Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network
The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, or CoCoRaHS, is a network of volunteer weather watchers who take daily readings of precipitation, and report them online or by phone.
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[edit] History
The network was started in 1997, in Larimer County, Colorado after a flash flood in Spring Creek caused damage to structures in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado and killed five people.[1] The severity of the flood surprised meteorologists, until then-assistant state climatologist Nolan Doesken began collecting rainfall measurements from private citizens in the area. About 300 responded to his emergency request. Said Doesken later, "The results of the data showed that more than 14 in. (36 cm) of rain fell over southwest Fort Collins, the area where the flood waters originated, while less than 2 in. (5 cm) of rain fell only 3-4 mi (5-6 km) east. The enthusiastic interest shown by volunteers and the great value of the data verified the need for such a service, and CoCoRaHS was born."[2]
[edit] Users
CoCoRaHS is used by a wide variety of organizations and individuals. The National Weather Service, other meteorologists, hydrologists, emergency managers, city utilities (water supply, water conservation, storm water), insurance adjusters, USDA, engineers, mosquito control, ranchers and farmers, outdoor & recreation interests, teachers, students, and neighbors in the community are examples of people who use CoCoRaHS data.
[edit] Sponsors
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) are major sponsors of CoCoRaHS. Other organizations have contributed either financially, and/or with supplies and equipment. Many other organizations and individuals have also pitched in time and resources to help keep the network up and running.
[edit] Status
All fifty states and the District of Columbia now participate in CoCoRaHS. Minnesota joined the network in December 2009.[3]
[edit] References
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