The Oklahoma Mesonet Plus

Using Environmental Data for Education, Research, and Decision Making

The Oklahoma Climatological Survey Norman, Oklahoma Why OCS? Why OCS? Mark invited us! Oklahoma Senate Bill 547 Oklahoma Senate Bill 547 547) and meteorological matters

(Mark is not in SB the most cost effective way possible, all climate and weather information which is or could be of value to policy and decision makers in the state; climatological both within and outside the state when requested to do so by the legislative or executive branches of the state government; Mark invited us! To acquire, archive, process and disseminate, in To act as the representative of state in all Oklahoma Senate Bill 547 Oklahoma Senate Bill 547 regular climate summaries for those individuals, agencies, and organizations whose activities are related to the welfare of state and are affected by climate weather; weather phenomena of significant socioeconomic importance to the state; To prepare, publish and disseminate periodic To conduct and report on studies of climate Oklahoma Senate Bill 547 Oklahoma Senate Bill 547 manmade, deliberate and inadvertent changes or modifications in important features of the climate and weather affecting the state, and to report this information those agencies and organizations in the state who are likely to be affected by such changes or modifications; AND… To evaluate the significance of natural and Mesonet Mesonet

To maintain and operate the Oklahoma To maintain and operate the Oklahoma at least one in every county at least one in every county

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115 stations 115 stations agency needs agency needs - - ind Speed ir Temperature oil Temperature oil Temperature oil Temperature oil Moisture A W S S S S (9 m) (2 m) (5, 25, 60, and 75 cm) (5 cm bare) (5 cm sod) (30 cm sod) • • • • • •

n o i t c e

Parameters to serve multi Parameters to serve multi r i D d n ind Speed i elative Humidity ainfall ir Temperature arometric Pressure olar Radiation oil Temperature oil Temperature A R S S S W B R (1.5 m) (1.5 m) (10 m) (10 m) (10 cm bare) (10 cm sod) • • • •W • • • • • VisualizationVisualization ToolsTools WxScopeWxScope WebWeb PlugPlug--inin ……andand thethe requisiterequisite trainingtraining UnidataUnidata 20082008 WhereWhere thethe OklahomaOklahoma ClimateClimate SurveySurvey fits:fits:

Endeavor 1: ‘new data sets, partnerships, support in less technologically sophisticated environments.’ (and less financially sophisticated environments)

Endeavor 2: ‘web based training, simplify installation, etc.’

Endeavor 4: ‘visualization software’

From M. Ramamurthy slides 6/23/2003 Decisions Impacting Lives and Property Decisions Impacting Lives and Property Situation Awareness no history apparent.

Test your expertise: Test your expertise: has interaction en. It is now . Storm ng very little. He wants a to weak no rotation e afternoon...drop hail (up rnado in storm 15 miles to , No boundary movi below 40 dBZ ee calls; sees to down 65 miles from radar ing tornadoes.... mploy e to quarter size) and then begin after dark. the northeast ... wrapped in rain and occasionally illuminated by lightning... tornado warning…. Reflectivities of produc apparent... Mid June in the southern plains Thunderstorms develop during th OU SoM Storm about very five e

If you blow off the report: If you blow off the report: Tornado Strikes Without Warning! Weather Service ignored pleas from trained storm spotter! “I tried to tell ‘em. I called ‘em minutes! They just wouldn’t listen!” said Mark Laufersweiler, School of Meteorology, OU. CO-OP

When in actuality… When in actuality… mployee. E ooked like a tornado! l NWS puts out Tornado Warning on Grain Silo!! Town forced to take cover from menacing tower of corn! “Well it sorta Anyway, they’re the ones with that $3M radar... why didn’t they just use it?” said Mark Laufersweiler, ex-OU SoM Excellent Decisions Excellent Decisions education… Situation Awareness Begin with research and

th ’ wi across tner supported SF! N Micronet continually rst federal ‘par OCS Research Partners… OCS Research Partners… i historical shift more of the ARM/CART been a continual partner because the has ade it possible to also m By 1993, the USDA became f a decision to modernize their the Little Washita Watershed. DOE/ARM Mesonet SGP site into Kansas. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have their access to quality-assured rainfall data. …and don’t forget the “mother” of Unidata! - Others include DoC, NOAA, NWS, NASA, DoD, etc. T HWES CROSS PS A ER SOUT VER ALL BUT V R LOW PO O ING MID LEVEL S LL NOT CHANGE. I DIDN'T HAVE THE E W LLITE TRENDS. HIGH F E TO BLAME FOR ACTIVITY T WORDING F ATBURST EVENT O SE CLOUD COVER O A L ING INCREA W TICED I ORA INCREA MP CENT HE O

