Annual/Termination Reports:

[06/01/2009] [07/30/2010] [07/28/2011] [01/02/2013] [07/29/2013]

Report Information

Participants

Adnan Akyuz (adnan.akyuz@ndsu.edu)North Dakota State University;;William Angel(william.e.angel@noaa.gov)NOAA/NCDC;Scott Archer(Scott_Archer@blm.gov)Bureau of Land Management;Mike Asmus(mike.asmus@noaa.gov)NOAA/NWS - Southern Region;Tony Bergantino(antonius@uwyo.edu)Wyoming State Climate Office;Mike Borengasser(michael.borengasser@arkansas.gov )Arkansas State Climate;Joel Cline(joel.cline@noaa.gov)NOAA/NWS - COOP Program;Nolan Doesken(nolan@atmos.colostate.edu)Colorado State University;Laura Edwards(cocorahs@dri.edu)(Desert Research Institute;Melissa Griffin(griffin@coaps.fsu.edu)Florida Climate Center;Rob Gillies(robert.gillies@usu.edu)Utah Climate Center;Pat Guinan(GuinanP@missouri.edu)University of Missouri;Steve Hilberg(hberg@uiuc.edu)Midwest Regional Climate Center;Timothy Kearns(timothy.kearns@noaa.gov)NOAA/NWS - Central Region;Matt Kelsch(kelsch@comet.ucar.edu)UCAR/COMET;Mary Knapp(mknapp@ksu.edu)Kansas State University;Esmaiel Malek(emalek@mendel.usu.edu)Utah State University;John McLaughlin(John.McLaughlin@noaa.gov)NOAA/Office of Education;Steven Quiring(squiring@tamu.edu)Texas A&M University;Henry Reges(hreges@atmos.colostate.edu)CoCoRaHS - Colorado State University;Dave Robinson(drobins@rci.rutgers.edu)Rutgers University;Zach Schwalbe(zach@cocorahs.org)(CoCoRaHS - Colorado State University;Nancy Selover(selover@asu.edu)(Arizona State University;Lee Sommers(lee.sommers@colostate.edu)Colorado State University;Kris Stepenuck(kris.stepenuck@ces.uwex.edu(Wisconsin Volunteer Stream Monitoring;Julian Turner(julian@lamar.colostate.edu)CoCoRaHS - Colorado State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

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.<br /> <br /> 1. CoCoRaHS/COOP Collaboration<br /> <br /> 2. Sustainability/Funding<br /> <br /> 3. Training and Education<br /> <br /> 4. Data Quality Assurance and Control<br /> <br /> 5. Precipitation Measurement References<br /> <br /> 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).<br /> <br /> <br /> 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<br /> <br /> <br /> 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).<br /> Develop and pursue specific and achievable goals to provide support to volunteer observing networks.<br /> <br /> <br /> 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).<br /> Gather together training products that have been developed and put into a Training Library. <br /> Develop ways of evaluating deficiencies in the training programs.<br /> <br /> <br /> 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).<br /> Develop a set of checks that can be implemented in CoCoRaHS.<br /> <br /> <br /> 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).<br /> -Develop a comprehensive bibliography of literature on precipitation measurements.<br /> -Provide in PDF where possible<br /> <br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> NWS COOP 125th Anniversary Planning Committee: Mike Asmus (NWS).<br /> <br /> <br /> Assist NOAA with the preparations for the 125th Anniversary of the COOP network.<br />

Publications

Again, since the group just met for the first time on a topic that is not the primary focus of most participant's research, no publications were submitted this year. As our committee matures and collaboratively undertakes a number of tasks, we anticipate a variety of publications in the near future. Two publications prepared by members of the WERA1012 committee but prior to the formation of the group are of particular utility at this early stage. They are:<br /> <br /> Doesken, Nolan. "Let it Rain." Weatherwise July-August 2007: 50-55. <br /> <br /> Elizabeth Herron, Linda Green, and Kris Stepenuck. "Volunteer Management and Support." Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring. 01 JUL 2008. USDA National Facilitation of CSREES Volunteer Monitoring Efforts Website, Web. <www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer/><br />

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&lsquo;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.

