16/12 to 05/18/12
  • Period the Report Covers: 09/2011 to 10/2012

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    The 2012 WERA-1012 Committee meeting was held in Estes Park, Colorado at the YMCA of the Rockies 16-18 May 2012.

    During the meeting, the vision of the future of CoCoRaHS was laid out through a series of discussions and presentations pertaining to various enhancements that could be made because of new funding that had been secured. These enhancements include data analysis, mapping, usability, data entry, etc. Perspectives from the states represented were given, with a common theme being the need for continued communication not only with the participants, but also with the various levels of coordinators from the regional to the local levels. There were also presentations given that described some of the additional networks that exist and the different things they have had to overcome and the types of audiences they serve.

    Uses of the data from the CoCoRaHS network were also discussed with emphasis on needing to show its value. Again the need for communication and education arose, for example stressing to participants the value that an observation of 0.0 has.

    The subcommittees that had been established previously gave updates as to their progress. (See the Accomplishments section for the actions of these subcommittees.) The active committees are: 1) Committee for Precipitation; 2) Measurement; 3) Training and Education; 4) CoCoRaHS/COOP Collaboration; 5) Sustainability/Funding; 6) NWS COOP 125th Anniversary Planning; 7) CoCoRaHS March Madness Regulations; and 8) Web Design

    Detailed minutes of discussions are attached.


    URL: Copy of minutes

    Accomplishments:
    1. The WERA 1012 coordination effort continued to effectively connect NOAA's (National Weather Service and National Climatic Data Center) Cooperative Program leaders with data users and CoCoRaHS data collectors.

    2. CoCoRaHS expanded to Manitoba, Canada this past year, and two representatives of the CoCoRaHS Canada team attended their first WERA 1012 meeting.

    3. The CoCoRaHS PRISM Portal was launched in 2012, allowing observers the opportunity to view historical data for perspective around their station. This gives the observers a chance to see the historical record, compare it to their existing data, demonstrate the variability of rainfall and why their observations continue to be important.

    4. As part of planned improvements to the CoCoRaHS website, the mapping system went through a major update in 2012. The new mapping system, powered by Google Maps, is more interactive than the previous system, allowing users and observers the ability to zoom into locations. This new system will allow for additional features to be easily added in the future. The old mapping system is still in place and available on the CoCoRaHS website, for those users not interested in the new system.

    5. The Five for CoCoRaHS fundraising campaign was able to collect $36,000 in donations for 2012. No new grants were obtained in 2012 but efforts to secure additional funding will be required beginning in 2013

    6. CoCoRaHS, under the leadership of Colorado State University, was the western regional recipient of the Association of Public Land-grant Universities' (APLU) 2012 Outreach Scholarship W.K. Kellogg Foundation Engagement Award. The APLU gives out awards for five different categories (Northeast, South, North Central, West and the 1890 university community),

    7. Starting in 2011 and continuing through 2012, Nolan Doesken and Henry Reges attended and presented talks about the program in places such as the AMS Weather Fest (LA), the National Association of Conservation Districts (NV), National Flood Workshop (TX), along with a variety of other training sessions and localized Weather Fest activities across the U.S.

    Impact Statements:
    1. CoCoRaHS data are now routinely archived and made available through NOAAs National Climatic Data Center. It is a part of the Global Historical Climate Network GHCN), is now subjected to the same quality control measures as the NWS Cooperative Network, and is available to users through the NCDC data access systems. CoCoRaHS data are also now available along with NWS COOP data via the Applied Climate Information System (ACIS)
    2. Thanks to the efforts of this committee, many of the training resources of the National Weather Service Training Center (Kansas City) are available to support both the COOP network and CoCoRaHS. Likewise, new training animations produced by the CoCoRaHS team are enhancing measurement training for new volunteers and referesher snow measurement training for existing volunteer data collectors
    3. Data quality continues to improve thanks in part to the efforts of the QC committee and further implementation of the QC ticketing system in 9 CoCoRaHS states
    4. Despite funding challenges, the NWS Cooperative Program continues to deliver critical nationwide long-term data for research, education and business applications  which it has now for nearly 125 years. Most of this data collection is now paperless and updated daily  greatly streamlining data collection, processing and distribution
    5. To help meet the needs of the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) daily observations from all available reporting stations  including the NWS COOP network and CoCoRaHS  the PRISM Climate Group are developing a mapping and customized data delivery system that is improving the administration of federal crop insurance and could save farmers /ranchers and tax payers tens of millions of dollars
    6. Drought Impact reports from the CoCoRaHS network are feeding directly to the National Drought Mitigation Center (Univ. of Nebraska) to enhance drought monitoring and reporting capabilities
    7. National Weather Service (NWS) in every county warning area of the country are able to ingest the significant weather event reports (hail, intense rain, localized flooding) from CoCoRaHS observers to assist NWS forecasters issuing and verifying watches and warnings for severe thunderstorms in their respective areas
    8. Volunteer weather observers now number well over 20,000 (combining NWS COOP and CoCoRaHS) producing a rich and spatial dense data source and also leading to enhanced climate literacy for a growing segment of the U.S. population
    Last Modified: 13-Jan-2013
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