COOP Modernization:COOP Modernization: Building Building

NOAA’S Environmental Real-NOAA’S Environmental Real-time Observation Network time Observation Network

(NERON)(NERON)

Tim RossTim RossIntegrated Surface Observing SystemsIntegrated Surface Observing SystemsNWS Office of Science and TechnologyNWS Office of Science and Technology

A Briefing For the Committee for Climate Analysis, A Briefing For the Committee for Climate Analysis, Monitoring and Services Monitoring and Services

May 3, 2005May 3, 2005

OutlineOutline• NERON NERON

– DescriptionDescription– OrganizationOrganization– StatusStatus– FundingFunding

• Cost & Operational Effectiveness Cost & Operational Effectiveness AnalysisAnalysis

• FY 2006FY 2006• OFCM & NERONOFCM & NERON

NERON DescriptionNERON Description

• NERON is the modernization of NWS Cooperative NERON is the modernization of NWS Cooperative Observing Program Observing Program

• Formalized in Program Development Plan signed Formalized in Program Development Plan signed by NWS AA BGen (USAF Ret.) D.L. Johnson March by NWS AA BGen (USAF Ret.) D.L. Johnson March 20042004

• NERON is a collecting, processing (using quality NERON is a collecting, processing (using quality control/assurance practices), and disseminating control/assurance practices), and disseminating system for land-based observing networks to system for land-based observing networks to meet the Nation's climate, weather, and water meet the Nation's climate, weather, and water needs. needs.

Components of NERONComponents of NERON

HCNHCN COOP-MCOOP-M LegacyCOOP

LegacyCOOPCRNCRN Partner

Networks

Partner NetworksASOSASOS

NERON Data Processing SystemNERON Data Processing System• The key feature of the desired data-processing system The key feature of the desired data-processing system

for NERON is to quality control/quality assure for NERON is to quality control/quality assure observations with human intervention to:observations with human intervention to:- Provide quality observations in real time (<5 Provide quality observations in real time (<5

minutes)minutes)- Provide metrics to monitor contract maintenanceProvide metrics to monitor contract maintenance- Not let ‘bad data’ go publicNot let ‘bad data’ go public

• The Data Processing System must be end-to-end to The Data Processing System must be end-to-end to include data ingest, dissemination and archivinginclude data ingest, dissemination and archiving

• Two way communication best fit for data retrieval and Two way communication best fit for data retrieval and software downloads and maintaining health of software downloads and maintaining health of networknetwork

• Pilot projects underway with National Law Pilot projects underway with National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System & StatesEnforcement Telecommunications System & States

The NERON Data Processing SystemThe NERON Data Processing System(The “Linch Pin”)(The “Linch Pin”)

Communications Network: GOES, Cellular Phones and Communications Network: GOES, Cellular Phones and LETS/NLETSLETS/NLETS

Scope of NERONScope of NERON• Deploys modern stations with high quality sensors Deploys modern stations with high quality sensors

maintained to accepted professional levelsmaintained to accepted professional levels

• Acquires observations with a 5-minute time resolution and Acquires observations with a 5-minute time resolution and download all data at hourly or better intervals — with a goal download all data at hourly or better intervals — with a goal to download data at 5 minute intervalsto download data at 5 minute intervals

• Develops an integrated network that is Develops an integrated network that is expandable and expandable and adaptableadaptable to meet future observing needs to meet future observing needs

• Provides opportunities for the private sector to develop Provides opportunities for the private sector to develop thousands of value-added applicationsthousands of value-added applications

• Emphasizes partnering with the public & private sectorEmphasizes partnering with the public & private sector

Long-Term Legacy Goal:Long-Term Legacy Goal:‘‘Accurate Data — Reliably Available’Accurate Data — Reliably Available’

Status of NERONStatus of NERON

• 85 sites installed in New England85 sites installed in New England• 100 by end of Spring100 by end of Spring

• Data available at Data available at WWW.ISOS.NOAA.govWWW.ISOS.NOAA.gov

• Partnerships being formedPartnerships being formed– GeorgiaGeorgia

• Site selectionSite selection

• Communication testing Communication testing

– AlabamaAlabama• 7-10 HCN and NERON sites7-10 HCN and NERON sites

– Other AgenciesOther Agencies• National Park Service MOA in workNational Park Service MOA in work

• USDAUSDA

Salisbury, NH — Installed and OperationalSalisbury, NH — Installed and OperationalOctober 2004 (View to North)October 2004 (View to North)

A zoomed-in look A zoomed-in look at the NERON at the NERON density for density for Vermont and New Vermont and New Hampshire.Hampshire.

