Climate Issues A State s s Perspective

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1 Climate Issues A State s s Perspective Nolan J. Doesken Colorado State Climatologist, President Elect AASC Colorado Climate Center, Colorado State University FYO8 Central Regional MIC/HIC Conference, Kansas City, MO, October 23, 2007

2 What is a State Climatologist and where did we come from?

3 Colorado Climate Center Beginnings After the state climatologist position was abolished in 1974 by the federal government, the State of Colorado, through the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station funding, established the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University.

nolan@atmos.colostate.edu Odie Bliss Coordinator, odie@atmos.

4 Nolan J. Doesken State Climatologist and Senior Research Associate, Odie Bliss Coordinator, (970) (970) (fax) Atmospheric Science Department Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO Who We Are

5 What We Do.

6 Data Acquisition and Archive Elements: temperature, precipitation, snow, wind, solar, evaporation, soil temperatures, humidity, cloud cover

7 Colorado Agricultural Meteorological (CoAgMet( CoAgMet) Network

8 CoAgMet data Fort Collins San Luis

9 Monitor the Climate of Colorado Drought, flooding, blizzards, tornadoes, temperature extremes, Heating/Cooling Degree Data, etc. March 2003 Snow Storm

10 Climatic Research Climatic Research Instrument Comparison Studies, Drought, Snow, Variability and Trends, Impacts and Modeling, etc. Fraction of Colorado in Drought Based on 48 month SPI ( August 2007) Year Fraction (in percent)

Ultrasonic Snow Project Fort Collins 2006-07 Snow Season Data 20 18 16 14 N_1HRMA SE_1HRMA SW_1HRMA Manual TSD FCL 2006-07 Snow Season Fairbanks, AK, Snow Sensor

11 Ultrasonic Snow Project Fort Collins Snow Season Data N_1HRMA SE_1HRMA SW_1HRMA Manual TSD FCL Snow Season Fairbanks, AK, Snow Sensor Site Snow Depth (in) /10/ /19/ /29/2006 2/7/2007 3/19/2007 4/28/ /30/ /9/2006 1/18/2007 2/27/2007 4/8/2007 5/18/2007 date time

12 Disseminate Information Farmers, ranchers, consultants, engineers, print and broadcast media, water resources, utilities, construction, lawyers, federal, state and local governments, schools, universities, and many others. HOW? Website, phone, fax, , publications and conferences (970) phone (970) fax

13 Are all State Climate offices the same? No!

14 SC Offices We have different funding mechanisms, funding levels, and staffing We have different institutional structures We have different skills We have different priorities

15 Through the American Association of State Climatologists (AASC) we are striving to achieve a high level of effectiveness in all states so that all NWS regions and Forecast Offices can expect effective climate services and expertise within all states

16 State Climate Offices

17 ARSCO American Association of State Climatologists Recognized State Climate Office

18 Regional Climate Centers (RCC)

19 Current AASC Action Priorities Data Stewardship Priorities (a) Guidelines Siting,, Sensors and Metadata (b) Mesonet Policy What data sources can be considered official (c) QA/QC Caring for the Fab 5 (Tmx, Tmn,, Pr, Sn, Sd)

20 Current AASC Action Priorities Strengthen State Climate Programs (a) ARSCO status (b) Advocacy and support (c) Developing State Climatologist Applied Climate Information System, SC-ACIS

21 What do State Climate Offices have to offer NWS? A very thorough knowledge of our respective states and climate sensitivities Local and regional climate expertise Strong knowledge of climate data resources A long-term perspective

22 Cont d Climate Climate information resources DataData Content Content for public presentations Political Political clout (????)

23 What do State Climatologists expect from the NWS?

24 Collaboration and friendship Layton Munson (Center), Sedgwick observer, receives Helmut Lundsberg 60-years Service Award

25 A commitment to quality and ongoing surface weather observations Photo provided by NWS-Den

26 Readily accessible data

27 Timely and accurate documentation (metadata)

28 Data quality control (if we want it in a hurry, we won t always get it right, but if we get it right eventually, we re happier!)

