# Presentation: 257004

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

## “CoCoRaHS is a
grassroots, non-profit, 
community-based, 
high-density  precipitation network

***“******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”

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

## Snow

- Just Precipitation!

- Rain

- Hail

## 1) Precipitation is important and highly variable

**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)

- 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: www.cocorahs.org

- Volunteers report their daily observations on our interactive Web site: **www.cocorahs.org**

## Observations are immediately available in 

**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

**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.**

**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: 

- Active CoCoRaHS Stations:
- June 2007

## Illinois for example

**Since December 1****st****:  502 Observers**

## NASHVILLE, TN

**NASHVILLE, TN**

## Two Important Aspects of CoCoRaHS 

**Two Important Aspects of CoCoRaHS **

***High Quality Data ******&****** ******Education/Outreach Opportunities***

## CoCoRaHS High Quality Data

_**CoCoRaHS High Quality Data**_

- Hail Measurement

- Accurate Measurements

- Rainfall Measurement

- Snow Measurement

- Drought Monitoring

## Accurate Measurements

- Gauge Performance
- Trained Observers
- Frequent e-mail reminders
- Data QC Volunteers
- Database of over 2 million daily precipitation measurements

## CoCoRaHS data is available in both map and table form

- 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 . . .

- 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!

- 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

- Actual CoCoRaHS Intense Rain Report received at NWSFO

**NZUS45 BKOU 051425**
**CCRAHS**
**Intense rain report from CoCoRAHS spotter:**
**County:  ****Robertson TN**
**Cross Plains 3.7 W (number TN-RB-2)**
**Latitude: 36.550248**
**Longitude: -86.747602**
**05/05/2007 09:15 AM local time**
**-2.00 inches so far, with 2.77 inches in the past 222 mins**
**Flooding: Minor**
**Comments: Majority of rain fell 30-45 minutes before 09:15.**
**Received NWS Boulder Sat May 5 08:25:50 2007 MDT**
**All of today’s CoCoRAHS observations are in WRKCCR (WFO Boulder only)**
**Or at **_[http://](http://www.cocorahs.org/)__[www.cocorahs.org](http://www.cocorahs.org/)_** (click on reports)**

## Actual CoCoRaHS Detailed Hail Report received at NWSFO

- Actual CoCoRaHS Detailed Hail Report received at NWSFO

**NZUS45 KBOU 120128**
**CCRAHS**
**Detailed hail report from CoCoRAHS spotter:**
**County: ****Coffee TN**
**Wartrace 6/3 ENE (number TN-CF-4)**
**Latitude: 35.564987**
**Longitude: -86.230624**
**05/11/2007 03:30 PM local time**
**Largest hail: 0.625     average: NA**
**Damage: minor leaf damage**
**Duration: 30 ****	****	****depth:**
**Comments:**
**Received NWS Boulder Fri May 11 19:28:43 2007 MDT**
**All of today’s CoCoRAHS observations are in WRKCCR (WFO Boulder only)**
**Or at **_[http://](http://www.cocorahs.org/)__[www.cocorahs.org](http://www.cocorahs.org/)_** (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: _[www.cocorahs.org](http://www.cocorahs.org/)__._

- 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 

**A series of educational learning opportunities **
**await each new CoCoRaHS volunteer**

**The *****“Educational/Outreach”***** aspect of CoCoRaHS**

## Actual data collection— “learning by doing”

- They include . . .

## 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 e-mail updates

-   . . .and bi-weekly e-mail 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, 2006
- 9AM – 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

**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**

## A Look ahead

- 2008 – 2009

## 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 2008-2009

- 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?

**What about NWS Eastern Region?**

## NWS Eastern Region Active CoCoRaHS states

- September 07

- October 2005

- 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?

**What about NWS Southern Region?**

## NWS Southern Region Active CoCoRaHS states

- 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”***

## Slide 59

## 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. 

- 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!

## It’s easy and fun!

**Just 5 minutes a day!**

**It’s easy and fun!**