State of Alabama Hydrometeorological Networks

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Regional Surface Meteorological Networks

Alabama Mesonet - The Alabama A&M University operates this network of 11 combination meteorological and soil stations (8 in Alabama). The combination stations are included within the USDA/NRCS Soil Climate Analysis Network. See that description below. There are also a number of soil profile only stations and for that description see below. For further information visit the ALMNet home page.

WHNT WeatherNet - WHNT-TV in Huntsville, Alabama operates this network of 22 stations located primarily at schools throughout northern Alabama and southern Tennessee (18 in Alabama). The network provides up to 1-minute observations of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, and barometric pressure. For further information visit the WHNT network page.

WTVC WeatherNet - WTVC-TV in Chattanooga, Tennessee operates this network of 36 stations located primarily at schools throughout southern Tennessee and norther Georgia (1 in Alabama). The network provides up to 1-minute observations of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, and barometric pressure. For further information visit the WTVC network page.
WEAR WeatherNet - WEAR-TV in Pensacola, Florida operates this network of 31 stations located primarily at schools throughout Florida, and Southern Alabama (8 in Alabama). The network provides up to 1-minute observations of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, and barometric pressure. For further information visit the WEAR network page. No map yet.

State and Local Surface Meteorological Networks

Auburn University Mesonet - Auburn University operates this network of 19 stations at locations throughout the state of Alabama. The network provides hourly observations of air temperature, dew point, wet bulb temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, soil temperature at 4 inches depth, vegetative wetting, solar radiation, wind speed, wind direction, and wind gust. Further information at: http://www.awis.com/mesonet/.

WVTM WeatherNet - WVTM-TV in Birmingham, Alabama operates this network of 21 stations located primarily at schools throughout northern Alabama. The network provides up to 1-minute observations of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, and barometric pressure. For further information visit the WVTM network page.

Precipitation and Radar Networks

NOAA/National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Hourly Precipitation Data - NOAA/NCEP routinely develops a National Multi-sensor Hourly Precipitation Analysis (Stage II) data set from hourly radar precipitation estimates and from hourly gage reports. The gage data includes hourly observations from ~4000 gages across the US (70 in Alabama) collected by the NOAA River Forecast Centers and sent to NCEP. Further information on these data is available at: http://wwwt.emc.ncep.noaa.gov/mmb/ylin/pcpanl/.

NOAA/NWS Cooperative Observer 15-minute Precipitation Network - The NOAA/NWS routinely collects 15-minute observations of precipitation from Fisher-Porter and Universal rain gages operated by 2777 cooperative observers located throughout the US (38 in Alabama). These data are archived at NOAA/NCDC as data set TD 3260. For further information visit the NOAA/NCDC TD3260 page at: http://ols.nndc.noaa.gov/plolstore/plsql/olstore.prodspecific?prodnum=C00505-TAP-A0001

Cooperative Huntsville Area Rainfall Measurements (CHARM) Network - The CHARM network is comprised of volunteers who take daily rainfall measurements in the morning. The network also incorporates automated NWS and USGS raingages in the region. The network includes approximately 150 raingage locations throughout the Huntsville, Alabama area. For further information, including a map of gage locations visit the CHARM home page at: http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/charm/. No map.

Weather Surveillance Radar 1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) Network - The NOAA/NWS and the Department of Defense operate this network of 143 WSR-88D radars across the contiguous US (4 in Alabama). The Level II data are the three meteorological base data quantities (reflectivity, mean radial velocity, and spectrum width) and are recorded at all NWS and most DOD sites. Level II data are then processed in order to create a number of meteorological analysis products known as Level III data. Level III data are recorded at the NWS sites. The Level III products included base reflectivity, base spectrum width, base velocity, composite reflectivity, echo tops, velocity azimuth display (VAD) wind profile, vertically integrated liquid (VIL), 1-hour precipitation, storm total precipitation, hail index overlay, mesocyclone overlay, severe weather probability overlay, storm structure, storm tracking information overlay, and tornadic vortex signature overlay. All Level II and III data are archived at NOAA/NCDC. For further information visit the NOAA/NCDC Radar Resources page at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/radar/radarresources.html or the NOAA Radar Operations Center at: http://www.roc.noaa.gov/.

Radiation and Flux Networks

None at present.

