Building the Georgia Building the Georgia MesonetMesonet

Lans P. RothfuszLans P. RothfuszMeteorologist in Meteorologist in

ChargeChargePeachtree City, GeorgiaPeachtree City, Georgia

A Step Toward a A Step Toward a National Cooperative National Cooperative MesonetMesonet

What is a Mesonet?What is a Mesonet?

• Combination of “mesoscale” and Combination of “mesoscale” and “network.”“network.”

• ““MesoMesoscale” = small-scale weather events scale” = small-scale weather events – Smoke plumesSmoke plumes– ThunderstormsThunderstorms– Wind gustsWind gusts– Wind shiftsWind shifts– Flash floods.Flash floods.

• ““NetNetwork” = an interconnected system.work” = an interconnected system.

What is a Mesonet?What is a Mesonet?

• ““Mesonet” Mesonet” = a system of sensors = a system of sensors designed to measure the designed to measure the environment at the size and duration environment at the size and duration of mesoscale events.of mesoscale events.

Sensor coverage in the Oklahoma Mesonet.

What Do We Have Now?What Do We Have Now?• Mesonets in GeorgiaMesonets in Georgia

– Univ. of GeorgiaUniv. of Georgia– GDOTGDOT– GEPDGEPD– Georgia ForestryGeorgia Forestry– U.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest Service– USGSUSGS– EPAEPA– NWS & FAANWS & FAA

What We Have Now…What We Have Now…

• Sensors radically different.Sensors radically different.

• Locations are not optimal.Locations are not optimal.

• Each has gaps in coverage.Each has gaps in coverage.

• Some do not collect in real-time.Some do not collect in real-time.

• Data not compiled and shared.Data not compiled and shared.

• NWS: A need to modernize its NWS: A need to modernize its program!program!

NWS Cooperative Observer NWS Cooperative Observer ProgramProgram

• Existing system = Existing system = VolunteersVolunteers

• Precip and Precip and temperature temperature twice/day for national twice/day for national climate record.climate record.

NWS Cooperative Observer NWS Cooperative Observer ProgramProgram

• StrengthsStrengths– Historical record.Historical record.– Time-tested methods.Time-tested methods.

• WeaknessesWeaknesses– Attrition.Attrition.– High-maintenance QC.High-maintenance QC.– Lack of real-time data.Lack of real-time data.

NWS “Coop” ModernizationNWS “Coop” Modernization

• Automated.Automated.• High-density (1 sensor/20 High-density (1 sensor/20

miles).miles).• Additional data (wind, air Additional data (wind, air

and soil moisture, etc.).and soil moisture, etc.).• High temporal resolution High temporal resolution

(every 15-minutes).(every 15-minutes).• Real-time, QC-ed data.Real-time, QC-ed data.• Expandable and adaptable Expandable and adaptable

infrastructure.infrastructure.

How Will We Do This?How Will We Do This?

• Capitalize on existing networks & Capitalize on existing networks & communications.communications.

• Accomplished by a consortium of Accomplished by a consortium of “Mesonet Partners.”“Mesonet Partners.”

• NWS/NOAA seed $$$!!! NWS/NOAA seed $$$!!!

• Georgia = national prototype.Georgia = national prototype.

Partners Already Involved…Partners Already Involved…StateStateGBIGBIGDOT*GDOT*GEPD*GEPD*GFC*GFC*GEMAGEMAState State ClimatologistClimatologist

AcademiaAcademiaUniv. of Georgia*Univ. of Georgia*GA TechGA Tech

FederalFederalUSFS*USFS*USGS*USGS*CDCCDC

OtherOtherEM Assoc. of GAEM Assoc. of GA

*Have a mesonet.

Connecting the NetworkConnecting the Network

GBI

CJISRepeaters NWS

MesonetPartner

MesonetPartner

MesonetPartner

ftp, web, etc.

OtherStates

OtherStates

MesonetStations

Central CollectionQC, Distribute, Archive

NLETSNLETS Control

(Phoenix)

Why is a Mesonet Needed?Why is a Mesonet Needed?

• Benefits are many and varied.Benefits are many and varied.

• Protection and enhancement of life, Protection and enhancement of life, property, and the economic welfare property, and the economic welfare of the state.of the state.

Benefits of a MesonetBenefits of a Mesonet

• Enhanced monitoring Enhanced monitoring & modeling of & modeling of biohazard (BCRNE) biohazard (BCRNE) plume dispersionplume dispersion..

• Better support in Better support in man-made and man-made and natural hazard natural hazard events.events.

Benefits of a MesonetBenefits of a Mesonet

• Better real-time EM Better real-time EM incident commands incident commands centers.centers.

Benefits of a MesonetBenefits of a Mesonet

• Improved Improved severe severe weather weather warningswarnings (especially (especially damaging winds damaging winds and tornadoes).and tornadoes).

Benefits of a MesonetBenefits of a Mesonet

• Greater success in Greater success in winter weather winter weather forecasting forecasting (e.g., (e.g., ice locations and ice locations and snow amounts).snow amounts).

Benefits of a MesonetBenefits of a Mesonet

• More effective More effective drought drought monitoring monitoring and and water resource water resource management.management.

Benefits of a MesonetBenefits of a Mesonet

• Improved support Improved support for for agriculturalagricultural decision makers.decision makers.

Benefits of a MesonetBenefits of a Mesonet

• Better monitoring Better monitoring & forecasting of & forecasting of controlled and controlled and uncontrolled burns uncontrolled burns in in forest forest managementmanagement..

Benefits of a MesonetBenefits of a Mesonet

• Education Education applications for applications for grades K-12.grades K-12.

• Research Research opportunities for opportunities for universities and universities and private companies.private companies.

Benefits of a MesonetBenefits of a Mesonet

• Power generation Power generation savings for utilities.savings for utilities.

Benefits of a MesonetBenefits of a Mesonet

• Data for Data for epidemiological epidemiological and forensic and forensic analysis.analysis.

Benefits of a MesonetBenefits of a Mesonet

• Data, data, data!!!Data, data, data!!!– Weather and hydrologic.Weather and hydrologic.– Made available in a variety of formats.Made available in a variety of formats.

The VisionThe Vision

• A Network of NetworksA Network of Networks– A station every 20 miles (1/county).A station every 20 miles (1/county).– Data collected every 15 minutes.Data collected every 15 minutes.– Centralized data collection.Centralized data collection.– Thorough QC (for national climate Thorough QC (for national climate

record).record).– Data available to all.Data available to all.

• A safer, more responsive, secure, A safer, more responsive, secure, and capable Georgia.and capable Georgia.

SummarySummary

• A statewide network of high-quality A statewide network of high-quality weather/water sensors is coming.weather/water sensors is coming.

• 15-minute data in real-time at 20-15-minute data in real-time at 20-mile spacing.mile spacing.

• Benefits are significant and Benefits are significant and numerous.numerous.

• Partners still welcome!!Partners still welcome!!