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Regional Surface Meteorological Networks
High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC) Automated Weather Data Network (AWDN) - The HPRCC oversees and ingests data from various state agricultural networks and makes it available as the AWDN. The AWDN is comprised of 167 stations located primarily in High Plains region (18 in Kansas). The network provides hourly observations of air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, soil temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and precipitation. For further information visit the HPRCC AWDN home page.
Union Pacific Railroad Weather Station Network - The Union Pacific Railroad operates this network of 264 weather stations (9 in Kansas) located in the central and western United States. Further information on Union Pacific is available on their home page. This network is included as part of the University of Utah MesoWest and NOAA/Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) Global Systems Division (GSD) MADIS data sets.	.
Atmospheric Radiation measurement (ARM) Southern Great Plains (SGP) Surface Meteorological Observation System (SMOS) Network - The Department of Energy operates the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program Southern Great Plains (SGP) site in south central Kansas and north central Oklahoma. The Surface Meteorological Observation System (SMOS) is operated at 14 ARM SGP Extended Facilities (8 in Kansas) and provides 1-minute observations of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, barometric pressure, precipitation, and snow depth. For further information visit the ARM home page at: http://www.arm.gov/.
KSNW WeatherLab Network - KSNW-TV in Wichita, Kansas operates this network of 103 stations located primarily at schools throughout western and central Kansas (102 in Kansas). 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 KSNW network page.
KJRH WeatherNet - KJRH-TV in Tulsa, Oklahoma operates this network of 30 stations located primarily at schools throughout eastern Oklahoma (3 in Kansas). 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 KJRH network page.
KOAM WeatherNet - KOAM-TV in Joplin, Missouri operates this network of 26 stations located primarily at schools throughout southwestern Missouri and southeastern Kansas (14 in Kansas). 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 KOAM network page.
KCTV WeatherNet - KCTV-TV in Kansas City, Missouri operates this network of 32 stations located primarily at schools throughout western Missouri and eastern Kansas (18 in Kansas). 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 KCTV network page.
State and Local Surface Meteorological Networks
Kansas Department of Transportation (DOT) Road Weather Information System (RWIS) Network - The Kansas DOT operates this network of 44 stations at locations along highways throughout the state of Kansas. The network provides hourly observations of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and wind direction. For further information visit the Kansas DOT RWIS home page or the Surface Systems, Inc Road Weather page. This data set is included in the NOAA/FSL MADIS data set.
Groundwater Management District (GWMD) #5 Network - The Kansas GWMD #5 operates this network of 10 stations in south-central Kansas in the area between Wichita and Dodge City. The network provides hourly observations of air temperature, vapor pressure, solar radiation, wind speed, and wind direction. For further information visit the Kansas GWMD #5 network page.
Southwest Kansas Mesonet - The Kansas State Climate Office operates this network of 8 stations in southwestern Kansas (formerly operated by the Kansas GWMD #3). The network provides hourly observations of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, solar radiation, and soil temperature.
Kansas Air Monitoring Network - The Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Air and Radiation operates this network of 5 stations with locations throughout the state of Kansas. The network provides hourly observations of wind speed and wind direction. For further information visit the Bureau of Air and Radiation page.
Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiments (ABLE) Automated Weather Stations - THIS NETWORK IS NO LONGER ACTIVE. The Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) Atmospheric Section operated this research initiative in the Walnut Watershed in Butler County east of Wichita, Kansas. There are 5 Automated Weather Stations on the site that provide 1-minute observations of air temperature, relative humidity, vapor pressure, wind speed, wind direction, barometric pressure, and precipitation. For further information visit the ABLE home page.	No map.
Overland Park ALERT Network - The City of Overland Park, Kansas operates this network of 10 weather stations with locations around the city. The network provides 10-minute observations of air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, wind run, wind direction, and precipitation. For further information visit the Overland Park ALERT page.	No map.
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 (198 in Kansas) 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 (80 in Kansas). These data are archived at NOAA/National Climatic Data Center (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
Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) - The Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University overseas this cooperative network of observers located throughout Kansas. The network provides daily observations of precipitation, snowfall, and snow depth. Hailpad observations are also made at many locations. For further information visit the CoCoRaHS home page.	No map.
Overland Park ALERT Precipitation Network - The City of Overland Park, Kansas operates this network of 81 precipitation gages with locations around the city. The network provides 15-minute observations of precipitation. For further information visit the Overland Park ALERT page.	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 Kansas). 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
Ameriflux Network - The Ameriflux network consists of 54 sites conducting long-term measurements of CO2, water and energy fluxes throughout the US (5 in Kansas). The typical observational frequency is 30 minutes. The parameters measured at each site vary, but Ameriflux has defined a core set of parameters that most sites collect, including fluxes of CO2, energy and water, basic meteorological and radiation parameters, and soil temperature and moisture. For further information visit the Ameriflux home page at: http://public.ornl.gov/ameriflux/Participants/Sites/Map/index.cfm.
