Paul Heinrich, NAU Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research

Diana Anderson, NAU Environmental Sciences

NAVAJO HYDROCLIMATE DATA MEASUREMENT, STORAGE, AND PROCESSING WORKSHOP

Window Rock, Arizona, June 12 – 13, 2008

Presentation rationale

The Navajo Nation Hydroclimate Data Workshop was convened in October 2007 at NAU. The workshop was attended by over 30

participants from 13 organizations. Participants included specialists in regional

hydroclimatic modeling. One recommendation (Garfin et al.,

2007:77), was to explore methods of data access and facilitation. Examples of existing networks listed by

participants included MesoWest, AHIS, and CUAHSI .

This presentation will provide examples of data flow, storage, and public access of data for two networks,

the Northern Arizona Mesonet (NAM), and the Merriam-Powell Elevational Gradient Weather

Stations Common issues to be addressed include:

What are data quality requirements for contributing to climate databases?

What types of archive systems may be available? How may this data be accessed by users? In what types of formats are the data available to

users?

The Northern Arizona Mesonet

The Northern Arizona Mesonet (NAM) is a network of 17 wireless, solar-powered weather stations located throughout northeastern Arizona that upload thirteen measured and calculated parameters automatically to a web server every 2 minutes. http://www.cens.nau.edu/~nauws/

Flagstaff Stations:Aspen Trail SubdivisionCoconino High SchoolDeMiguel Elementary SchoolFlagstaff Arts and Leadership

AcademyFlagstaff High SchoolFlagstaff Middle SchoolNorthern Arizona UniversitySinagua High School

NE Arizona Stations:Doney ParkHopi Jr/Sr High School (Keams Canyon)*Leupp Schools IncorporatedNational Weather Service (Bellemont)Page Middle School*Red Mesa High School Rocky Ridge Boarding School*Tuba City Junior HighShonto Preparatory School*

(* Not yet available on the web)

1. Raw data from webpage link

Each Station Has A Detailed Current Conditions Page

Summary Data is AvailableFor The Month, The Current Day And the Previous Day

2. Raw data from NAU file storage

The previous day’s data available through simple, non-error-checked text files.

Teachers will be the main users here.

Text files also provide an easy-to-import archival version of the data

3. Database storage at MPCER

Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research Has developed a Database to store all data collected by the stations

Storage in a database makes retrieval of specific data more efficient

Eventually a graphical interface will be developed to allow retrieval and charting of the archived data.

Regional climate researchers and teachers will be the main users here.

4. MesoWest

MesoWest, at the University of Utah, archives and makes available 8 of the NAM sites as part of it’s regional coverage. You can see data is needed from NE Arizona as the NWS has few weather stations in the region. (http://www.met.utah.edu/mesowest/).

8 NAM stations currently included in MesoWest:

1. Aspen Trails2. Coconino H.S.3. NAU4. Tuba City JHS5. Red Mesa HS6. FALA7. Doney Park8. Leupp

One objective of the NAM project is to have all the NAM stations included.

Tuba City JHS on MesoWest

This image shows all stations/networks incorporated into MesoWest in the region, the inset shows the data from the NAM Tuba City Junior High School site.

MesoWest Data Users Criteria for inclusion in the MesoWest database.

Reliable and accurate data that has been flowing routinely with no gaps in data or bad data spikes

Criteria for data quality levels based on range and statistical checks (http://www.met.utah.edu/droman/help/qc.html) and are flagged as below Black/OK: data has passed all QC checks. Orange/Caution : some data has been flagged by the

statistical check and should be used with caution. Red/Suspect: some data has been found to be outside

reasonable bounds.

Uses/users of the MesoWest data. Included in numerical model initialization Used by forecasters for watches/warnings/advisories and

forecasts

MPCER Elevational Gradient

Network of five Campbell Stations north of the San Francisco Peaks

Data is collected manually and archived with the Desert Research Institute (DRI) and by Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research

DRI provides online access and integration with their weather network (Western Regional Climate Center)

Data is transferred to DRI manually and achieved by DRI personnel

Raw datasets are also archived at NAU

Summary Data on the MPCER Website

Elevational GradientSite Locations

DRI provides online access and integration with their weather network (Western

Regional Climate Center)

Histogram of Hourly Precipitation – Ponderosa Site 2002-2007

Future Plans for the Elevational GradientWeather Stations

• Add Database archive at NAU using a similar approach as the Northern Arizona Mesonet•Create Graphical User Interface that pulls data from both databases•Explore real-time data collection again