Mark Turner is the Observing Program Leader (OPL) at the National Weather Service in Spokane. His main focus is to service what is known as the Cooperative Observer Program (COOP). He makes sure that COOP observers have the equipment and training needed to accurately report the weather at a specific location. These observations contain vital information for a variety of users and are invaluable in learning more about the floods, droughts, heat and cold waves affecting our area. The data are also used in agricultural planning and assessment, engineering, environmental-impact assessment, utilities planning, and litigation.
There has been a COOP site in Odessa since 1902. It is now located at an address near the west end of town. Within the past few years the frequency of the observations has fallen off to the point where no data from the area is being received. Attempts to find a replacement location and observer for this site have been unsuccessful. The Odessa weather station is part of the Historic Climate Network of the United States, which means that the data from Odessa is used to identify long term trends in the climate of America. The data is also used by forecast staff as a starting point for the forecast that is used by the public on a daily basis and in the weather warning program.
Plans are to relocate the Odessa COOP weather station. A location that would be acceptable for weather recording would meet the following criteria;
1. Fairly open to the elements, with few obstructions that would negatively impact temperature and precipitation recordings.
2. No nearby heat sources (AC units, dryer vents, large asphalt areas, etc.).
3. Internet access.
4. A volunteer who would take daily (within reason) observations of temperature, precipitation, snowfall and snowdepth.
5. Be representative of the typical weather conditions in Odessa.
The NWS will provide all the necessary equipment, install, calibrate and maintain this equipment, provide reporting procedures and training for the observer, archive and publish all data. The volunteer would need to provide suitable siting for this equipment and record and report the data to the NWS. The time required to record and report this data is between 5 and 15 minutes per observation.
Anyone interested in obtaining more information about this volunteer position is encouraged to call Mark Turner, OPL WFO Spokane, at 509-244-0110 (x 225) or email him at mark.turner@noaa.gov.
Reader Comments(0)