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Items 2006Storm Helps Launch Winter Ground Truth Field Program
A significant winter storm that hit the central United States late last week provided a boost to the beginning of a winter weather research project at the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory.
NSSL researchers have been recruiting volunteers of any age and education (including teachers, families and classes) living within 90 miles of Norman, OK to observe and describe what kind of precipitation is falling at their location during winter weather events. The project is called the Winter Hydrometeor Classification Ground Truth Field Program, and is the first of its kind. As the storm forecasts went out, local broadcast meteorologists and newspapers spread information about the need for volunteers.
Many people responded -- more than 700 reports were received in just a few days. The project supports NSSL scientists involved in developing new radar technologies and techniques to determine what kind of precipitation — such as snow, ice, or rain — is falling at any given location.
Volunteers will provide valuable information that will allow researchers to compare what was observed with what the radar detected during winter storm events.
The public is invited to participate via a link located on the Norman, OK NWS Enhanced Weather Page: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/enhanced.php.
Story URL: http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/projects/winter06
12/4/06