Article

30 July 2004

Wanted: Citizen weather observers

Edward L. Redfern began service as the cooperative weather observer at Taunton, Massachusetts, on 17 June 1885. Here he is shown at his weather station in November 1935, when he was 86 years old. This photograph appeared in Monthly Weather Review," November 1935, page 314. The photo is in the Historic NWS Collection (image ID: wea01508). Click image to enlarge.

Since 1890, the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) has operated a network of citizen volunteers known as cooperative observers. These observers use standard NWS instruments to monitor temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure and others weather parameters.

Many cooperative weather observers are following a family tradition going back more than a century. This is important to the NWS, for such long time series of data provide important information about climate trends. Especially important are observations made in rural areas that are not influenced by the urban heat island effect of cities.

There are more than 11,000 cooperative weather observers in the U.S. Around 200 of them resign each year, so there is always a need for new observers.

According to the National Weather Service Cooperative Observer web page, becoming an NWS Cooperative observer volunteer requires the following:

1. Dedication to public service.

2. Attention to detail.

3. Ability to learn and perform daily duties.

4. Willingness to allow NWS to place measuring instruments on your property.

5. Willingness to allow at least one visit per year from a NWS representative.

The following capabilities are useful but not required:

1. Personal computer with a modem and familiarity with its basic uses.

2. Established internet access.

Cooperative observers receive training, supervision, materials and instrumentation. Depending on the instrumentation, each site is visited once or twice every 12 months for routine maintenance. Additional visits are made if maintenance is required.

Cooperative observers generally volunteer their time, although small stipends are sometimes offered. A recent call for observers at two sites in the Northeast offered a stipend of $25 per month.

For more information about becoming a cooperative weather observer, visit www.nws.noaa.gov/om/coop/index.htm.

Forrest M. Mims III