Soil Networks

Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) - The SCAN is operated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The network provides hourly observations of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, solar radiation, precipitation, barometric pressure, snow water content, snow depth, soil temperature (at 2, 4, 8, 20, and 40 cm depths), and soil moisture (at 2, 4, 8, 20 and 40 cm depths). The 80 SCAN stations are located across the US in primarily agricultural regions (8 in Alabama). For further information visit the SCAN home page.

Alabama Mesonet - The Alabama A&M University (AAMU) operates this network of 11 combination meteorological and soil stations (8 in Alabama) and 10 soil profile only stations (all in Alabama). The combination stations are included within the USDA/NRCS Soil Climate Analysis Network. See that description above. The soil profile only stations currently provide soil moisture measurements at 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, and 40 inch depths and gage precipitation. Additional sensors (soil temperature and heat flux) have not yet been activated. These data are logged every 15 minutes and are manually downloaded very three weeks. At this time these data are private to AAMU. For further information regarding these data please contact Dr. Teferi Tsegaye (NOTE: To send the email please remove the "nospam" from the address). For further information visit the Alabama Mesonet home page.

Hydrology Networks

United States Geological Survey (USGS) Streamflow Network - The USGS (part of the US Department of the Interior) operates this network of 7237 streamflow gages (175 in Alabama) at locations throughout the US. The network provides hourly or more frequent observations of stage (water level) from which discharge (flow) is computed using a stage-discharge rating relation. The rating is defined by occasional direct current-meter measurements of discharge. All data are available through the USGS and the district offices in each state. Many of these gages provide realtime data relayed via the GOES satellite data collection system. The realtime data are provisional data that have not been reviewed or edited. These realtime data may be subject to significant change and are not citeable until reviewed and approved by the USGS. Realtime data may be changed after review because the stage-discharge relationship may have been affected by: 1) backwater from ice or debris; 2) algal and aquatic growth in the stream; 3) sediment movement; and 4) malfunction of recording equipment. Each station record is considered provisional until the data are published. The data are usually published with 6 months of the end of the water year (1 October to 30 September). Data users are cautioned to consider carefully the provisional nature of the information before using it. For further information on the USGS streamflow network visit the USGS Water Resources of the United States page at: http://water.usgs.gov/ or the USGS Alabama District Office home page at: http://al.water.usgs.gov/.

Upper Air Networks

NOAA/NWS Radiosonde Network Low Vertical Resolution Data - The NOAA/NWS typically releases radiosondes twice per day at 0000 and 1200 UTC at 69 locations throughout the US (1 in Alabama). During special weather situations the NWS can request to release additional radiosondes at off-times (e.g. 1800 UTC). The low resolution data is sent out over the Global Telecommunications System (GTS) and provides mandatory and significant level observations of pressure, altitude, temperature, dew point, wind speed, and wind direction. There are 3 types of radiosondes utilized within the US network, Vaisala, VIZ (or Sippican), and Microsonde. These data are archived by NOAA/NCDC and other organizations. For further information on the NWS Radiosonde network visit the NWS Upper-air Observations Program home page. A several year archive of GTS upper air data is available at the NOAA/FSL Radiosonde Database.

NOAA/NWS Radiosonde Network High Vertical Resolution Data - The same radiosonde locations mentioned in the previous data set also provide a 6-second vertical resolution data set that provides observations of pressure, temperature, altitude, relative humidity, and azimuth and elevation angles. UCAR/JOSS has developed software to derive 6-second vertical resolution winds from the angle data. These data are archived by NCDC and UCAR/JOSS.

Ground Based Global Positioning System (GPS) Meteorology Demonstration Network (GPS-MET) - The NOAA/FSL ingests data from 323 GPS locations around the US operated by many different agencies (3 in Alabama). Typically each location provides 30-minute observations of integrated precipitatable water along with a number of surface meteorology parameters (air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, etc). For further information visit the GPS-MET home page.

Aerosol Networks

Regional East Atmospheric Lidar Mesonet - The Regional East Atmospheric Lidar Mesonet (REALM) is a proposal by a number of lidar researchers and is designed to monitor air quality in the vertical from multiple locations on the east coast. For further information visit the REALM web site. Map at web site.

Coastal Networks

National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON) - The National Ocean Service (NOS) Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) maintains a long-term database containing water-level measurements and derived tidal data. NWLON provides water level observations at 318 locations throughout the United States. Some stations provide additional measurements including air and water temperature, pressure and winds. For additional information visit the NWLON web page.