Things we never thought of… Things we never thought of… E BALLPARK AND W CURRENT S FORMATION STATEMENT SENT EARLIER OINT GRIDS BASED ON CURRENT IMAGERY SHO RNING. V T...WHICH IS PARTLY O N SED ON M S TO REMOVE TE ..PUBLIC IN ENDS. W LAHOMA. WILL ALS D IT. CAST SCUSSIO UN 23 2003 R K HOMA BA T NCREASE DEW P FORE E T OKLA U MISSE T MON J O D . ESONET ES MA. EVENT MAY HAVE GONE UNNO M KC ONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OKLAHOMA MORNING CONCERNING FAIRLY DE FXUS64 KOUN 231536 AFDO AREA FORECAST DI NATI 1035 AM C WILL UPDAT NORTH CENTRAL O NORTHW TEMPERATURES APPEAR TO BE IN TH HOWEVER...WILL I METAR/ MOISTURE FROM SOUTHWES POPPING UP EARLIER THI IN CASE Y THIS OKLAHO MESONET FORECAST ID = 11 Research leads to decision support: Research leads to decision support: Research leads to decision support: Research leads to decision support: FosteringFostering PartnershipsPartnerships inin AgricultureAgriculture

“The Mesonet has proven to be one of the most valuable production and marketing tools available to Oklahoma producers.... Mesonet data will play an increasing role in pesticide and fertilizer applications, prescribed burning, confined animal operations, and irrigation scheduling, to name a few.”

Mark Hodges, Exec. Director Oklahoma Wheat Commission ata via a dial- d ustomized software. -12 outreach program K Began in 1992 with 3 C training, and access to for teacher enhancement. classes of teachers who received computers, Mesonet up bulletin board system. • • •

Fostering Partnerships in Education: Fostering Partnerships in Education: EARTHSTORM 1994) 1994) - -

er 3 years (1992 er 3 years (1992

for $750,000 ov for $750,000 ov

EARTHSTORM Teacher Workshops EARTHSTORM Teacher Workshops

Initial funding from the NSF Initial funding from the NSF Oklahoma’s 77 counties now

Generating widespread support… Generating widespread support… ata in the classroom. d across thereafter, these same schools became the schools In many rural Oklahoma communities, the EARTHSTORM computer was the only in the school (at time). Soon first ones in Oklahoma to access the internet. Multi-curricular, multi-disciplinary applications. 250 use Mesonet PartnersPartners leadlead toto fundingfunding opportunities:opportunities:

“Using the Mesonet, we now work in a laboratory without walls. Rural areas are at a disadvantage no longer.”

JoAnn Ball, Comanche Public Schools Tell your legislators: Tell your legislators: Lori Painter, 6th Grade Teacher s providing my students with i Monroe Elementary, Enid Public Schools “The Mesonet new insights into what science really is. My students have a new enthusiasm and interest in their education. Never my 14 years of teaching have I had students begging to come and stay at school for any other curriculum.” U U

EarthStorm EarthStorm Program ege and university and 4-year coll

disciplinary Extension: disciplinary Extension: - - : t l u

Multi Multi s e ducation majors enter the K-12 classroom knowing rofessors incorporate real-time Mesonet, ARM, unding provided by the Oklahoma EPSCoR Scientists in other disciplines now use the Mesonet F 18 Oklahoma 2- P E faculty attended training workshops based on EARTHSTORM NEXRAD Radar, and Satellite data into undergraduate education and other science courses how to use Mesonet, ARM and other weather information to enhance science and math teaching • • • • •R Houston Post

