Spatial Quality Control of Climate Observations Obtained through Snow Pack Telemetry (SNOTEL)

NRCS conservationists Jenny Castagno and Terry Gonzales (left) taking snow survey readings of sample tube in Wyoming's Absaroka Mountains snow telemetry or SNOTEL sites provide real-time snow and climate data using automated remote sensing from sites in the mountainous regions of the Western United States Learn more

With the increased reliance on electronic sensors and automated near real-time data delivery for systems like SNOTEL, the Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN), and Meteor Burst data; a rigorous quality control system for surface weather and climate observation data and the resulting analyses, studies, and assessments becomes increasingly more important.

SNOTEL measurement technologies present a number of challenges for traditional quality control systems. To meet these challenges, the National Water and Climate Center has partnered with Oregon State University's Spatial Climate Analysis Center who have developed and operate the Parameter Regressions on Independent Slope Model (PRISM) and PRISM Spatial Quality Control to improve the quality of SNOTEL and SCAN data. As implementation progresses, it is expected that users of climate information provided by the SNOTEL and SCAN networks will be more confident of the accuracy of the data for use in their natural resource management activities.
Your contact is Jim Marron, NRCS resource conservationist, at 503 414-3047.