Oklahoma Hydrometeorological Networks

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Regional Surface Meteorological Networks

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 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/.

KJRH WeatherNet - KJRH-TV in Tulsa, Oklahoma operates this network of 30 stations located primarily at schools throughout eastern Oklahoma (26 in Oklahoma). 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 (2 in Oklahoma). 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.

KAUZ WeatherNet - KAUZ-TV in Wichita Falls, Texas operates this network of 6 stations located primarily at schools throughout northcentral Texas (1 in Oklahoma). 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 KAUZ network page.

KFSM WeatherNet - KFSM-TV in Fort Smith, Arkansas operates this network of 10 stations located primarily at schools throughout western Arkansas (1 in Oklahoma). 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 KFSM network page.

State and Local Surface Meteorological Networks

Oklahoma Mesonet - The Oklahoma Climatological Survey operates this network of 116 stations located throughout the state of Oklahoma. The network provides up to 5-minute observations of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, barometric pressure, precipitation, soil temperature (5, 10, and 30 cm depths), solar radiation, and soil moisture. Some free real-time products are available here. For further information visit the Oklahoma Mesonet home page.

ARS Micronet - The United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (ARS) GrazingLands Research Laboratory operates two weather station networks on two research watersheds in southwestern Oklahoma. The Little Washita network started in 1994 and currently includes 20 stations (it was 42 stations prior to 2005). The Ft. Cobb Reservoir Watershed network started in 2005 and includes 15 weather stations. Both networks provide 5-minute observations of air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, solar radiation, soil temperature (at 5, 10, 15, and 30 cm depths) and soil moisture (5, 25 and 45 cm). For further information visit the ARS Micronet home page.

Road Weather Information System (RWIS) - The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (DOT) operates this network of 11 stations located throughout the state of Oklahoma. The network provides variable temporal resolution observations of air temperature, relative humidity, dew point, wind speed, wind direction, visibility, and precipitation (yes/no). For further information visit the Surface Systems, Inc Road Weather page. Map at Web Site

Oklahoma Air Monitoring Network - The Oklahoma Department of EnvironmentalQuality operates this network of stations with locations throughout the state of Oklahoma. At this time it is not clear which, if any, of these stations provide meteorological observations. For further information visit the Air Monitoring page. No map.

Precipitation and Radar Networks
Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) - The Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University overseas this cooperative network of observers located throughout Oklahoma. 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.

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 (144 in Oklahoma) 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 (81 in Oklahoma). 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

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 Oklahoma). 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

Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) - The BSRN is a project of the World Climate Research Programme. The primary parameters measured by each station include global radiation, direct and diffuse radiation, downward longwave radiation, and meteorological observations. The networks includes 12 stations within the United States (1 in Oklahoma). For further information visit the BSRN home page.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) UV-B Monitoring Network - The USDA operates this network of 29 stations with locations throughout the US (1 in Oklahoma). The network provides 3-minute observations of spectral total/direct/diffuse radiation, air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, barometric pressure, and photosynthetically active radiation. For further information visit the USDA UV-B Monitoring page.

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 and provides 30-minute observations of sensible and latent heat fluxes. The Eddy Correlation (ECOR) system is operated at 10 ARM SGP Extended Facilities 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/.

Oklahoma Atmospheric Surface-layer Instrumentation System (OASIS) - This network is comprised of the 79 Oklahoma Mesonet sites that provide 5-minute estimates of net radiation and skin temperature. Additionally, 2 of the OASIS sites are termed Super Sites and they provide 5-minute measurements of sensible heat flux, ground heat flux and four-component net radiation.

Ameriflux Network - The Ameriflux network consists of 54 sites conducting long-term measurements of CO2, water and energy fluxes throughout the US (1 in Oklahoma). 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 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 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/.

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 (2 in Oklahoma). For further information visit the SCAN home page.

ARM SGP Soil Water and Temperature System (SWATS) Network - The Soil Water and Temperature System (SWATS) is operated at 21 ARM SGP Extended Facilities 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/.

