1. From Backyard to Orbit Comparing rain gauges to satellite precipitation estimates. George Huffman Betsy Youngman Brooke Carter Susan Blunck Rob Simmon

2. Precipitation Data Sources NOAA/National Weather Service Station Data http://nws.noaa.gov/ Cocorahs/rainlog/backyard rain gauges http://www.cocorahs.org/ GPCP Multi-Sensor precipitation Estimates http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/precipitation/TOVAS_ad.shtml

3. Rain Gauge Data Citizen scientists will either collect their own data or use precipitation data from a local weather station. (Participants will be encouraged to join an organized gauge network.) They will compare these data to other local measurements and historical records. If interested, they can use publicly available data to study noteworthy weather events like floods, droughts, or severe storms in other locations.

4. Satellite Precipitation Estimates Citizen scientists will compare ground based measurements with satellite estimates using Global Precipitation Climatology Project data and GIOVANNI (a web-based tool for viewing and subsetting data). Observers will address the questions: Why does my data differ from my neighbor’s? How do current conditions compare to the past? How many rain gauges are required to accurately measure regional precipitation? How many rain gauges are are needed to accurately observe one satellite grid cell? What changes occur with the seasons in my area? How does my area compare to other regions?