A Decision Maker’s Nightmare: A Decision Maker’s Nightmare: “The practical inutility of the national weather bureau, for certain sections of the country, at least, was never so conspicuously shown as on Friday and Saturday last when South Texas was left without any warning…” More complaining: More complaining: “Informed decisions on the part of users weather information are needed if such is to be translated into beneficial actions.” “Research to improve the link between meteorological service and users of weather information was markedly deficient.” port, 1964. r Bureau Re But in the 60’s, everyone was complaining: But in the 60’s, everyone was complaining: “Informed decisions on the part of users weather information are needed if such is to be translated into beneficial actions.” “Research to improve the link between meteorological service and users of weather information was markedly deficient.” -US Weathe A meteorological fumble? A meteorological fumble? es Report, 1970. “No change in the situation first reported in 1964.” -National Academy of Scienc cation . work p21. Individual heroes: Individual heroes: EWX 27, 1997 - tbreak May u cials to seek alternative and who had a critical need for it. mation that warning information r confirm receipt of warnings l Texas Tornado O nt on the Centra on 9: e i methods to ice Assessm Recommendat The staff at NWSFO EWX is commended for their dedi and extra effort to seek confi was being received by officials Nevertheless, it is recommended that NWSFO with emergency management offi more efficient -NOAA Serv p22. ways to improve 27, 1997 - cal weather tbreak May u officials. ng criti nt to seek ather warnings and should unicati l Texas Tornado O nt on the Centra on 12: e i We need better decision support tools: We need better decision support tools: ice Assessm Recommendat The NWS should continue to work with the state of Texas Division of Emergency Manageme the timely transmission of we intensify efforts on both a local and state level to explore alternative methods of comm products to emergency management -NOAA Serv une 1998 J the minutes

Individual heroes: Individual heroes: ation logs t .” bruary 22-23, 1998 - s of the tornado threat Sunday eriff’s dispatcher at 10:33 p.m. request, for several of the storms. S threatened counties of the affected counties, alerting them da Tornado Outbreak Fe the emergency management or rs in the e nt on the Central Flori e contact with all of the ice Assessm e “Due to the perceived seriousnes evening, February 22, the Melbourne staff took extraordinary step of calling communications cent office’s CWA prior to the onset indicat to the potential for severe storms. In Volusia County, Melbourne staff contacted the sh and stayed on the phone, at her giving scan by updates on the radar data -NOAA Serv p7. une 1998 J ng, should bruary 22-23, 1998 - mitations of this type li gement personnel to develop ls, or minimal staffi to ensure that existing mass da Tornado Outbreak Fe should work nt on the Central Flori e ice Assessm

We STILL need better decision support tools: We STILL need better decision support tools: RECOMMENDATION: The potential contact due to high activity leve be made clear to emergency management and safety forces personnel. WCMs communication systems are identified and fully utilized work with local emergency mana new or enhanced mass communication systems. -NOAA Serv p16. What have we learned? What have we learned? -J. Carr (1850) “You've not had 30 years' experience, you've had one year's experience 30 times.” FIRST FIRST - -

OK OK t lus: P an r e text and graphic products me Federal g The Oklahoma Mesonet - ather Servic e tive by OCS to develop a decision-support system a RAD (~20 products from 15 radars + mosaics) T! X RS

F -Fostered more effective interaction with the NWS -NE -National W Provide instruction on how to use and apply (and how “not to” apply) critical weather data. 1996-1999: $550K one-ti 1999-present: $250K/yr from Legislature An initi for Public Safety Agencies (Emergency Management, Fire, and Police). OK- May 3, 1999 May 3, 1999

nagement: Ben Springfield nagement: Ben Springfield re the storm arrived. o le bef al were moved into hallways ed by updates broadcast on Hospit d elter. e Strou all was cleared of peop

Lincoln County Emergency Ma Lincoln County Emergency Ma M s at th t r and took sh ural citizens were inform anger atien T R P • • scanne • before debris completely filled the rooms. FosteringFostering PartnershipsPartnerships withwith thethe NWS:NWS:

“The Oklahoma Mesonet has quickly become a critical piece of information to make warning and forecast decisions at the National Weather Service. It has played key roles in situations ranging from the May 3rd tornadoes [of 1999] to forecast support during the Oklahoma City bombing recovery effort.”

David L. Andra, Jr., Science and Operations Officer National Weather Service Forecast Office - Norman, OK FosteringFostering PartnershipsPartnerships withwith thethe Media:Media:

“From locating dry lines, checking rain totals for flooding, to wind gusts, the Oklahoma Mesonet gives operational meteorologists the timely data we need…. Other than the NEXRAD radars, I can’t imagine any other resource I have that provides as much weather data to help me warn our viewers of severe weather threats.”

Dan Threlkeld, KFOR-TV, Oklahoma City, OK HumanHuman resourcesresources andand response:response: MultidisciplinaryMultidisciplinary Focus:Focus: FireFire WeatherWeather Firefighting/HazardousFirefighting/Hazardous MaterialsMaterials

“Ardmore/Carter County Emergency Management routinely monitors the Mesonet. They page this information to all Carter County fire departments so they are prepared for wind shifts and hazardous conditions.”

“Ponca City and Kay County Emergency Management officials continually monitored Mesonet conditions during the Conoco refinery fire on October 29, 1999. They kept abreast of the wind conditions to keep a bad situation from becoming worse.” ProactiveProactive versusversus ReactiveReactive

“We had a wildfire along the Red River south of Grandfield. Using the Mesonet and your fire weather products, I was able to relay to the first fire truck that was en route to the scene how fast the fire should burn and what the wind, air temperature, and humidity would be at the scene. Because the spread component was high, we dispatched 2 more trucks to the scene even before the first truck arrived. The 3 trucks had the fire out within 30 minutes, quite possibly saving property and lives.”

Tommy Thornton, Emergency Management Director UrbanUrban MeteorologyMeteorology FosteringFostering PartnershipsPartnerships withwith electricelectric coco--ops:ops: EconomicEconomic benefitsbenefits ofof oneone utilityutility helpinghelping another:another:

“The Oklahoma Mesonet is proving to be a tremendous resource for the electric cooperatives of Oklahoma. Up-to-the-minute weather data are absolutely critical…. Not only is the information from Mesonet accurate and timely, but other services, such as access to real-time weather radar, afford our electric co-ops the opportunity to enhance their abilities to deliver competitively priced electricity in a safe and reliable manner.”

Sid Sperry, Director of Marketing & Member Relations Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives ConflictsConflicts withwith PrivatePrivate Industry?Industry?

“HEY! THAT’S NOT FAIR!” ConflictsConflicts withwith PrivatePrivate Industry?Industry?

Know your customers! GISGIS Challenges?Challenges? GISGIS Challenges!Challenges! TheThe InfiniteInfinite Loop:Loop:

‘Tenets’ from Cliff Jacobs’ presentation on Monday June 23, 2003:

1. Customization of some, passive access to other re: data (Ag, Edu, Emer Mgmt, Elec Coops, Transportation, etc.) 2. Personalization and communication (we are constantly training!) 3. Workplace/home/school (250 schools, 150 em’s, 19 rec’s) 4. Enhance the quality of work undertaken by non-atmospheric scientists. AAASAAAS ExternalExternal Review…Review…

“The Mesonet has grown over the past decade to an operation that reaches every county in Oklahoma, and impacts the economy of the state and the well-being of its citizens…. The management of the Mesonet should be applauded for continually … working closely with all end users. This useful exchange has resulted in products that are specifically catered to the users’ needs. This interaction has also resulted in a diverse clientele that is very satisfied with and highly supportive of the Mesonet.” uncil, 2001 uncil, 2001 users was an National Research Co National Research Co users and potential ate Services Vision: First Steps Toward The Future ate Services Vision: First Steps Toward The Future

A Clim A Clim Information was accessible. Education of Users were involved from day one. Products were developed in direct partnership with Strong partnerships existed with mission agencies success was built upon five pillars: users. and with research elements. important element of the program. The blue ribbon panel believed the Oklahoma Mesonet’s 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. ExternalExternal Recognition…Recognition…

Outstanding Contributors to Emergency Management by Oklahoma Emergency Management Association (1998, 1999)

Innovations in American Government Award Winner in 2001 by Harvard University’s JFK School of Government

Special Award from the American Meteorological Society in 2001

Finalist in 2001 Stockholm Challenge http://http://www.ocs.ou.eduwww.ocs.ou.edu