NOAA’s National Climatic Data CenterProtecting the Past, Revealing the Future

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Thomas R. Karl Director, NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC

Program Manager, NOAA Climate Observations and Analysis

NOAA Data Users' ForumSurface Weather/Climate Observations & Data

Kansas City, MissouriJune 3, 2004

A NOAA Vision For AnIntegrated Surface Observation

System

NOAA’s National Climatic Data CenterProtecting the Past, Revealing the Future

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Atmospheric Observations

Data Systems

Technology Development

OBSERVING SYSTEM TIMELINE

InnovationsBreakthrough

Efficiencies Cost

Mass Productions

Space Observations

Ocean Observations

Innovations

Breakthrough

Efficiencies Cost

Mass Productions

20th Century 21st Century

Discipline Specific View Whole System View

TechnologyDevelopment

Optimizing Operational Observing Systems For Multiple Users

ImmatureMostly Mature

Trade SpaceTrade Space

Scientific Data

Stewardship

Scientific Data

Stewardship

Demand Criteria

Usefulness of Existing Observing Systems or Observations

Capacity & demandDual use potentialState of models for

data utilizationPerceived impact of

resulting data

Monte Carlo Experiments

Model Simulations

Monte Carlo Experiments

Model Simulations

21st Century Vision

Scientific Data

Stewardship

Scientific Data

Stewardship

Estimated Data Quality Statistics

Estimated Data Quality Statistics

Data Quality Statistics

Data Quality Statistics

Integrated with Similar Observing

Systems

New Observing Systems

New Observing Systems

Enhancement of Existing Systems

Enhancement of Existing Systems

Today

TodayTomorrow

Cost to implement Readiness Operating cost Well defined measurement principles Probability of successful implementation of extended measurement

system with known properties Extensibility of observing system with

respect to later improvements Timeliness of data & information

availability

Existing infrastructure to support data stewardship activities

Potential for transition from research to operations

Cost sharing & partnerships Commitment and

stability of sponsors

Easy and convenient access to data Absence of potential impediments to data use Breadth and readiness of domestic user communities Capacity building opportunities

Implementation Criteria

Strategic Criteria

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Societal Benefits

Climate Ocean Resources Disasters Energy Health Agriculture Ecosystem Water

Resources

GEOSS--- Eliminating the Stove Pipe Observing Systems to Create a “System of Systems”

Global Observing Systems

GCOSGOOSGTOS

WHYCOSWorld Weather

IGBPIOOSCEOSEtc.

National Observing Systems

Satellites

Surface Obs.

Radar

Aircraft

Ocean Observations

Paleo-data

Private Sector Observing Systems

Satellites

Mesonets

Lightening

Commercial Aircraft

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NOAA’s National Climatic Data CenterProtecting the Past, Revealing the Future

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"I still have a conceptual hang up with 2 separate systems, one for climate and one for weather.  We already have an extensive weather obs network - why not just upgrade the quality of info gathered for weather to climate standards and save the $ spent on new reporting stations or replace weather observations with climate level observing stations."

--Vice Admiral Lautenbacher

A View from the Top on Integrated Observations

NOAA’s National Climatic Data CenterProtecting the Past, Revealing the Future

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We agree!

Development of an Integrated Surface Observing System (ISOS)

ISOS – 9,000 weather/climate observing stations needed to meet NOAA’s data coverage requirements (CRN, COOP, ASOS).

Weather & Water/Climate Goals Response:

ISOS

NOAA’s National Climatic Data CenterProtecting the Past, Revealing the Future

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Integrating Weather & Climate-Related Surface Observations

There are numerous observing systems measuring important weather and climate-related observations

Networks are built for specific purposes (related but different priorities).

USCRN (NOAA) COOP (NOAA) ASOS (NOAA) Other (PORTS, SURFRAD, ARIMON, BSRN) (NOAA)

SCAN (USDA) RAWS (BLM) SNOTEL (USDA)

MESONETS Regional Climate Centers, States, Private Sector

“Integrate from the Inside Out”

NOAA’s National Climatic Data CenterProtecting the Past, Revealing the Future

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Integrating Weather & Climate-Related Surface Observations

Initial Framework forNOAA Surface Observing Networks:

• USCRN: United States Climate Reference Network• COOP: Volunteer Cooperative Observer Network• ASOS: Automated Surface Observing System Network

COOP (~8000 Stations) ASOS (~900 Stations)USCRN (107 Stations by Oct 07)*

*47 now commisioned, others planned

NOAA’s National Climatic Data CenterProtecting the Past, Revealing the Future

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KA Manhattan 6 SSW, Kansas State KA Manhattan 6 SSW, Kansas State University, (Konza Prairie Biological Station)University, (Konza Prairie Biological Station) 39.1027 N 96.6 W 1139’October 1, 2003

ID Murphy 10 W, ARS, NW Watershed ID Murphy 10 W, ARS, NW Watershed Research CenterResearch Center 43.2 N 116.8 W 3950’June 29, 2003

GA Newton 8 W, Robert W. Woodruff GA Newton 8 W, Robert W. Woodruff Foundation (Ichauway-George Site)Foundation (Ichauway-George Site)31.3 N 84.5 W 201’August 20, 2002

NE Lincoln 11 SW, Audubon Society NE Lincoln 11 SW, Audubon Society (Spring Creek Prairie Site)(Spring Creek Prairie Site)40.7 N 96.8 W 1364’ January 14, 2002

U.S. Climate Reference Network Sites

NOAA’s National Climatic Data CenterProtecting the Past, Revealing the Future

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Modernized Cooperative Station

Instrumentation

ASOS

NOAA’s National Climatic Data CenterProtecting the Past, Revealing the Future

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Integrating Weather & Climate-Related Surface Observations

Non-NOAA Public Surface Observing Networks:

• SCAN• RAWS• SNOTEL• State and Regional Mesonets

SNOTEL (USDA; ~600 Stations)RAWS (BLM; ~1,700 Stations)SCAN (USDA; 47 Stations)

State/Regional Mesonets (~1,000 Stations)

NOAA’s National Climatic Data CenterProtecting the Past, Revealing the Future

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Integrating Weather & Climate-Related Surface Observations

Non-NOAA Private Surface Observing Networks:

TO BE DETERMINED

NOAA’s National Climatic Data CenterProtecting the Past, Revealing the Future

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RAWS ASOS COOP SNOTEL CRN SCAN REGIONAL & STATE MESONETS

Wind Speed H H H H 5 min to 1 Hr.

Wind Direction H H H 5 min to 1 Hr.

Temperature H H D H H H 5 min to 1 Hr.

Relative Humidity H H H 5 min to 1 Hr.

Precipitation H H D H H H 5 min to 1 Hr.

Pressure H H 5 min to 1 Hr.

Soil Moisture H

Soil Temperature H H 15 min to 6 Hr.

Surface Temperature H

Solar Radiation H H H 5 min to 1 Hr.

Maximum Temperature

D D D D D

Minimum Temperature D D D D D

Snow Depth D H H

Dewpoint H 5min to 1 Hr.

Visibility H

Sky Condition H

Wind Chill H

Frequency of Observation by Element

H: Hourly, D: Daily

NOAA’s National Climatic Data CenterProtecting the Past, Revealing the Future

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An Integrated Surface Observing System for the United States (ISOS)

NOAA’s National Climatic Data CenterProtecting the Past, Revealing the Future

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ISOS Vision for the Near Future

Single integrated data maintenance, ingest, quality assurance and control system

CRN, COOP and ASOS used to support the weather analysis and forecasting mission as well as climate

Initial Planning – Summer 2004

NOAA’s National Climatic Data CenterProtecting the Past, Revealing the Future

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Upcoming Changes at NCDC

NCDC will commence Integrated Surface Hourly Data Processing

System (ISHDPS) in September 2005

Network-independent quality assurance daily rather than monthly

Loading of data online (now have 2002- available) (http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov)

NOAA’s National Climatic Data CenterProtecting the Past, Revealing the Future

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ISHDPS: The Results….

~ 20,000 stations historically available, 1900 to present

Available data increases in 1948, and further increases in 1973.

NOAA’s National Climatic Data CenterProtecting the Past, Revealing the Future

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ISOS: An Evolving Integration of Networks

ISOS

Questions?