Michael A. Palecki USCRN Science Project Manager National Climatic Data Center DOC/NOAA/NESDIS USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, United States Climate Reference Network Program Status The State of the Program is Good … And Getting Better!

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 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, USCRN Goals

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, CRN Station Model

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, The Basics: How USCRN Works Grand Teton CRN Station Triplicate 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, Triplicate Temperatures - 3 PRTs - 3 fan speeds - equipment flags Are 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

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, Crossville, TN: February 2009

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 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 USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, USCRN Temperature Extremes

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, Quinault, WA: Rain Event, 01/6-7/09

Greatest 5-minute: 0.73”Titusville, FLJul 7, ”Lander, WYJul 25, 2007 Greatest 15-minute: 1.89”Titusville, FLJul 7, 2006 Greatest 30-minute: 3.08”Titusville, FLJul 7, 2006 Greatest 60-minute: 3.77”Titusville, FLJul 7, 2006 Greatest 1-Day:17.83”Hilo, HI Feb 2, 2008 Greatest 5-Day:42.33”Hilo, HIFeb 1 – 5, 2008 Greatest 7-Day:46.86”Hilo, HIJan 30 – Feb 5, 2008 Greatest 30-Day:63.47”Hilo, HIJan 16 – Feb 14, 2008 Greatest 365-Day:184.90” Quinault, WA Oct 1, 2006 – Sep 30, 2007 USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 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 USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, Current USCRN Activities

Hourly data ASCII text files available: –NOAA Family of Services –ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/uscrn/pro ducts/hourly02/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/ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/uscrn/pro ducts/daily01/ USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 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 USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 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 USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 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, 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, New Directions for USCRN

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 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 USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 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!!! USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, New Directions for USCRN (cont.)

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, 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. USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, U.S. Historical Climate Network Modernization (HCN-M)

USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, USHCN-M Goal of 1000 Stations (black dots)

The Future is Bright USCRN PROGRAM STATUS MARCH 3, USCRN