--- PAGE INDEX ---
» The Co-Operative Weather Observing Program
» A Co-operative Station
» Types of Stations
» Precipitation
» Air Temperature
» River Stage
» Evaporation and Wind  Movement
» Soil Temperature
»Agricultural Data

Do you want to know more about the
COOP Progam?

The Co-Operative Weather Observing Program (or COOP for short)

is a nationwide weather and climate monitoring network of approximately 11,700 volunteer citizens and institutions observing and reporting weather information. This number increases periodically as new recruits join the ranks.

The COOP Program functions on on a 24-hour basis. COOP observations form the backbone of temperature and precipitation records (including snowfall) describing United States climate.     «

A co-operative station

is one at which observations are taken, or other weather-related services are rendered, by private citizens or institutions (such as utilities, television stations, university research facilities, etc.). Services rendered usually consist of taking instrumental or visual observations and transmitting reports.

The equipment used may be owned by the National Weather Service, by an idividual company, or by another governmental agency.     «

Precipitation

Measurements are made of the amount of rainfall, depth of snow, and other forms of precipitation. Records are kept of the character, type, and time of the occurrence. Each station is normally furnished with a nonrecording or a weighing-type recording gage.   «

Air Temperature

Observations of the current air temperature, and of maximum (high) and minimum (low) temperatures between observations, are taken and recorded daily. The stations are provided with maximum and minimum thermometers and an instrument shelter for housing the thermometers, or a maximum-minimum temperature system (MMTS).

In the picture below (left) you can see an example of an old-style COOP Observing station setup. The little white shelter box, called Cotton Region Shelter, is made of wood and houses the instrumentation, such as the maximum and minimum thermometers. Some COOP stations are located in farm areas, and additional instruments, like thermometers for reading soil temperatures and hygrothermographs, may be also housed inside. The picture on the right is of an MMTS.

The circular structure to the left of the shelter box is an eight inch rain gage.    «

River Stage

Daily observations of river stages are taken. These stations generally also record precipitation, weather conditions, depth of snow or ice, and status of the river (rising or falling). Each stations is normally furnished with a river gage appropriate to the station.    «

Evaporation and Wind Movement

Daily measurements are made of the amount of evaporation from an open, freely exposed pan. Measurements are made of wind movement over the pan, temperature of the water, and at some stations, wet- and dry-bulb temperatures of the air. The stations are then provided with:

• An evaporation pan and measuring apparatus (stilling well and gage).
• An anemometer and, when required, a wet- and dry-bulb psychrometer and storage tank.    «

Soil Temperature

Selected stations record the soil temperature daily. The stations are provided with thermometers or sensing elements located in and under undisturbed bare or grass-covered soil at selected depths.    «

Agricultural Data

At selected stations, observers forward weekly reports containing the effect of weather on crops and a description of current farming operations in the locality.  «

COOP MISSION : In addition to meeting the original 1890 agriculturally oriented mission to describe the climate of the U.S., today's COOP observations support many other applications of non-airport climate and weather data by industry, government, and individuals. These include:

NWS forecast and warning process
Drought assessment
Energy consumption models
Engineering, power plant, and architectural design
Recreation
Flood zone determination

Observations taken by COOP observers generally include both of the following parameters: 1)
24-hour maximum and minimum temperatures, and 2) 24-hour liquid precipitation amounts (including melted snowfall).

NATIONAL COOP HOME PAGE : Click here if you wish to visit the OFFICIAL NWS COOP Observer Program Home Page - site of the Nation's largest and oldest weather/climate observing network (1890 - Present).

We are currently looking for new COOP Observers. If you wish to become an Observer, or to learn more about the program, contact our COOP Program Manager, Suzanne M. Cawn. At this time,we are most interested in obtaining new observers in the interior Everglades area of South Florida.