The Oklahoma Climatological Survey (OCS) was established in 1980 to provide climatological services to the citizens of Oklahoma, conduct research on the impacts of climate on human activities, and serve as a support facility for the State Climatologist. OCS has a legislative mandate to acquire, process, and disseminate climate and weather data and information for use by the state's citizens.
Prior to 1992, OCS's primary outreach program consisted of providing brochures of state climatological information to schools and the Oklahoma Department of Tourism, speaking at Career Days and other school events, and judging science fair projects. By 1999, OCS will provide 15-minute observations from 115 Oklahoma Mesonet sites and from several Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) sites, NIDS data from 15 NEXRAD radars, National Weather Service data and products, and a host of applied products (e.g., the Oklahoma Fire Danger Model and agricultural products) to Oklahoma public schools and colleges and to public safety officials. In fact, not only data are offered, but hands-on instruction, consumer-grade display software, reference materials, classroom lessons, case studies, scientific mentorship, and web pages are available to K-12 teachers, college faculty, emergency managers, police, and fire officials. Indeed, there are no storm clouds on the horizon for OCS outreach programs.
How did OCS step from the traditional into the cutting edge? What new services will we offer in the future? How can your state or region benefit from OCS's successes? These questions and more will be answered in this presentation