Michael A. Palecki

USCRN Science Project Manager

National Climatic Data Center

DOC/NOAA/NESDIS

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 2009 1

United States Climate Reference Network Program Status

The State of the Program is Good …

And Getting Better!

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 2009 2

USCRN Continental U.S. Deployment Completed in 2008

• Making science quality climate observations adhering to the Ten Climate Monitoring Principles of GCOS, NRC/NAS, and CCSP

• Answering the question at mid-century: “How has the climate of the United States changed over the last 50 years?”

• Serving as a reference standard for other networks, while evaluating new technology

• Leveraging USCRN knowledge and infrastructure to support new missions

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 2009 3

USCRN Goals

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 2009 4

CRN Station Model

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The Basics: How USCRN Works

Grand Teton CRN StationTriplicate Temperature Sensors

Primary variables are measured with triplicate configurations that allow for intercomparisons:- 3 PRTs measure T- 3 wires measure P

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 2009 6

Triplicate Temperatures- 3 PRTs- 3 fan speeds- equipment flagsAre used to calculate the 5-minute and hourly temperatures with an accuracy of +/- 0.3°C

This is far simpler than the algorithm for the precipitation calculation

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Crossville, TN: February 2009

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 2009 8

Northgate, ND: February 2009

• Highest Air Temperature = 126°F

Stovepipe Wells, CA; July 5, 2007

• Lowest Air Temperature = -56°F

Barrow, AK; February 3, 2006

 • Highest Ground Surface Temperature = 160°F

Stovepipe Wells, CA; June 24, 2006

 • Lowest Ground Surface Temperature = -58°F

Barrow, AK; February 3, 2006

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USCRN Temperature Extremes

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Quinault, WA: Rain Event, 01/6-7/09

• Greatest 5-minute: 0.73” Titusville, FL Jul 7, 2006

0.73” Lander, WY Jul 25, 2007

• Greatest 15-minute: 1.89” Titusville, FL Jul 7, 2006

• Greatest 30-minute: 3.08” Titusville, FL Jul 7, 2006

• Greatest 60-minute: 3.77” Titusville, FL Jul 7, 2006

• Greatest 1-Day: 17.83” Hilo, HI Feb 2, 2008

• Greatest 5-Day: 42.33” Hilo, HI Feb 1 – 5, 2008

• Greatest 7-Day: 46.86” Hilo, HI Jan 30 – Feb 5, 2008

• Greatest 30-Day: 63.47” Hilo, HI Jan 16 – Feb 14, 2008

• Greatest 365-Day: 184.90” Quinault, WA Oct 1, 2006 –

Sep 30, 2007

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 2009 11

USCRN Precipitation Extremes

• Provide improved access to hourly and daily USCRN observations:– hourly02 and daily01 ftp products– integrated surface dataset access– global historical climate network daily

dataset• Develop additional layers of quality control and

network monitoring• Facilitate science applications of USCRN data

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Current USCRN Activities

• Hourly data ASCII text files available:– NOAA Family of Services– ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/uscrn/pro

ducts/hourly02/• Daily data ASCII text files available:

– NOAA Family of Services– ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/uscrn/pro

ducts/daily01/

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 2009 13

Data Access Improvements

• The ISD format of USCRN allows access through NCDCs systems– Currently, the QCLCD system allows access to

some 5-minute data, hourly precipitation data, and daily temperature and precipitation data

– Eventually, access through the Climate Database Online (CDO) system will increase

• The GHCN-D format will place the USCRN in the premier daily climate data set produced by NCDC, including the addition of another layer of quality control

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Data Access Improvements (cont.)

• Identification of equipment events that have impacts on primary temperature and precipitation measurements

• Rapid detection of intermittent equipment faults• Better monitoring of site stability• Development of new QC processes for secondary

observations, including cross variable checks• Integration of GHCN-D QC results into USCRN data

flags

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More QC, Better Network Monitoring

• Using pseudonormals to generate monthly departures for USCRN temperature and precipitation

• Threading USCRN departures with homogenized GHCN records to create long climate time series for each station and the continental U.S.

• Identifying transfer functions between USCRN observations and those of other networks, including ASOS/AWOS, cooperative observers, and others

• Publishing climate studies demonstrating the utility of the USCRN data and promoting their use in climate applications

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 2009 16

Science Applications of USCRN

• Deployment of soil moisture / temperature probes and RH instruments across the USCRN network in cooperation with the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) program

• Develop new soil climate QC techniques made possible by using a triplicate configuration of probes

• Estimating surface energy fluxes with the full suite of USCRN instruments

• Cooperating with satellite remote sensing experts and soil moisture modelers with regards to using USCRN data for calibration and/or verification

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 2009 17

New Directions for USCRN

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USCRN Soil Climate Network

• New climate monitoring products, initially focusing on drought monitoring

• Spatial/temporal data display capabilities for climate change detection and climate variability characterization, including extreme events

• New and improved Web site in alignment with the climate portal concept

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New Directions for USCRN (cont.)

• New climate monitoring products, initially focusing on drought monitoring

• Spatial/temporal data display capabilities for climate change detection and climate variability characterization, including extreme events

• New and improved Web site in alignment with the climate portal concept

• AND TWO NEW PROGRAMS!!!

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New Directions for USCRN (cont.)

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USCRN in Alaska – FY10-14

• USCRN science, logistics, and computer processing are leveraged to provide the basis for HCN-M development and deployment

• Experience gained by USCRN with the Alabama HCN-M prototypes proved very useful in assisting the full national HCN-M program

• A goal of 1000 stations for the U.S. is specified to provide sufficient spatial resolution to resolve regional climate trends in the continental U.S.

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U.S. Historical Climate Network Modernization (HCN-M)

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USHCN-M Goal of 1000 Stations (black dots)

• The Future is Bright

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USCRN