H U N T S V I L L E, A L A B A M A COOP Modernization Efforts Jason Elliott NWS Huntsville October 24, 2006

H U N T S V I L L E, A L A B A M A New site at Russellville Arpt  Wide open field with no obstructions Why do this?  Old site at Russellville, AL (between two buildings!)

H U N T S V I L L E, A L A B A M A Timeline Early 2005: Process began February – October 2005: More than two dozen site surveys completed in an 11- county area of North Alabama October 2005: Site selection team meeting in Huntsville –Seven sites were selected for installation February 2006: Installs began Now: 6 of 7 stations operating

H U N T S V I L L E, A L A B A M A Site Configuration Three-sensor GEONOR weighing rain gauge with dual wind shields Wetness sensor GOES Satellite transmitter Three-sensor temperature equipment Valley Head, AL -- February 2006 installation Some locations also have a solar panel. This location uses commercial power. Two sites have wind equipment that is mounted using an extra tower section above the GOES transmitter. Wind equipment may be added to more sites down the road. Datalogger

H U N T S V I L L E, A L A B A M A Data Availability Transmits via GOES once per hour –Data is for the previous hour Posts to NERON website hourly, with daily and monthly summaries available – Posts to NCDC website hourly – NWS Huntsville transmits data in daily temperature & precipitation products – –Internally-archived comparison product –Once automated QC’d data is provided to NWS offices, we hope to include in other products as well

H U N T S V I L L E, A L A B A M A Future Plans Install at TVA Muscle Shoals (date unknown) Allow for data receipt directly into NWS systems (AWIPS) –This would get QC’d data to neighboring offices Expansion Expectations & Plans –FY07 installs near Birmingham and Montgomery –FY08 installs near Mobile and possibly a small portion of southern middle Tennessee???? Funding dependent Hopeful Thought: More timely data receipt Similar efforts also underway in Kentucky (Kentucky Mesonet Project) –Based out of Western Kentucky University