Synoptic Plot of Air Temperature from Modernized Synoptic Plot of Air Temperature from Modernized COOP Sites COOP Sites 8 AM EST on 3/16/05 (Color Fill: Blue = Cold; 8 AM EST on 3/16/05 (Color Fill: Blue = Cold;

Red = Warm)Red = Warm)

Time-Series Plot of Air Temperature from Modernized Time-Series Plot of Air Temperature from Modernized COOP Sites at Taunton (Red) and Old Forge (Blue) — COOP Sites at Taunton (Red) and Old Forge (Blue) —

3/14-16/053/14-16/05

NERON FundingNERON Funding

• FY 2005 – $1.64MFY 2005 – $1.64M

• FY 2006 – $6.10MFY 2006 – $6.10M

• NOAA’s 2005 Program Decision NOAA’s 2005 Program Decision Memorandum requires:Memorandum requires:– “…“…complete a Cost and Operational complete a Cost and Operational

Effectiveness Analysis (COEA) for COOP Effectiveness Analysis (COEA) for COOP network in FY05. Determine requirements for network in FY05. Determine requirements for a network modernization program and provide a network modernization program and provide alternatives in the FY08 Program Baseline alternatives in the FY08 Program Baseline Assessment.”Assessment.”

COEA InformationCOEA Information

• COEA development team formedCOEA development team formed– Ken Crawford (NWS) and Sharon Leduc (NCDC) Ken Crawford (NWS) and Sharon Leduc (NCDC)

Co-ChairCo-Chair– Contractors for COEA and costing support hiredContractors for COEA and costing support hired

• Select Surface Observation parameters to be Select Surface Observation parameters to be analyzedanalyzed– Literature Search & Committee Call, Followed Literature Search & Committee Call, Followed

by Committee Decision on List of Parametersby Committee Decision on List of Parameters• Summarize existing literature and study results to Summarize existing literature and study results to

establish the value of surface observationsestablish the value of surface observations– Do this for each of the parameters evaluated in Do this for each of the parameters evaluated in

the COEAthe COEA• Surveys sent on importance of parametersSurveys sent on importance of parameters

Analysis ApproachAnalysis Approach

• Do a stepwise analysis of parameter benefits and Do a stepwise analysis of parameter benefits and collection requirements (Survey)collection requirements (Survey)– Presently acquiring surveys and performing initial Presently acquiring surveys and performing initial

analysisanalysis

• Collect current system costsCollect current system costs• Develop instrument costs based on survey resultsDevelop instrument costs based on survey results• Develop alternativesDevelop alternatives• Integrate cost and benefit data, determine Integrate cost and benefit data, determine

inflection pointsinflection points• Identify program planning implicationsIdentify program planning implications

Use of COEAUse of COEA

• Deliver COEA report to W&W Goal Deliver COEA report to W&W Goal lead for inclusion in PBAlead for inclusion in PBA

• Form implementation plan based on Form implementation plan based on outcomesoutcomes

• Submit detailed plan for FY 2008 Submit detailed plan for FY 2008 Budget ProgrammingBudget Programming

NERON in FY 2006NERON in FY 2006

• Plans for FY 2006 are COEA Plans for FY 2006 are COEA dependent, current plans call for:dependent, current plans call for:– Complete New England & New York Complete New England & New York

(~280 sites)(~280 sites)– Incorporate 300-350 partner sitesIncorporate 300-350 partner sites– Incorporate ASOSIncorporate ASOS

• Goal: ~640 NERON sites by end of Goal: ~640 NERON sites by end of FY2006FY2006

OFCM & NERONOFCM & NERON

• NERON Program Development Plan calls NERON Program Development Plan calls for:for:– Advisory CommitteeAdvisory Committee– Steering CommitteeSteering Committee– Configuration Control BoardConfiguration Control Board

• http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/coop/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/coop/reference/PDP4coop.pdfreference/PDP4coop.pdf

• OFCM could assist in collection & OFCM could assist in collection & prioritization of requirements & resourcesprioritization of requirements & resources

• Aid in formalizing partnership processAid in formalizing partnership process

The EndThe End

Tim.Ross@noaa.govTim.Ross@noaa.gov