ARM SGP Energy Balance Bowen Ratio (EBBR) and Eddy Correlation (ECOR) Networks - At its SGP site the ARM program operates two flux measurement networks. The Energy Balance Bowen Ratio (EBBR) system is operated at 12 ARM SGP Extended Facilities (5 in Kansas) and provides 30-minute observations of sensible and latent heat fluxes. The Eddy Correlation (ECOR) system is operated at 10 ARM SGP Extended Facilities (5 in Kansas) and provides 30-minute observations of momentum, sensible heat, and latent heat fluxes. For further information visit the ARM home page at: http://www.arm.gov/.
ARM SGP Radiation Data - The ARM program operates several radiation instruments at its SGP site. The Solar Infrared Radiation Station (SIRS) is operated at 21 ARM SGP Extended Facilities (10 in Kansas) and provides 1-minute observations of incoming and outgoing shortwave and longwave radiation along with direct and diffuse shortwave radiation. The Infrared Temperature (IRT) system is operated at the ARM SGP Central Facility and provides 1-minute observations of skin temperature. For further information visit the ARM home page at: http://www.arm.gov/.
Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiments (ABLE) Flux and Radiation Stations - THIS NETWORK IS NO LONGER ACTIVE. The Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) Atmospheric Section operates this research initiative in the Walnut Watershed in Butler County east of Wichita, Kansas. Two sites provide 30-minute observations of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR), incoming and outgoing solar radiation, and albedo. One site provides 30-minute observations of sensible, latent, and ground heat fluxes from an Energy Balance Bowen Ratio (EBBR) system. Another site utilizes the Eddy Correlation (ECOR) method to provide 30-minute observations of sensible and latent heat fluxes, friction velocity, water vapor density, and CO2 concentration. For further information visit the ABLE home page at: http://gonzalo.er.anl.gov/ABLE/.	No map.
Soil Networks
ARM SGP Soil Water and Temperature System (SWATS) Network - The Soil Water and Temperature System (SWATS) is operated at 21 ARM SGP Extended Facilities (10 in Kansas) and provides hourly observations of soil temperature and moisture at 5, 15, 25, 35, 60, 85, 125, and 175 cm depths. For further information visit the ARM home page at: http://www.arm.gov/.
Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiments (ABLE) Soil Stations - THIS NETWORK IS NO LONGER ACTIVE. The Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) Atmospheric Section operates this research initiative in the Walnut Watershed in Butler County east of Wichita, Kansas. One site provides 30-minute observations of soil moisture, soil temperature, and soil heat flow at 5 cm depth. Another site provides hourly observations of soil temperature and moisture at 22.5, 37.5, 60, 90, and 120 cm depths. For further information visit the ABLE home page at: http://gonzalo.er.anl.gov/ABLE/.	No map.
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 (181 in Kansas) 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 Kansas District Office home page at: http://ks.water.usgs.gov/.
Overland Park ALERT Stream Gage Network - The City of Overland Park, Kansas operates this network of 60 stream gages with locations around the city. The network provides 15-minute observations of river stage. For further information visit the Overland Park ALERT page.	No map.
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 (2 in Kansas). 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.
NOAA Profiler Network (NPN) - The NOAA/Forecast Systems Laboratory (FSL) operates this network of 32 404 MHz wind profilers primarily across the central portion of the United States (3 in Kansas). Each site provides 6-minute and hourly vertical profiles of wind speed and wind direction. Additionally, 11 of the NPN sites have a collocated Radio Acoustic Sounding System (RASS) that provides 6-minute and hourly vertical profiles of virtual temperature (3 in Kansas). For further information visit the NPN home page. An archive of the hourly wind profiles is available from NCAR/SCD.
Cooperative Agency Profiler (CAP) Network - The NOAA/FSL ingests data from wind profilers and RASS operated by a number of cooperating agencies. Most of these profilers are 915 MHz, but some are 449 or 50 MHz. Most provide hourly observations of wind speed and direction. The number and location of these can vary through time. As this is being written the network included 58 locations within the US (3 in Kansas). Most of the sites are along the US West Coast and in the northeastern US. For further information visit the CAP home page at: http://www.profiler.noaa.gov/jsp/aboutCap.jsp.
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 (11 in Kansas). 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.
Other Networks
Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) - AERONET is an optical ground-based aerosol monitoring network and data archive supported by NASA's Earth Observing System. The network hardware consists of identical automatic sun-sky scanning spectral radiometers owned by national agencies and universities. Data from this collaboration provides globally distributed (1 in Kansas) near real time observations of aerosol spectral optical depths, aerosol size distributions and precipitable water. For further information visit the AERONET home page.