2002 CRHW Snow-Related Action Items

Item No. Description of the Action Item Remarks / Status Submitted By Assigned To
2 Develop one source for snow depth mapping whether it be by Region, RFC, etc. utilizing data furnished by RFC database. NCRFC has addressed this issue for Central Region by developing a new method of plotting snow data on the web that can be referenced by all WFO's and RFC's in the region. They purchased an extension for ArcGIS 8.x that allows them to publish a set of clickable maps to their website. The user can zoom in on certain areas and query the data points. They have been working with MBRFC to include their data in this process as well. Central Region is also working on some prototype ArcIMS sites for displaying snow and other data spatially.

Prototype done in CR

 Brian Connelly Brian Connelly

Wendy Pearson

Frank Richards

Tom Carroll
6 The temperature mean lapse rates used in the hydrologic models needs improvement APRFC developed a technique for using upper air data from the models to reduce the need for using mean lapse rates.

Potential approach will be described at 2004 CRW

 Larry Rundquist Larry Rundquist
10 Develop National guidelines on minimum and optimum data requirements for Cold Region Hydrology Note: Currently there are no National Guidelines on minimum and optimum data requirements for cold region hydrology. Page and Reiman are currently working with Walton this item. CSU student Scott McKim is looking at impacts of snow pack data density on hydrologic modeling.

Little has been accomplished on this task

 Mark Walton, GRR WFO Donna Page

Randy Reiman

John Bradley
12 Prepare a requirement document to develop techniques and new science to assimilate observed SWE and NWSRFS. Randy Reiman will be adding this item to the Requirements List.

No update on this item

 Jay Breidenbach Jay Breidenbach

Joe Intermill

Randy Reiman
15 Make improvements to the glacier operation making calibration parameters viewable in IFP Done Larry Rundquist Larry Rundquist
18 Prepare a recommendation that emphasizes the need for more automated SWE sites Jay Breidenbach has prepared a white paper describing the requirement for more automated SWE sites. This paper will be presented to the NRCS-NWS Policy Group on March 26, 2003 as a beginning point. The goal is a NWS or NRCS, or joint initiative to obtain funding for more automated SWE sites.

White paper done... no news from Policy Group mtg

 Jay Breidenbach Jay Breidenbach

Bob Tibi

Ken King

NRCS NWS Policy Group
19 Write a requirement to make a snow model heat deficit mod In a pole of RFCs, this was not the highest priority. Further analysis is needed to develop documentation. Completion date moved back.

On hold

 Larry Rundquist Larry Rundquist
22 Display the ESP Workshop proposal on the CRW website At the ESP workshop last September in Portland there were a few RFC's that were experimenting with short to medium-term ensemble forecasting. They proposed using ensemble temperature and precipitation forecasts to generate ensembles of river forecasts in the spring and other times of the year.

Status unknown

 Brian Connelly Brian Connelly
25 Write a requirement to utilize the Z-S relationship in MPE Note: The Z-R relationship is currently in MPE. It arrives with the product from the radar. CRW attendees would also like to see the Z-S relationship (it is related to snow depth estimates) the radar use in MPE. In order to do that, it needs to be put into the product sent in the radar product, then MPE would have to read and display it. This would take coordination between ROC and OHD. Reiman and Reckel will prepare a requirement document.

Status unknown

 Workshop Discussions Donna Page

Randy Reiman

Holly Reckel
28 Provide information concerning what the NWS is doing to improve raingage catch. This item can be covered by asking someone from NWS HQ to address this issue at the 2004 CRW.

Status: NWS HQ has recently been asked about NWS policy

 Ken King Alaska Region

Mike Anderson
30 Submit a requirement to provide MAT in less than 6 hour time steps to account for diurnal fluctuations and to modify inconsistent computational schemes currently used. Note 1: MAT currently can only produce a 6 hour time series. Since there is more data available, smaller time steps would better in situations where the temperature changes more rapidly. This should apply to both the observed and the forecast periods.

Note 2: MAT currently only uses the max/min forecast temperatures and assumes a standard diurnal variation. If 1 hour temperature forecasts are available, CRW attendees would like MAT to use these to help in situations when the max/mins do not occur at the standard diurnal variation times (max in the afternoon and min in the early am).

Note 3: MAT observed time series is calculated differently than the MAT time series for future data and for calibration, thus the introducing a bias during operations. Eric Anderson has brought this to the attention of HQ and APRFC is pursuing the issue. Reiman and Rundquist will write the requirement.

Requirement submitted for Note 3

 Workshop Discussions Donna Page

Randy Reiman

Larry Rundquist
31 Assemble a team to investigate the use of IFPS temperature grids in NWSRFS. Note: This is one of the potential solutions for both issues stated in the Notes of Item 30 above; i.e. producing a 1 hour MAT and use 1 hour forecast temperatures. CRW attendees discussed a potential RDM project to produce a grid processor that would produce 1 hour areally averaged forecast time series.

Status unknown

 Workshop Discussions Donna Page
32 NRCS Action Items

1. Provide Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Webpage location indicating the proper method to lay out a snow course.

2. Provide SNOTEL site product information

 The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) web site gives access to this information. The web page is dynamically generated, and the first view might not specifically show the Snow Survey information, but follow the links and snow survey and SNOTEL information can be located. In addition, anyone needing more information can contact their local Natural Resources Conservation Service office.

Follow links to local office information from the main NRCS web page.

Done

 Workshop Discussions Mike Anderson

Daniel Lipinski
33 Provide the procedure to request new National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center Airborne Snow Survey flight lines. Anyone needing this information can contact the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center.

National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center web page.

 Workshop Discussions Mike Anderson

Daniel Lipinski

Last Updated on 11/12/2004