Sunday, 11 January 2004
CoCo RaHS — Community Collaborative Rain and Hail Study
Hall 4AB
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
Supplementary URL: