Extended Abstract (392K)P1.24a
CoCo RaHS — Community Collaborative Rain and Hail Study
Nolan J. Doesken, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO
CoCo RaHS, born in northern Colorado following an extremely localized urban flash flood over Fort Collins, Colorado in 1997, continues to grow steadily in size and impact. As of late summer, 2003 nearly 1500 volunteers in Colorado have joined the project to help scientists study and learn about rain, snow and hail patterns in and near the Rocky Mountains. 2003 accomplishments have included hiring a project coordinator and Web developer for the project, convening a science and education advisory board, engaging officials from Wyoming and Nebraska to help launch the project in their states, documenting nearly 100 hail storms. From a meteorological perspective the biggest highlight of all was the remarkable northern Colorado snow storm of March 17-19, 2003 which hit smack-dab in the middle of the volunteer network. Nearly 400 measurements of one of the largest snowstorms in recorded history (more than two meters of fresh snowfall with water contents approaching 200 mm in some areas) were taken. Many scientists are now relying on this source of avid weather volunteers to help support studies of forecasting, modelling and remote sensing of precipitation. Educational highlights included several teacher workshops, classroom and water festival presentations, and the Rocky Mountain Weather and Climate Workshop cosponsored by CoCo RaHS, NCAR and NOAA. The project website is http://www.cocorahs.org
Poster Session 1, Poster Session Educational initiatives (Hall 4AB)
Sunday, 11 January 2004, 5:00 PM-7:00 PM, Hall 4AB
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