CoCoRaHS “ Volunteers monitoring precipitation in their backyards... filling in the gaps ”... filling in the gaps ”

“CoCoRaHS is a grassroots, non-profit, community-based, high-density precipitation network made up of volunteers of all backgrounds and ages... What Is CoCoRaHS??

... who take daily measurements of precipitation right in their own backyards”

Just Precipitation! Snow Rain Hail

1) Precipitation is important and highly variable 2) Data sources are few and rain gauges are far apart PRISM: used by permission Why CoCoRaHS ??

3) Measurements from many sources are not always accurate (especially snow) 4) There is almost no quantitative data being collected about hail 5) Storm reports can save lives

Our volunteers collect data by using low-cost measurement tools: 4-inch diameter high capacity rain gauges Aluminum foil-wrapped Styrofoam hail pads

All volunteers are trained This helps CoCoRaHS to provide accurate and high quality data. Training may take place at local training sessions, by CD or via the Web

Volunteers report their daily observations on our interactive Web site:

Downtown Denver DIA Airport This data allows CoCoRaHS to supplement existing networks and provide many useful results to scientists, resource managers, decision makers and other end users on a timely basis. Observations are immediately available in map and table form for the public to view.

Our aim is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education and research applications, while providing educational opportunities for the general public

A Brief History of CoCoRaHS

CoCoRaHS was born in response to the 1997 Fort Collins, Colorado Flood

The flood pointed out: 1. the extreme local variations in rainfall possible from convective storms. 2.the important role individuals can play in measuring, mapping and reporting precipitation. A B Distance between A and B = 5 miles A = 14.5 inches B = 2.0 inches

1998 Today A few dozen volunteers in Northern Colorado 4,000+ volunteers in 19 states

Active CoCoRaHS Stations: June 2007

Illinois for example Since December 1 st : 502 Observers

NASHVILLE, TN

Two Important Aspects of CoCoRaHS High Quality Data & Education/Outreach Opportunities

CoCoRaHS High Quality Data Hail Measurement Accurate Measurements Rainfall Measurement Snow Measurement Drought Monitoring

Accurate Measurements Gauge Performance Trained Observers Frequent reminders Data QC Volunteers Database of over 2 million daily precipitation measurements

CoCoRaHS data is available in both map and table form Daily precipitation maps: Rainfall, Hail and Snowfall Daily data in table form Albuquerque, NM

Rainfall Measurement

Our maps provide the ability to pick-up local variability in rainfall from convective events... DIA Boulder Downtown

... as well as uniformity in stratiform events

CoCoRaHS helps with flood monitoring as well! June 2006 flooding in the Maryland/Virginia/DC area A great example of Citizen Scientists in Action!

CoCoRaHS instantly provides the NWS with data for possible Severe Weather Warnings Intense Rain Reports Hail Reports Possible Flash Flood or Severe Thunderstorm Warnings issued Instant Snow Reports DENCCRAHS

Actual CoCoRaHS Intense Rain Report received at NWSFO NZUS45 BKOU CCRAHS Intense rain report from CoCoRAHS spotter: County: Robertson TN Cross Plains 3.7 W (number TN-RB-2) Latitude: Longitude: /05/ :15 AM local time inches so far, with 2.77 inches in the past 222 mins Flooding: Minor Comments: Majority of rain fell minutes before 09:15. Received NWS Boulder Sat May 5 08:25: MDT All of today’s CoCoRAHS observations are in WRKCCR (WFO Boulder only) Or at (click on reports)

Actual CoCoRaHS Detailed Hail Report received at NWSFO NZUS45 KBOU CCRAHS Detailed hail report from CoCoRAHS spotter: County: Coffee TN Wartrace 6/3 ENE (number TN-CF-4) Latitude: Longitude: /11/ :30 PM local time Largest hail: average: NA Damage: minor leaf damage Duration: 30 depth: Comments: Received NWS Boulder Fri May 11 19:28: MDT All of today’s CoCoRAHS observations are in WRKCCR (WFO Boulder only) Or at (click on reports)

Hail Measurement Instant hailstone analysis on-line Major depository for hail data in the United States Citizen participation in observing and measuring hailstones

Instant Analysis Volunteers as well as the general public can get instant analysis using our Web site: From frequency distributions of hail stone sizes, snowfall totals, or daily precip. amounts a fifth grader in Missouri can do this just as easily as a climatologist in Colorado! With two simple clicks of the mouse anyone can produce a frequency distribution of hail stone sizes for a specific county or state

Hailstorm Columbia, Missouri March 12, 2006

Snow Data 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 are 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

Spring Blizzard—Denver, Colorado, April 11, 2005 DIA Boulder Downtown

Drought Monitoring The CoCoRaHS Web site makes it possible for the public and scientists to quickly assess precipitation totals over previous weeks, months and years to identify areas most lacking in precipitation. Parts of New Mexico went over 4 months with no measurable precipitation from late October 2005 into February 2006.