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Report Information

Participants

Participants

Adnan Akyuz (adnan.akyuz@ndsu.edu) North Dakota State University;Jeff Andresen (Andresen@msu.edu) Michigan State University;Scott Archer s4archer@hotmail.com) BLM - Retired;Mike Asmus (mike.asmus@noaa.gov) NOAA/NWS - Southern Region;Tony Bergantino (antonius@uwyo.edu) Wyoming State Climate Office;Joel Cline (joel.cline@noaa.gov) NOAA/NWS - COOP Program;Robert Davies Robert.davies@usu.edu) Utah State University;Nolan Doesken (nolan@atmos.colostate.edu) Colorado State University;" Randy Gray (randell.gray@noaa.gov) NOAA/NWS - Pueblo;Harry Hillaker (harry.hillaker@iowaagriculture.gov)Iowa Dept of Ag.;Steve Hilberg (hberg@uiuc.edu) Midwest Regional Climate Center;Timothy Kearns (timothy.kearns@noaa.gov) NOAA/NWS - Central Region;Mary Knapp (mknapp@ksu.edu) Kansas State University;Bryant Korzeniewski (Bryant.korzeniewski@noaa.gov) NOAA/NCDC;Byron Louis (byron.louis@noaa.gov) NOAA/NWS - Boulder;Henry Reges (hreges@atmos.colostate.edu) CoCoRaHS - CSU;Zach Schwalbe (zach@cocorahs.org) CoCoRaHS - CSU;Nancy Selover (selover@asu.edu) Arizona State University;Bill Sorensen (wsorensen1@unl.edu) High Plains Reg. Climate Ctr.;Kevin Stewart (kstewart@udfcd.org) National Hydro Warning Council;Julian Turner (julian@lamar.colostate.edu) CoCoRaHS - CSU;James Zdrojewski (james.zdrojewski@noaa.gov) NOAA/NWS - Climate Services

Brief Summary of Minutes

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

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<br /> Reporting Drought Impacts, were produced and are available for download from the CoCoRaHS website.<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> 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.

Publications

None in the current year.

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.

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Report Information

Participants

Akyuz, Adnan (adnan.akyuz@ndsu.edu) - ND State Univ.;
Archer, Scott (Scott_Archer@blm.gov) - Jefferson Cty Coordinator;
Asmus, Mike (mike.asmus@noaa.gov) - NOAA/NWS SRH;
Bergantino, Tony (antonius@uwyo.edu) - Univ. of Wyoming;
Davies, Robert (robert.davies@usu.edu) - Utah State Univ.;
Doesken, Nolan (nolan@atmos.colostate.edu) - CoCoRaHS HTQRS;
Eise, John (john.eise@noaa.gov) - NOAA/NWS CRH;
Gimmestad, Chad (chad.gimmestad@noaa.gov) - NOAA/NWSFO - Boulder;
Goble, Peter (qc@cocorahs.org) - CoCoRaHS HTQRS;
Griffin, Melissa (griffin@coaps.fsu.edu) - Florida State Univ.;
Halquist, John (john.halquist@noaa.gov) - NOAA/NWS/NOHRSC;
Hilberg, Steve (hberg@uiuc.edu) - MRCC/Illinois State Water;
Jones, Jim (jim.jones@noaa.gov) - NOAA/NWS - Training Ctr.;
Knapp, Mary (mknapp@ksu.edu) - Kansas State Univ.;
Korzeniewski , Bryant (Bryant.korzeniewski@noaa.gov) - NOAA/NCDC;
Merriman, Tony (tony.merriman@noaa.gov) - NOAA/NWSFO - Bismarck;
Newman, Noah (nnewman@atmos.colostate.edu) - CoCoRaHS HTQRS;
Olheiser, Carrie (carrie.olheiser@noaa.gov) - NOAA/NWS/NOHRSC;
Reges, Henry (henry.reges@colostate.edu) - CoCoRaHS HTQRS;
Robinson, Dave (david.robinson@rutgers.edu) - Rutgers Univ.;
Schargenberg, Kevin (kevin.scharfenberg@noaa.gov) - NOAA/OCWWS;
Schwalbe, Zach (zach@cocorahs.org) - CoCoRaHS HTQRS;
Selover, Nancy (selover@asu.edu) - Arizona State Univ.;
Townsend, Thomas (tom.townsend@noaa.gov) - NOAA/NWS CRH;
Turner, Julian (julian.turner@colostate.edu) - CoCoRaHS HTQRS;
Zdrojewski, Jim (james.zdrojewski@noaa.gov) - NOAA/NWS HTQRS;

Brief Summary of Minutes

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:

• Committee for Precipitation Measurement
  
• Training and Education
  
• CoCoRaHS/COOP Collaboration
  
• Sustainability/Funding
  
• NWS COOP 125th Anniversary Planning
  
• CoCoRaHS March Madness Regulations
  
• Web Design
  

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

Publications

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.

