PRISM to Help with SNOTEL Quality Control

When installation first began in the middle 1970s, the Snow Telemetry network (SNOTEL) was never envisioned as a data source for climate change studies; however the network has become a de facto source for middle and higher elevation snowpack, precipitation, and temperature data in the West.

While sensor technology and communication capability continue to improve the quality of observations at these remote sites, PRISM methodology is now being employed to correct or back-fill all archived SNOTEL data that is suspect or missing. The results of this effort may indeed provide the basis for identifying a “benchmark” SNOTEL network for climate change studies.

NRCS State data collection offices will be conducting an evaluation of this Quality Control (QC) technique for archived maximum and minimum daily temperatures during this summer. Once this process is accepted, a further evaluation of daily precipitation will be undertaken. Eventually, NRCS plans to implement this procedure in near real-time in order to detect sensor malfunction, vandalism, or changes to sensor exposure.

In upcoming weeks, NRCS This Week will feature articles about how PRISM is changing the way NRCS manages natural resources, improves agricultural production, and views climate and climate change. Articles will center on how PRISM methodology will help improve the quality of NRCS’ SNOTEL climate data, and help in optimizing the placement of future weather stations that would be used to monitor snowfall, drought, and ultimately the water supplies in the West.
Your contact is Jan Curtis, NRCS applied climatologist, at 503-414-3017.