Regional Surface Meteorological Networks
	Click on the maps for larger image


Alabama Mesonet - The Alabama A&M University operates this network of 11 combination meteorological and soil stations (8 in Alabama). The combination stations are included within the USDA/NRCS Soil Climate Analysis Network. See that description below. There are also a number of soil profile only stations and for that description see below. For further information visit the ALMNet home page.

WHNT WeatherNet - WHNT-TV in Huntsville, Alabama operates this network of 22 stations located primarily at schools throughout northern Alabama and southern Tennessee (18 in Alabama). The network provides up to 1-minute observations of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, and barometric pressure. For further information visit the WHNT network page.

WTVC WeatherNet - WTVC-TV in Chattanooga, Tennessee operates this network of 36 stations located primarily at schools throughout southern Tennessee and norther Georgia (1 in Alabama). The network provides up to 1-minute observations of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, and barometric pressure. For further information visit the WTVC network page.
WEAR WeatherNet - WEAR-TV in Pensacola, Florida operates this network of 31 stations located primarily at schools throughout Florida, and Southern Alabama (8 in Alabama). The network provides up to 1-minute observations of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, and barometric pressure. For further information visit the WEAR network page.	No map yet.

State and Local Surface Meteorological Networks

Auburn University Mesonet - Auburn University operates this network of 19 stations at locations throughout the state of Alabama. The network provides hourly observations of air temperature, dew point, wet bulb temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, soil temperature at 4 inches depth, vegetative wetting, solar radiation, wind speed, wind direction, and wind gust. Further information at: http://www.awis.com/mesonet/.

WVTM WeatherNet - WVTM-TV in Birmingham, Alabama operates this network of 21 stations located primarily at schools throughout northern Alabama. The network provides up to 1-minute observations of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, and barometric pressure. For further information visit the WVTM network page.

Precipitation and Radar Networks

NOAA/National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Hourly Precipitation Data - NOAA/NCEP routinely develops a National Multi-sensor Hourly Precipitation Analysis (Stage II) data set from hourly radar precipitation estimates and from hourly gage reports. The gage data includes hourly observations from ~4000 gages across the US (70 in Alabama) collected by the NOAA River Forecast Centers and sent to NCEP. Further information on these data is available at: http://wwwt.emc.ncep.noaa.gov/mmb/ylin/pcpanl/.

NOAA/NWS Cooperative Observer 15-minute Precipitation Network - The NOAA/NWS routinely collects 15-minute observations of precipitation from Fisher-Porter and Universal rain gages operated by 2777 cooperative observers located throughout the US (38 in Alabama). These data are archived at NOAA/NCDC as data set TD 3260. For further information visit the NOAA/NCDC TD3260 page at: http://ols.nndc.noaa.gov/plolstore/plsql/olstore.prodspecific?prodnum=C00505-TAP-A0001

Cooperative Huntsville Area Rainfall Measurements (CHARM) Network - The CHARM network is comprised of volunteers who take daily rainfall measurements in the morning. The network also incorporates automated NWS and USGS raingages in the region. The network includes approximately 150 raingage locations throughout the Huntsville, Alabama area. For further information, including a map of gage locations visit the CHARM home page at: http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/charm/.	No map.

Weather Surveillance Radar 1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) Network - The NOAA/NWS and the Department of Defense operate this network of 143 WSR-88D radars across the contiguous US (4 in Alabama). The Level II data are the three meteorological base data quantities (reflectivity, mean radial velocity, and spectrum width) and are recorded at all NWS and most DOD sites. Level II data are then processed in order to create a number of meteorological analysis products known as Level III data. Level III data are recorded at the NWS sites. The Level III products included base reflectivity, base spectrum width, base velocity, composite reflectivity, echo tops, velocity azimuth display (VAD) wind profile, vertically integrated liquid (VIL), 1-hour precipitation, storm total precipitation, hail index overlay, mesocyclone overlay, severe weather probability overlay, storm structure, storm tracking information overlay, and tornadic vortex signature overlay. All Level II and III data are archived at NOAA/NCDC. For further information visit the NOAA/NCDC Radar Resources page at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/radar/radarresources.html or the NOAA Radar Operations Center at: http://www.roc.noaa.gov/.

Radiation and Flux Networks

None at present.

