Thousands of volunteer observations have been submitted

Public helps support field projects with observations

An invitation to be a part of NSSL's science and research first went out to the public at the end of November, 2006. The Winter Hydrometeor Classification Ground Truth Program (WHCGTP) requested reports of winter precipitation occurring at any location within 90 miles of Norman, OK. Local broadcast meteorologists and newspapers spread information about the need for volunteers, and the Norman National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWSFO) provided announcements on NOAA weather radio and a link to the project Web site from their home page. The information provided by the residents of central Oklahoma during Winter 2006-7 was so valuable, NSSL again called on them to be a part of their science and research in the Hail Size Discrimination Experiment (HaSDEx).

HaSDEx requested hail observations throughout the duration of thunderstorm events occurring within 90 miles of Norman, OK from as many people in as many places as possible. Volunteers were asked to check NSSL’s home page (http://www.nssl.noaa.gov) for the “Project Status.” If the project was “Active,” they were invited to make as many observations as they wanted. Hourly observations were ideal. The Norman NWSFO again assisted by providing a link to the project on their web site.

Hail piles up on a road in northern Colorado

Volunteer observations from the 2006-2007 WHCGTP and 2007 HaSDEx will be merged with data from the dual-polarized KOUN radar to investigate the relationship of polarimetric variables to different types of precipitation. The projects will help NSSL researchers refine and develop radar techniques, algorithms, and products to diagnose precipitation characteristics and intensity and improve warnings hazardous weather.

WHCGTP and HaSDEx are different from other public cooperative observation programs because the volunteers remain anonymous and make no long-term commitments. Both are also narrowly focused on type of winter precipitation and hail, while other programs require more information such as measuring precipitation amounts or temperature.