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Report Information

Participants

Akyuz, Adnan (adnan.akyuz@ndsu.edu) - ND State Univ.; Ash, Guy (guy_ash@weatherfarm.com)  Weatherfarm/Manitoba CA;Bergantino, Tony (antonius@uwyo.edu) - Univ. of Wyoming;Daly, Chris, (Chris.daly@oregonstate.edu)  PRISM/Oregon State University;Davies, Robert (robert.davies@usu.edu) - Utah State Univ.;Dello, Kathi, (kdello@coas.oregonstate.edu) Oregon State Univ.;Doesken, Nolan (nolan@atmos.colostate.edu) - CoCoRaHS HQ;Edwards, Laura, (laura.edwards@sdstate.edu)  South Dakota State Univ.;Gerbush, Mat (gerbush@cep.rutgers.edu) - Rutgers Univ.;Goble, Peter (qc@cocorahs.org) - CoCoRaHS HQ;Gray, Randy, (randall.gray@noaa.gov)  NWS Pueblo;Griffin, Melissa (griffin@coaps.fsu.edu) - Florida State Univ.;Hilberg, Steve (hberg@uiuc.edu) - MRCC/Illinois State Water;Jones, Jim (jim.jones@noaa.gov) - NOAA/NWS - Training Ctr.;Knapp, Mary (mknapp@ksu.edu) - Kansas State Univ.;Korzeniewski , Bryant (Bryant.korzeniewski@noaa.gov) - NOAA/NCDC;Lawrimore, Jay (jay.lawrimore@noaa.gov) - NOAA/NCDC;Reges, Henry (henry.reges@colostate.edu) - CoCoRaHS HQ;Sass, Alison (alison_sass@weatherfarm.com) Weatherfarm/Manitoba, CA;Schwalbe, Zach (zach@cocorahs.org) - CoCoRaHS HQ;Selover, Nancy (selover@asu.edu) - Arizona State Univ.;Turner, Julian (julian.turner@colostate.edu) - CoCoRaHS HQ;Sorensen, Bill (wsorensen1@unl.edu) -- Univ. of Nebraska;Zdrojewski, Jim (james.zdrojewski@noaa.gov) - NOAA/NWS HQ

Brief Summary of Minutes

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.

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

Publications

Reges, H., and Nolan Doesken, 2011: Creating a Volunteer Observing Network. WMO Bulletin, Volume 60(1) - 2011.<br /> <br /> Reges, H., and Nolan Doesken, 2010: The Value of the Citizen Weather Observer. Weatherwise magazine, November-December, 2010.<br />

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

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Report Information

Participants

Akyuz, Adnan (adnan.akyuz@ndsu.edu) - ND State Univ.;Anderson, Mark (mra@unl.edu) - Univ. of Nebraska;Bergantino, Tony (antonius@uwyo.edu) - Univ. of Wyoming;Borengasser, Mike (Michael.borengasser@arkansas.gov) - Arkansas DNR;Daly, Chris, (Chris.daly@oregonstate.edu)  PRISM/Oregon State University;Davies, Robert (robert.davies@usu.edu) - Utah State Univ.;Dello, Kathie, (kdello@coas.oregonstate.edu) Oregon State Univ.;Doesken, Nolan (nolan@atmos.colostate.edu) - CoCoRaHS HQ.;Goble, Peter (qc@cocorahs.org) - CoCoRaHS HQ;Griffin, Melissa (griffin@coaps.fsu.edu) - Florida State Univ.;Hilberg, Steve (hberg@uiuc.edu) - MRCC/Illinois State Water;James, Annette (aajames@pvamu.edu) - Prairie View A&M Univ.;Jones, Jim (jim.jones@noaa.gov) - NOAA/NWS - Training Ctr.;Knapp, Mary (mknapp@ksu.edu) - Kansas State Univ.;Luttrell, Cindy (cocorahs@mesonet.org) - Univ. of Oklahoma;Reges, Henry (henry.reges@colostate.edu) - CoCoRaHS HQ;Robinson, Dave (drobins@rci.rutgers.edu) - Rutgers Univ.;Sass, Alison (alison_sass@weatherfarm.com) Weatherfarm/Manitoba, CA;Schwalbe, Zach (zach@cocorahs.org) - CoCoRaHS HQ;Selover, Nancy (selover@asu.edu) - Arizona State Univ.;Turner, Julian (julian.turner@colostate.edu) - CoCoRaHS HQ;Sorensen, Bill (wsorensen1@unl.edu) -- Univ. of Nebraska;Stewart, Kevin (kstewart@udfcd.org) - Nat. Hydrologic Warning Council;Zdrojewski, Jim (james.zdrojewski@noaa.gov) - NOAA/NWS HQ

Brief Summary of Minutes

The 2012 WERA-1012 Committee meeting was held in Estes Park, Colorado at the YMCA of the Rockies 15-17 May 2013.