Soil Networks

Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) - The SCAN is operated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The network provides hourly observations of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, solar radiation, precipitation, barometric pressure, snow water content, snow depth, soil temperature (at 2, 4, 8, 20, and 40 cm depths), and soil moisture (at 2, 4, 8, 20 and 40 cm depths). The 80 SCAN stations are located across the US in primarily agricultural regions (8 in Alabama). For further information visit the SCAN home page.

Alabama Mesonet - The Alabama A&M University (AAMU) operates this network of 11 combination meteorological and soil stations (8 in Alabama) and 10 soil profile only stations (all in Alabama). The combination stations are included within the USDA/NRCS Soil Climate Analysis Network. See that description above. The soil profile only stations currently provide soil moisture measurements at 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, and 40 inch depths and gage precipitation. Additional sensors (soil temperature and heat flux) have not yet been activated. These data are logged every 15 minutes and are manually downloaded very three weeks. At this time these data are private to AAMU. For further information regarding these data please contact Dr. Teferi Tsegaye (NOTE: To send the email please remove the "nospam" from the address). For further information visit the Alabama Mesonet home page.

Hydrology Networks

United States Geological Survey (USGS) Streamflow Network - The USGS (part of the US Department of the Interior) operates this network of 7237 streamflow gages (175 in Alabama) at locations throughout the US. The network provides hourly or more frequent observations of stage (water level) from which discharge (flow) is computed using a stage-discharge rating relation. The rating is defined by occasional direct current-meter measurements of discharge. All data are available through the USGS and the district offices in each state. Many of these gages provide realtime data relayed via the GOES satellite data collection system. The realtime data are provisional data that have not been reviewed or edited. These realtime data may be subject to significant change and are not citeable until reviewed and approved by the USGS. Realtime data may be changed after review because the stage-discharge relationship may have been affected by: 1) backwater from ice or debris; 2) algal and aquatic growth in the stream; 3) sediment movement; and 4) malfunction of recording equipment. Each station record is considered provisional until the data are published. The data are usually published with 6 months of the end of the water year (1 October to 30 September). Data users are cautioned to consider carefully the provisional nature of the information before using it. For further information on the USGS streamflow network visit the USGS Water Resources of the United States page at: http://water.usgs.gov/ or the USGS Alabama District Office home page at: http://al.water.usgs.gov/.

Upper Air Networks

NOAA/NWS Radiosonde Network Low Vertical Resolution Data - The NOAA/NWS typically releases radiosondes twice per day at 0000 and 1200 UTC at 69 locations throughout the US (1 in Alabama). During special weather situations the NWS can request to release additional radiosondes at off-times (e.g. 1800 UTC). The low resolution data is sent out over the Global Telecommunications System (GTS) and provides mandatory and significant level observations of pressure, altitude, temperature, dew point, wind speed, and wind direction. There are 3 types of radiosondes utilized within the US network, Vaisala, VIZ (or Sippican), and Microsonde. These data are archived by NOAA/NCDC and other organizations. For further information on the NWS Radiosonde network visit the NWS Upper-air Observations Program home page. A several year archive of GTS upper air data is available at the NOAA/FSL Radiosonde Database.

NOAA/NWS Radiosonde Network High Vertical Resolution Data - The same radiosonde locations mentioned in the previous data set also provide a 6-second vertical resolution data set that provides observations of pressure, temperature, altitude, relative humidity, and azimuth and elevation angles. UCAR/JOSS has developed software to derive 6-second vertical resolution winds from the angle data. These data are archived by NCDC and UCAR/JOSS.

Ground Based Global Positioning System (GPS) Meteorology Demonstration Network (GPS-MET) - The NOAA/FSL ingests data from 323 GPS locations around the US operated by many different agencies (3 in Alabama). Typically each location provides 30-minute observations of integrated precipitatable water along with a number of surface meteorology parameters (air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, etc). For further information visit the GPS-MET home page.

Aerosol Networks

Regional East Atmospheric Lidar Mesonet - The Regional East Atmospheric Lidar Mesonet (REALM) is a proposal by a number of lidar researchers and is designed to monitor air quality in the vertical from multiple locations on the east coast. For further information visit the REALM web site.	Map at web site.

Coastal Networks

National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON) - The National Ocean Service (NOS) Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) maintains a long-term database containing water-level measurements and derived tidal data. NWLON provides water level observations at 318 locations throughout the United States. Some stations provide additional measurements including air and water temperature, pressure and winds. For additional information visit the NWLON web page.