A series of educational learning opportunities await each new CoCoRaHS volunteer “Educational/Outreach” The “Educational/Outreach” aspect of CoCoRaHS

Actual data collection— “learning by doing” They include...

learning by seeing Observing daily maps and regional precipitation patterns — learning by seeing Learning by using the CoCoRaHS Web page

Learning by Reading the “Message of the Day” After an observer enters their data, they are greeted by the “Message of the Day”... “The Gauge” newsletter articles...

...and bi-weekly updates “We still haven't had any measurable snowfall in most parts of Fort Collins and many areas of eastern Colorado. In fact, I just checked our official records and it's been 40 years since our first snow came this late (in 1965 it waited until Dec. 13). So, I reckon it's time. I better bring in my hail pad and make sure my snow measurement board is in position and my ruler is handy. Yikes, my funnel is still in my gauge, so I better get that out before Saturday!”

Additional outreach opportunities also include citizen participation in research projects... as well as workshops

2006 Rocky Mountain Weather and Climate Workshop “ Severe Weather in the Rockies” Saturday, May 20, AM – 5PM NOAA & NCAR Boulder, Colorado Sponsored by: NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NCAR: the National Center for Atmospheric Research The Colorado Climate Center, Colorado State University Department of Atmospheric Sciences The Workshop is now full. There are currently no more seats available

Learning by interacting. Fun social events where scientists and observers can interact face to face

Learning through opportunities to educate the public by volunteering at “special events” The Colorado Farm Show New Mexico Master Gardner Meeting Titan Missile Silo “Open House” AMS Weatherfest 2007

Finally, participants learn that their efforts can make a difference, by seeing their collected data being used by many organizations

BENEFITS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE * CoCoRaHS is able to supplement and enhance the Co-op network by providing a group of highly interested observers. This proves to be a benefit when a forecast office is looking for a new cooperative observer, as there will be a group who is already dedicated enough to participate in the CoCoRaHS network. Drawing from this pool can provide candidates for new co-op observers. * Warning Operations *Outreach and Partner Collaborations * Hydrologic Services* Climate Services *Local Research *Environmental and Science Education

Benefits for Climate Applications identify local precipitation patterns high spatial detail improves data quality depth/area/duration extreme precipitation analysis engineering applications (road, bridges, culverts—design and construction) Scales and typical patterns of storms for various weather patterns Radar/rainfall relationships Drought (improving local perspective) Hail characteristics Snow applications—roof loads, water supplies, melting and settling rates Insects agricultural production and agricultural management

2008 – 2009 A Look ahead

Thanks to NOAA Office of Education’s Environmental Literacy Program Grant we will set out to accomplish the following goals: The grant will expand CoCoRaHS into more states and use it as a mechanism for community outreach and education.

CoCoRaHS has the goal of expanding into five to eight new states each year At least 30 active states by 2009 with a total of 20,000 to 30,000 participants Hoping to one day achieve one observer every square mile in urban areas and one observer every 36 sq. miles in rural areas.

What about NWS Eastern Region?

September 07 October 2005 NWS Eastern Region Active CoCoRaHS states Maryland: 240 Active Observers Pennsylvania: 200 Active Observers Virginia: 159 Active Observers Wash DC: 7 Active Observers

What about NWS Southern Region?

April 07 June 2006 Autumn 2007 NWS Southern Region Active CoCoRaHS states March 2005 March 2005 January 2008 New Mexico: 617 Active Observers Tennessee: 305 Active Observers Texas: 277 Active Observers Oklahoma: 137 Active Observers

CoCoRaHS Louisiana Official kick-off of CoCoRaHS’s Citizen Science Precipitation Network in Louisiana AMS Weatherfest, January 20, 2008 New Orleans, LA “ “Giving back to the People of Louisiana... Leaving a Citizen Science Precipitation Network”

Foster the development of “state leadership teams” to support the CoCoRaHS effort. Emphasis on involving retired scientists and natural resource specialists

Improve CoCoRaHS training materials and volunteer training opportunities

Develop “media teams” in each CoCoRaHS state to become partners with CoCoRaHS leaders. They will help share our results and entrain new volunteers and sponsors.

Establish a long-lived spatially dense precipitation network in many parts of the U.S. Provide inexpensive research and service-quality data to supplement existing citizen networks such as the NWS Cooperative Network and local spotter networks

Assist volunteers in becoming confident “citizen scientists” Our goal is to help them learn how to collect useful data and build their ability to analyze and apply this scientific data/information to help their communities

Increase the availability of timely reports of intense rain, hail and snow. This will assist the NWS and other entities to improve public safety, hazard awareness and environmental understanding.

Partner with Cooperative Extension through Master Gardener and 4-H programs Use of an existing education outreach and infrastructure to reach more potential volunteers

Other Potential Opportunities Potential value to NIDIS (National Integrated Drought Information System) for enhancing local sub-county scale data on both ground truth precipitation, as well as drought impacts Radar and Satellite precipitation estimate verification for improving water supply and flood prediction

And finally... Each new storm is a “potential opportunity” to learn more about precipitation and it’s variability!

Just 5 minutes a day! It’s easy and fun!