A variety of topics were discussed during the three-day meeting. The first day was spent focusing on the new goals and objectives that have been adopted by the group for the next 5-years. These goals include:

1. Promote volunteer precipitation observations as a cost effective approach to monitoring a highly variable and critically important element of our climate.

2. Develop and coordinate protocols for volunteer precipitation measurements that meet state, regional, national and international needs.

3. Improve data quality from volunteer networks through program leadership, training resources and QA/QC methods.

4. Improve climate monitoring capabilities and applications through supplementing existing observing networks.

5. Educate scientists and climate data users on the value and applications of high-density precipitation observations.


In keeping with the theme of the future of the WERA group, the proposed changes and restructuring of the website and database were discussed. Functionality was the key idea with the new design, which will be tested by current coordinators and observers before going live.

A theme that is discussed at most of the annual WERA meetings is the current status, health and future of the National Weather Service Cooperative (COOP) Network. CoCoRaHS, along with other MesoNets and observing programs, currently help compliment and supplement the data being collected by COOP. Based on the information reported, the proposed cuts to the number of reporting stations in the COOP program have been shelved, but the is still an effort to clean up the program.

Revitalizing and redefining some of the subcommittees were tasks that came out of the decisions during the subcommittee discussions. Focus was given to the Quality Control, Snow Measurements and Education Subcommittees, as both gave lengthy presentations of their accomplishments and tribulations over the previous year.

Continual funding for the CoCoRaHS program has provided challenges and the Sustainability Subcommittee will look into new avenues to secure a future for the program. . The idea of a National CoCoRaHS Conference was mentioned as a way to celebrate the program and thank the observers for their continued participation in the network.

Accomplishments

ET Gauges: After WERA last year, ET was added to the CoCoRaHS program with the atmometers. Some atmometers were sponsored by CoCoRaHS HQ and were distributed to interested state coordinators. In addition to those supplied atmometers, observers across the U.S. purchased their own (at $218) to take part in the observing the other side of the water cycle. Currently, ET measurements are being reported from 34 different states.<br /> <br /> PRISM Portal: The CoCoRaHS Climate Portal is now available to observers and allows them to explore the climate of their location based on the PRISM data, created by the PRISM Group out of Oregon State University. This interactive tool allows users to examine the normal 30-year rainfall statistics for their station, along with time series analysis tools.<br /> <br /> Alternative Training Methods: With the help of an animator, some of the training slide shows have been turned into animated shorts, which make them more entertaining and appealing to new observers. The ease of animation has allowed for some of the more cumbersome snow observation topics to be explained, since the animator can create the necessary scenarios. In addition to training modules, animations have been created for the water cycle and for a basic introduction to the program and its importance. <br /> <br /> WxTalk Webinars: Started in December 2011, the WxTalk Webinars have become a monthly educational tool for the program. About 20 talks have been completed and talks are scheduled to continue monthly through the end of 2013. Topics covered during these webinars have covered climate variability, drought, flooding, tornadoes, clouds, optics, hurricanes and more. On average 175 people sign up to take part in the webinar, which features a 40 minute talk by a guest presenter, and allows for the audience to ask questions and interact with the guest. The webinars are then archived on the CoCoRaHS YouTube channel.<br /> <br /> Recruitment: After slow recruitment years of 2011 and 2012, the number of new observers started to climb in 2013, thanks in part to the March Madness recruitment drive. During March 2013, over 1200 new observers joined the program, making it the best March Madness in the programs history. <br />

