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AMS-Network of NetworksUSDA-NRCS

SCAN, SNOTEL, and Snow CourseNetworks

Slide 1

Garry L. Schaefer, WCM Branch Leader,

National Water and Climate Center, Portland, OR

August 10-13, 2009

Norman, OK

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SCAN Current network has 151

stations in 40 States Provides hourly data with

Precipitation

Slide 2

Air temperature Relative humidity Solar radiation

Wind speed and direction Barometric pressure

Soil moisture and soiltemperature 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 CM

And other sensors as needed

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Slide 3

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Soil Moisture/ PrecipitationUAPB Point Remove, AR

Soil Moisture vs. Precipitation

PRELIMINARY DATA SUBJECT TO CHANGE

40

45

2.5

3

Slide 4

15

20

25

30

35

3/1/2008

3/7/2008

3/13/2008

3/19/2008

3/25/2008

3/31/2008

4/6/2008

4/12/2008

4/18/2008

4/24/2008

4/30/2008

5/6/2008

5/12/2008

5/18/2008

5/24/2008

5/30/2008

6/5/2008

6/11/2008

6/17/2008

6/23/2008

6/29/2008

7/5/2008

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Hourly Readings

VolumetricSoilMoisture

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

InchesofPrecipitation

Hourly Precipitation 2" Soil Moisture 4" Soil Moisture 8" Soil Moisture 20" Soil Moisture 40" Soil Moisture

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SCAN Vision SCAN is a cooperative network with funding provided

both from federal and cooperator sources

Full implementation would have 1,000 new stationsand partnering with existing networks for an

Slide 5

additional 1,000 stations

The NRCS stations would utilize the BenchmarkSoils as the first priority for installation

All historic and real-time SCAN data are available onthe web http:www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/scan

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SNOTEL and Snow CourseCooperative Networks

SNOTEL is a Large Automated Climate

Network

Slide 6

Main focus for data is for snow water content

Located in the 13 Western States and Alaska

Utilizes meteor burst communication technology totransmit remote station data in near real-time

All data are available on the web within minutes ofcollection

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SNOTEL and Snow CourseNetworks

SNOTEL is a Large AutomatedClimate Network Began in 1978 765 remote stations

Generally in high elevationareas

Slide 7

Located in the 13 WesternStates including Alaska

Manual Snow Course Network ~ 1,000 manual snow courses

providing monthly snow depthand water contentmeasurements

Measured infrequently duringthe winter months

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SNOTEL Parameters Typical Sensor Array

Snow water content

All season precipitation

Slide 8

, ,average)

Snow depth

Soil moisture and soil temperature at 35% ofnetwork measured at 10 cm, 20 cm, and 50 cmwith 10 % using the same depths as SCAN

~ 40% report hourly data and only the midnightdata are quality controlled and edited by NRCS

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Typical SNOTEL Station

Slide 9

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Conclusions

All three networks provide valuable soil-climate information The automated networks are very cost effective to operate The automated networks operate on solar power and batteries so they can be

Slide 10

technology to retrieve the remote station data

NRCS is working with partners to develop a spatial soil moisture model thatintegrates above ground information along with soils information and in situ soilmoisture data to provide a spatial map of soil moisture with confidence intervals

SCAN and SNOTEL data are available on the web hourly SCAN and SNOTEL data are sent to the NWS hourly for redistribution to NWS

offices and others NRCS is in the process of acquiring a CONUS meteor burst communication

system of master stations allowing the NRCS total U.S. coverage

Each master station can receive about 3,000 remote stations within a 2,000 KMradius

SNOTEL has line-item funding while SCAN is supported by NRCS andcooperator funding at this time

USDA has requested from NRCS 2011 Budget Initiatives to expand andmaintain both networks

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Contacts Garry L. Schaefer, NRCS

Water & Climate Monitoring Branch Leader1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 802Portland, OR 97232

Slide 11

Phone: 503-414-3068 Fax: 503-414-3101Email: garry.schaefer@por.usda.gov