Notification when something is going to change (as far in advance as possible) 0.

1984-1994 (10-yr) 3yr Max 3-yr Min 3-yr Mean 10-yr Max 10-yr Min 10-yr Mean

29 Notification when something is going to change (as far in advance as possible) MMTS - LIG Temperatures Differences for (3-yr) Compared to (10-yr) 3yr Max 3-yr Min 3-yr Mean 10-yr Max 10-yr Min 10-yr Mean Degrees Fahrenheit Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Month

30 Close and functional NWS relationships with the National Climatic Data Center

31 A strong Cooperative Network Photo by Christopher Davey

32 A strong Cooperative Network (YES!, I did mean to say this twice) Holyoke, Colo,, NWS Cooperative Site

33 When changes are planned for important long-term stations, we also would GREATLY APPRECIATE a 1-22 year overlap in data between the old and the new. 30 Dillon Precipitation 25 Reservoir built, Station moved Precipitation (inches)

34 Why are Climatologists still enamored by the old-fashioned, low-tech Cooperative Network??

Lamar Coop It may be imperfect, but the NWS Cooperative Network is still the BEST source of long- term data for tracking variations and changes in temperature and precipitation Durango Annual

35 Lamar Coop It may be imperfect, but the NWS Cooperative Network is still the BEST source of long- term data for tracking variations and changes in temperature and precipitation Durango Annual Precipitation Precipitation (inches)

36 The NWS Cooperative Network is the only consistent nationwide source of basic climate information on a county level From Kelly Redmond, WRCC

37 The NWS Cooperative Network is the only source of climate-quality precipitation data for computing and mapping monthly, seasonal and annual totals

38 The NWS Cooperative Network is the only reliable nationwide source for snowfall and snow depth

39 The NWS Cooperative Network is valuable because station changes and instrumentation changes have been documented through history Denver November 19-25, 1871

40 The NWS Cooperative Network is elegant by way of it s simplicity!

41 Why are climatologists so picky about data? Because the data are used for very important applications!

42 Structural Engineering

43 Agricultural production and food supplies

44 Civil engineering

45 Water resources planning and management

46 Energy

47 Power distribution

48 Health and wellness

49 Understanding and communicating Understanding and communicating about climate change 70 Fort Collins Average Temperatures from 1889 to Average High Temperature Mean Temperature Average Low Temperature YEAR Temperature (deg F)

50 Fort Collins Annual Precipitation Precipitation (inches)

51 What is CoCoRaHS and Where does that fit?

52 CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow network) Photo by Henry Reges

53 Main features of CoCoRaHS Local leadership, web-based, based, low cost, simple measurements, high participation, frequent and personal feedback Local precipitation monitoring is the lowest common denominator of earth science research and education

54 CoCoRaHS today

55 Should NWS participate? CoCoRaHS Daily Precipitation Map For Indiana August 24, 2007

56 CoCoRaHS Daily Precipitation Map For Indiana August 25, 2007

57 That is entirely up to you CoCoRaHS should be voluntary, not mandatory but NWS participation really helps! CoCoRaHS must NOT compete with or undermine the Cooperative Network but rather enhance and support it

58 Suggestions! Get to know your State Climatologist Get out of your office and go visit Team up for at least one outreach effort each year Show your SC what new climate data and services your office is working on

59 Suggestions cont d Find out what resources they have to offer Invite your SC to give a climate briefing to your office staff every few years Consider offering a combined weather and climate class for selected constituents. Become a climate services team Do CoCoRaHS together

60 The End!

Colorado Weather and Climate Update

Colorado Weather and Climate Update Nolan J. Doesken State Climatologist Colorado Climate Center, Atmospheric Science Department, Colorado State University Presented to Colorado Livestock Association,