Publications

Grant, Nicholas, and Laurel Saito. "Linking wildlife, water, and climate." Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (2013).<br /> <br /> Sueltenfuss, Jeremy P., David J. Cooper, Richard L. Knight, and Reagan M. Waskom. "The Creation and Maintenance of Wetland Ecosystems from Irrigation Canal and Reservoir Seepage in a Semi-Arid Landscape." Wetlands (2013): 1-12.<br /> <br /> Lowry, Christopher S., and Michael N. Fienen. "CrowdHydrology: Crowdsourcing Hydrologic Data and Engaging Citizen Scientists." Ground Water 51, no. 1 (2013): 151-156.<br /> <br /> Lane, John E., Nolan J. Doesken, Takis C. Kasparis, and David W. Sharp. "Analysis of the March 30, 2011 Hail Event at Shuttle Launch Pad 39A." (2012).<br /> <br /> Durkee, Joshua D., Lee Campbell, Kyle Berry, Dustin Jordan, Gregory Goodrich, Rezaul Mahmood, and Stuart Foster. "A Synoptic Perspective of the Record 1-2 May 2010 Mid-South Heavy Precipitation Event." Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 93, no. 5 (2012): 611-620.<br /> <br /> Burt, Stephen. The Weather Observer's Handbook. Cambridge University Press, 2012.<br /> <br /> Fang, Tianfang Bernie, and Yongmei Lu. "Personal real-time air pollution exposure assessment methods promoted by information technological advances." Annals of GIS 18, no. 4 (2012): 279-288.<br /> <br /> Wolfe, Jonathan P., and Jefferson R. Snider. "A Relationship between Reflectivity and Snow Rate for a High-Altitude S-Band Radar." Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology 51, no. 6 (2012): 1111-1128.<br /> <br /> Kelly, G. M., B. F. Taubman, L. B. Perry, J. P. Sherman, P. T. Soulé, and P. J. Sheridan. "Relationships between aerosols and precipitation in the southern Appalachian Mountains." International Journal of Climatology (2012).<br /> <br /> Sharma, Suresh, Sabahattin Isik, Puneet Srivastava, and Latif Kalin. "Deriving Spatially-Distributed Precipitation Data Using the Artificial Neural Network and Multi-Linear Regression Models." Journal of Hydrologic Engineering (2012).<br /> <br /> Sherman-Morris, Kathleen, Charles L. Wax, and Michael E. Brown. Mississippi Weather and Climate. University Press of Mississippi, (2012).<br /> <br /> Menne, Matthew J., Imke Durre, Russell S. Vose, Byron E. Gleason, and Tamara G. Houston. "An overview of the global historical climatology network-daily database." Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology 29, no. 7 (2012): 897-910.<br /> <br /> Dickinson, Janis L., Jennifer Shirk, David Bonter, Rick Bonney, Rhiannon L. Crain, Jason Martin, Tina Phillips, and Karen Purcell. "The current state of citizen science as a tool for ecological research and public engagement." Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 10, no. 6 (2012): 291-297.<br /> <br /> Kelleners, T. J., and A. K. Verma. "Modeling Carbon Dioxide Production and Transport in a Mixed-Grass Rangeland Soil." Vadose Zone Journal 11, no. 3 (2012).<br /> <br /> Wardlow, Brian D., Martha C. Anderson, Justin Sheffield, Bradley D. Doorn, James P. Verdin, Xiwu Zhan, and Matthew Rodell. "16 Future Opportunities and Challenges in Remote Sensing of Drought." Remote Sensing of Drought: Innovative Monitoring Approaches (2012): 389.<br /> <br /> Story, Gregory J. "12 Estimating Precipitation from WSR-88D Observations and Rain Gauge Data." Remote Sensing of Drought: Innovative Monitoring Approaches (2012): 281.<br /> <br /> Hopper Jr, Larry J., and Courtney Schumacher. "Modeled and Observed Variations in Storm Divergence and Stratiform Rain Production in Southeastern Texas." Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences 69, no. 4 (2012): 1159-1181.<br /> <br /> Shepherd, Marshall, T. L. Mote, John Dowd, Mike Roden, Pamela Knox, Steven C. McCutcheon, and Steven E. Nelson. "An overview of synoptic and mesoscale factors contributing to the disastrous Atlanta flood of 2009." Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 92, no. 7 (2011): 861-870<br /> <br /> Moon, J. T., et al. "CoCoRaHs in Missouri: Four years later, the importance of observations." Trans. MO Acad. Sci 43 (2009): 7-18.<br />

Impact Statements

1. Successful collaboration between the NOAA NWS Cooperative observing network and CoCoRaHS helping maintain basic long-term climate monitoring complimented by high density but less continuous data locally and regionally.
2. WERA 1012 interactions helped to speed up and improve the incorporation of CoCoRaHS data into ACIS (Applied Climate Information System) and NOAAs Global Historical Climate Network. Combining data sources is improving spatial analysis of precipitation for meteorological, agricultural and hydrologic applications.
3. Improved data quality from volunteer precipitation data are resulting in more uses and application including the development of new precipitation products for the USDA RMA to help with crop insurance claims and fraud reduction.
4. Greater confidence in local precipitation patterns on a daily and weekly basis is helping the US Drought Monitor to improve local drought depictions.
5. With the surging popularity of school gardens, CoCoRaHS has been able to connect with numerous schools across the U.S. as math and science teachers are searching for citizen science programs to engage their students.

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