Paul Heinrich, NAU Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research Diana Anderson, NAU Environmental Sciences NAVAJO HYDROCLIMATE DATA MEASUREMENT, STORAGE, AND PROCESSING WORKSHOP Window Rock, Arizona, June 12 – 13, 2008

Presentation rationale  The Navajo Nation Hydroclimate Data Workshop was convened in October 2007 at NAU.  The workshop was attended by over 30 participants from 13 organizations.  Participants included specialists in regional hydroclimatic modeling.  One recommendation (Garfin et al., 2007:77), was to explore methods of data access and facilitation.  Examples of existing networks listed by participants included MesoWest, AHIS, and CUAHSI.

 This presentation will provide examples of data flow, storage, and public access of data for two networks,  the Northern Arizona Mesonet (NAM), and  the Merriam-Powell Elevational Gradient Weather Stations  Common issues to be addressed include:  What are data quality requirements for contributing to climate databases?  What types of archive systems may be available?  How may this data be accessed by users?  In what types of formats are the data available to users?

 The Northern Arizona Mesonet (NAM) is a network of 17 wireless, solar-powered weather stations located throughout northeastern Arizona that upload thirteen measured and calculated parameters automatically to a web server every 2 minutes.

Flagstaff Stations: Aspen Trail Subdivision Coconino High School DeMiguel Elementary School Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy Flagstaff High School Flagstaff Middle School Northern Arizona University Sinagua High School NE Arizona Stations: Doney Park Hopi Jr/Sr High School (Keams Canyon)* Leupp Schools Incorporated National Weather Service (Bellemont) Page Middle School* Red Mesa High School Rocky Ridge Boarding School* Tuba City Junior High Shonto Preparatory School* (* Not yet available on the web)

Each Station Has A Detailed Current Conditions Page Summary Data is Available For The Month, The Current Day And the Previous Day

 The previous day’s data available through simple, non-error- checked text files.  Teachers will be the main users here.  Text files also provide an easy-to-import archival version of the data

 Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research Has developed a Database to store all data collected by the stations  Storage in a database makes retrieval of specific data more efficient  Eventually a graphical interface will be developed to allow retrieval and charting of the archived data.  Regional climate researchers and teachers will be the main users here.

 MesoWest, at the University of Utah, archives and makes available 8 of the NAM sites as part of it’s regional coverage. You can see data is needed from NE Arizona as the NWS has few weather stations in the region. ( 8 NAM stations currently included in MesoWest: 1. Aspen Trails 2. Coconino H.S. 3. NAU 4. Tuba City JHS 5.Red Mesa HS 6.FALA 7.Doney Park 8.Leupp One objective of the NAM project is to have all the NAM stations included.

 This image shows all stations/networks incorporated into MesoWest in the region, the inset shows the data from the NAM Tuba City Junior High School site.

 Criteria for inclusion in the MesoWest database.  Reliable and accurate data that has been flowing routinely with no gaps in data or bad data spikes  Criteria for data quality levels based on range and statistical checks ( and are flagged as belowhttp://  Black/OK : data has passed all QC checks.  Orange/Caution : some data has been flagged by the statistical check and should be used with caution.  Red/Suspect : some data has been found to be outside reasonable bounds.  Uses/users of the MesoWest data.  Included in numerical model initialization  Used by forecasters for watches/warnings/advisories and forecasts

 Network of five Campbell Stations north of the San Francisco Peaks  Data is collected manually and archived with the Desert Research Institute (DRI) and by Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research  DRI provides online access and integration with their weather network (Western Regional Climate Center)  Data is transferred to DRI manually and achieved by DRI personnel  Raw datasets are also archived at NAU

Summary Data on the MPCER Website Elevational Gradient Site Locations

DRI provides online access and integration with their weather network (Western Regional Climate Center)

Histogram of Hourly Precipitation – Ponderosa Site

Future Plans for the Elevational Gradient Weather Stations Add Database archive at NAU using a similar approach as the Northern Arizona Mesonet Create Graphical User Interface that pulls data from both databases Explore real-time data collection again