Online climate databases, contributing to climate networks

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Online climate databases, contributing to climate
networks

• 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

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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., 200777), was
  to explore methods of data access and
  facilitation.
• Examples of existing networks listed by
  participants included MesoWest, AHIS, and CUAHSI .

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• 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?

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The Northern Arizona Mesonet

• 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. http//www.cens.nau.edu/nauws/

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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)
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1. Raw data from webpage link
Each Station Has A Detailed Current Conditions
Page
Summary Data is Available For The Month, The
Current Day And the Previous Day
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2. Raw data from NAU file storage

• The previous days 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

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3. Database storage at MPCER

• 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.

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4. MesoWest

• 8 NAM stations currently included in MesoWest
• 1. Aspen Trails
• 2. Coconino H.S.
• 3. NAU
• 4. Tuba City JHS
• Red Mesa HS
• FALA
• Doney Park
• Leupp
• One objective of the NAM project is to have all
  the NAM stations included.

• MesoWest, at the University of Utah, archives and
  makes available 8 of the NAM sites as part of
  its regional coverage. You can see data is
  needed from NE Arizona as the NWS has few weather
  stations in the region. (http//www.met.utah.edu/
  mesowest/).

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Tuba City JHS on MesoWest

• 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.

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MesoWest Data Users

• 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 (http//www.met.utah.edu/dr
  oman/help/qc.html) and are flagged as below
• 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/advisorie
  s and forecasts

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MPCER Elevational Gradient

• 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

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Elevational Gradient Site Locations
Summary Data on the MPCER Website
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• DRI provides online access and integration with
  their weather network (Western Regional Climate
  Center)

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Histogram of Hourly Precipitation Ponderosa
Site 2002-2007
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Future Plans for the Elevational GradientWeather
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