Oklahoma Mesonet Soil Moisture Network - The Oklahoma Climatological Survey operates this network of 103 stations (a subset of the Oklahoma Mesonet) located throughout the state of Oklahoma. The network provides 30-minute observations of soil temperature and soil moisture at depths of 5, 25, 60, and 75 cm (note: deeper depths not available at all sites). For further information visit the Oklahoma 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 (144 in Oklahoma) 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 Oklahoma District Office home page at: http://ok.water.usgs.gov/.

USDA/ARS Watershed Research - The USDA/ARS operates a number of research watersheds throughout the US. Some of the best instrumented include the Reynolds Creek in Idaho, the Walnut Gulch in Arizona, the Southern Plains Experimental Range in Oklahoma, the Little Washita River in Oklahoma, the Blackland Prairie in Texas, the Goodwater Creek in Missouri, the Walnut Creek in Iowa, Goodwin Creek in Mississippi, the Little River in Georgia, the Oconee River in Georgia, the North Appalachian Watershed in Ohio, the National Agriculture Research Center in Maryland, and the Mahantango Creek in Pennsylvania. Most of these have at least one surface meteorological station and a precipitation gage network. For further information visit the USDA/ARS Watershed Research home page at: http:/www.nwrc.ars.usda.gov/watershed/.

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 Oklahoma). 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 (4 in Oklahoma). 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 Oklahoma). For further information visit the NPN home page. An archive of the hourly wind profiles is available from NCAR/SCD.

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 (26 in Oklahoma). 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 Oklahoma) near real time observations of aerosol spectral optical depths, aerosol size distributions and precipitable water. For further information visit the AERONET home page.

Micro-Pulse Lidar Network (MPLNET) - MPLNET is comprised of ground-based lidar systems that are co-located with sun/sky photometer sites in the NASA AERONET. Basic data from the MPL include aerosol and cloud layer heights. The primary purpose of MPLNET is to acquire long-term observations of aerosol and cloud vertical structure at sites around the world (1 in Oklahoma). For further information visit the MPLNET home page.

Regional Surface Meteorological Networks
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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 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/.

KJRH WeatherNet - KJRH-TV in Tulsa, Oklahoma operates this network of 30 stations located primarily at schools throughout eastern Oklahoma (26 in Oklahoma). 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 (2 in Oklahoma). 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.

KAUZ WeatherNet - KAUZ-TV in Wichita Falls, Texas operates this network of 6 stations located primarily at schools throughout northcentral Texas (1 in Oklahoma). 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 KAUZ network page.

KFSM WeatherNet - KFSM-TV in Fort Smith, Arkansas operates this network of 10 stations located primarily at schools throughout western Arkansas (1 in Oklahoma). 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 KFSM network page.

State and Local Surface Meteorological Networks

Oklahoma Mesonet - The Oklahoma Climatological Survey operates this network of 116 stations located throughout the state of Oklahoma. The network provides up to 5-minute observations of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, barometric pressure, precipitation, soil temperature (5, 10, and 30 cm depths), solar radiation, and soil moisture. Some free real-time products are available here. For further information visit the Oklahoma Mesonet home page.

ARS Micronet - The United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (ARS) GrazingLands Research Laboratory operates two weather station networks on two research watersheds in southwestern Oklahoma. The Little Washita network started in 1994 and currently includes 20 stations (it was 42 stations prior to 2005). The Ft. Cobb Reservoir Watershed network started in 2005 and includes 15 weather stations. Both networks provide 5-minute observations of air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, solar radiation, soil temperature (at 5, 10, 15, and 30 cm depths) and soil moisture (5, 25 and 45 cm). For further information visit the ARS Micronet home page.

Road Weather Information System (RWIS) - The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (DOT) operates this network of 11 stations located throughout the state of Oklahoma. The network provides variable temporal resolution observations of air temperature, relative humidity, dew point, wind speed, wind direction, visibility, and precipitation (yes/no). For further information visit the Surface Systems, Inc Road Weather page.	Map at Web Site

Oklahoma Air Monitoring Network - The Oklahoma Department of EnvironmentalQuality operates this network of stations with locations throughout the state of Oklahoma. At this time it is not clear which, if any, of these stations provide meteorological observations. For further information visit the Air Monitoring page.	No map.

