Citizen Weather Observer Program
Encyclopedia
The Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP) allows users with computerized weather station
s to send their information via a Web site
to be included into the United States
Mesonet
. This data is then used by the Rapid Update Cycle
(RUC) forecast model to produce short term forecasts (3 to 12 hours into the future) of conditions across the United States' lower 48 states.
operators experimenting with packet radio
, but now includes a majority of Internet-only connected stations. As of September 2007, nearly 5,000 stations worldwide report regularly to the network.
s from thousands of privately operated weather stations, into the FindU database, and forward it to the Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System (MADIS), operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
.
packets containing position and short messages (including telemetry such weather observations), and forward the data to the FindU servers via APRS-IS on the Internet. Weather observations may be polled directly from FindU, and the data is forwarded to MADIS for ingest. APRS messages may also originate directly from computers on the Internet without being broadcast on the radio waves.
personal weather station network. Many personal stations submit data to both systems; however, separate alphanumeric designators are assigned to the same weather station by each network.
Weather station
A weather station is a facility, either on land or sea, with instruments and equipment for observing atmospheric conditions to provide information for weather forecasts and to study the weather and climate. The measurements taken include temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed, wind...
s to send their information via a Web site
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
to be included into the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Mesonet
Mesonet
In meteorology, a mesonet is a network of automated weather stations designed to observe mesoscale meteorological phenomena. Dry lines, squall lines, and sea breezes are examples of phenomena that can be observed by mesonets...
. This data is then used by the Rapid Update Cycle
Rapid Update Cycle
The rapid update cycle is an atmospheric prediction system that consists primarily of a numerical forecast model and an analysis system to initialize the model....
(RUC) forecast model to produce short term forecasts (3 to 12 hours into the future) of conditions across the United States' lower 48 states.
Origin
The CWOP was originally set up by amateur radioAmateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
operators experimenting with packet radio
Packet radio
Packet radio is a form of packet switching technology used to transmit digital data via radio or wireless communications links. It uses the same concepts of data transmission via Datagram that are fundamental to communications via the Internet, as opposed to the older techniques used by dedicated...
, but now includes a majority of Internet-only connected stations. As of September 2007, nearly 5,000 stations worldwide report regularly to the network.
Description
The Citizen Weather Observer Program is a program to collect surface weather observationSurface weather observation
Surface weather observations are the fundamental data used for safety as well as climatological reasons to forecast weather and issue warnings worldwide. They can be taken manually, by a weather observer, by computer through the use of automated weather stations, or in a hybrid scheme using...
s from thousands of privately operated weather stations, into the FindU database, and forward it to the Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System (MADIS), operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
.
FindU
The FindU database is a set of privately operated Internet servers, run by Steve Dimse, (amateur radio callsign k4hg). Numerous IGates (Internet Gateways) receive broadcast amateur radio Automatic Position Reporting SystemAutomatic Position Reporting System
Automatic Packet Reporting System is an amateur radio-based system for real time tactical digital communications of information of immediate value in the local area. In addition, all such data is ingested into the APRS Internet system and distributed globally for ubiquitous and immediate access...
packets containing position and short messages (including telemetry such weather observations), and forward the data to the FindU servers via APRS-IS on the Internet. Weather observations may be polled directly from FindU, and the data is forwarded to MADIS for ingest. APRS messages may also originate directly from computers on the Internet without being broadcast on the radio waves.
MADIS
The Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System (MADIS) integrates weather observations from numerous different sources, including CWOP via FindU, and drives a number of different weather forecasting products. Incoming data are subjected to temporary and spatial consistency checks, and quality flags are stored with the data, to enable users to access the most trustworthy data possible.Ease of sending data
The amateur radio connection makes it inexpensive and simple for an individual to install consumer-level weather sensors at a point of interest, connect them to a radio transmitter via a simple APRS modem, and start sharing weather reports with forecasters worldwide. Solar power and radio transmission makes it possible to drop completely self-contained weather sensors on unattended and un-wired sites, allowing for a dense set of sample measurements to be collected.Other Weather Networks
Another weather data aggregation network is the Weather UndergroundWeather Underground (weather service)
Weather Underground is a commercial weather service that provides real-time weather information via the Internet. Weather Underground provides weather reports for most major cities across the world on its Web site, as well as local weather reports for newspapers and Web sites...
personal weather station network. Many personal stations submit data to both systems; however, separate alphanumeric designators are assigned to the same weather station by each network.
External links
- Citizen Weather Observer Program
- Citizen Weather Observer Home Page by Dave Helms
- APRS links and information, after Bob Bruninga, WB4APR
- APRSWXNET Information page about APRS weather reporting by Steve Dimse
- CWOP quality control description by Russ Chadwick
- CWOP wiki by Russ Chadwick
- Sample FindU weather report, from KG6PPD-9 on Tamarack Mountain, near Bear Valley, CA, or KG6PPD-9 website.
- WEDAAL (WetterDAtenAusLese) - similar program to CWOP in Germany collecting weather data
- CWOP on NOSA