Cold Regions Hydrology Workshop
Breakout Session Description and Status
National River Ice Reporting Form and Database
Objective: A web-based national river ice reporting form and database
Need
This form is needed to provide a nationally consistent mechanism for river ice observers to report ice conditions and for users to access the observations.Preliminary Specifications
Form must be as comprehensive as possible, but must remain simple to use. Must support reporting of relevant metadata (river, tributary, lat/long, nearest city, nearest gage, etc.) and several ice-condition parameters, such as ice thickness, type of jam, etc. Must be able to accept observations from both non-routine locations (event-based, such as an ice-jam) and standard (fixed) locations. A comment field is required. Web-based entry form must be linked to a national database to archive all observations, which in turn must be accessible through an interactive web page.Considerations
- Training will be a big issue – coordination with CRREL is advised
- Need to establish a more extensive and consistent observing nework for at least basic categorical ice characteristics (ice, no ice, breakup, freeze-up, etc.). Local offices will need to develop their observing networks. Standard reporting days/times will be necessary.
- Safety will be a big issue in expanding river ice observation networks. NWS policy and training will play an important role here.
- Will need a focal point in each area of interest
Suggestions
- Weather Coder and/or ROSA are potential tools to faciliate reporting.
- Reported observations could be posted to AHPS map.
- Training should include documentation of protocols and photographic examples of ice conditions, and video demonstration of observation and safety procedures
Actions
- Contact ITs at all offices to see who has web forms like this.
- Prepare proposal for AHPS (April-June time frame) to support (see below)
Proposal Preparation
Four component themes and leads for each were identified in the breakout session. Each lead will organize the key information listed below by February 1 2005. Soon afterwards a short summary of the proposal will be submitted through Peter Gabrielsen for the HOSTIT process. The final proposal will be due in April-June.| Component Theme | Responsible Individual | Issues |
| Data Collection Parameters | Gina Loss (Lead), Brian Connely, Becky Perry, Tom Econopouly | What will the database contain? Demphasize how it's transmitted. Organize in two levels: need to have, nice to have. |
| Training (Observer) | Rob Shedd | Identify expected training requirements - content, how often, where. Suggest external partners (e.g. CRREL). Suggest methods (DVD/video, web-based, etc.) |
| Policy | Tom Carroll | Identify what policy issues need to be considered/addressed. |
| Operational Implementation | Don Cline (Lead), Carrie Olheiser | Develop straw plan for how the national database will be maintained: who, where, AHPS map coordination, etc. |