Precipitation and Radar Networks
Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) - The Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University overseas this cooperative network of observers located throughout Oklahoma. 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.

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 (144 in Oklahoma) 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 (81 in Oklahoma). 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

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 Oklahoma). 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

Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) - The BSRN is a project of the World Climate Research Programme. The primary parameters measured by each station include global radiation, direct and diffuse radiation, downward longwave radiation, and meteorological observations. The networks includes 12 stations within the United States (1 in Oklahoma). For further information visit the BSRN home page.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) UV-B Monitoring Network - The USDA operates this network of 29 stations with locations throughout the US (1 in Oklahoma). The network provides 3-minute observations of spectral total/direct/diffuse radiation, air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, barometric pressure, and photosynthetically active radiation. For further information visit the USDA UV-B Monitoring page.

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 and provides 30-minute observations of sensible and latent heat fluxes. The Eddy Correlation (ECOR) system is operated at 10 ARM SGP Extended Facilities 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/.

Oklahoma Atmospheric Surface-layer Instrumentation System (OASIS) - This network is comprised of the 79 Oklahoma Mesonet sites that provide 5-minute estimates of net radiation and skin temperature. Additionally, 2 of the OASIS sites are termed Super Sites and they provide 5-minute measurements of sensible heat flux, ground heat flux and four-component net radiation.

Ameriflux Network - The Ameriflux network consists of 54 sites conducting long-term measurements of CO2, water and energy fluxes throughout the US (1 in Oklahoma). 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 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 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/.

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 (2 in Oklahoma). For further information visit the SCAN home page.

ARM SGP Soil Water and Temperature System (SWATS) Network - The Soil Water and Temperature System (SWATS) is operated at 21 ARM SGP Extended Facilities 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/.

Oklahoma Mesonet Soil Moisture Network - The Oklahoma Climatological Survey operates this network of 103 stations (a subset of the Oklahoma Mesonet) located throughout the state of Oklahoma. The network provides 30-minute observations of soil temperature and soil moisture at depths of 5, 25, 60, and 75 cm (note: deeper depths not available at all sites). For further information visit the Oklahoma 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 (144 in Oklahoma) 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 Oklahoma District Office home page at: http://ok.water.usgs.gov/.

USDA/ARS Watershed Research - The USDA/ARS operates a number of research watersheds throughout the US. Some of the best instrumented include the Reynolds Creek in Idaho, the Walnut Gulch in Arizona, the Southern Plains Experimental Range in Oklahoma, the Little Washita River in Oklahoma, the Blackland Prairie in Texas, the Goodwater Creek in Missouri, the Walnut Creek in Iowa, Goodwin Creek in Mississippi, the Little River in Georgia, the Oconee River in Georgia, the North Appalachian Watershed in Ohio, the National Agriculture Research Center in Maryland, and the Mahantango Creek in Pennsylvania. Most of these have at least one surface meteorological station and a precipitation gage network. For further information visit the USDA/ARS Watershed Research home page at: http:/www.nwrc.ars.usda.gov/watershed/.

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 Oklahoma). 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 (4 in Oklahoma). 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 Oklahoma). For further information visit the NPN home page. An archive of the hourly wind profiles is available from NCAR/SCD.

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 (26 in Oklahoma). 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 Oklahoma) near real time observations of aerosol spectral optical depths, aerosol size distributions and precipitable water. For further information visit the AERONET home page.

Micro-Pulse Lidar Network (MPLNET) - MPLNET is comprised of ground-based lidar systems that are co-located with sun/sky photometer sites in the NASA AERONET. Basic data from the MPL include aerosol and cloud layer heights. The primary purpose of MPLNET is to acquire long-term observations of aerosol and cloud vertical structure at sites around the world (1 in Oklahoma). For further information visit the MPLNET home page.