DTX Coop

History of the NWS Cooperative Weather Program (COOP)

The National Weather Service (NWS) Cooperative Observer Program (COOP) is truly the Nation's weather and climate observing network of, by and for the people. More than 8,700 volunteers take observations on farms, in urban and suburban areas, National Parks, seashores, and mountaintops. The data are truly representative of where people live, work and play.

The Coop was formally created in 1890 under the Organic Act. Its mission is two-fold:

• To provide observational meteorological data, usually consisting of daily maximum and minimum temperatures, snowfall, and 24-hour precipitation totals, required to define the climate of the United States and to help measure long-term climate changes
• To provide observational meteorological data in near real-time to support forecast, warning and other public service programs of the NWS.

Coop observational data supports the NWS climate program and field operations. The program responsibilities include:

• Selecting data sites
• Recruiting, appointing and training of observers
• Installing and maintaining equipment
• Keeping station documentation observer payroll
• Collecting data and its delivering it to users
• Maintaining data quality control
• Managing fiscal and human resources required to accomplish program objectives.

A cooperative station is a site where observations are taken or other services rendered by volunteers or contractors. Observers are not required to take any tests. Automatic observing stations are considered cooperative stations if their observed data are used for services which otherwise would be provided by cooperative observers. A cooperative station may be collocated with other types of observing stations such as standard observations stations, Flight Service Stations, etc. In these cases, that portion of the station observing program supporting the cooperative program's mission is treated and documented independently of the other observational and service programs.

Observers generally record temperature and precipitation daily and electronically send those reports daily to the NWS and the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Many cooperative observers provide additional hydrological or meteorological data, such as evaporation or soil temperatures. Data is transmitted via telephone, computer or, in special cases, by mail. Equipment used at NWS cooperative stations may be owned by the NWS, the observer, or by a company or other government agency, as long as it meets NWS equipment standards.

The first network of cooperative stations was set up as a result of an act of Congress in 1890 that established the Weather Bureau, but many Coop stations began operation long before that time. John Campanius Holm's weather records, taken without the benefit of instruments in 1644-45, were the earliest known observations in the United States. Subsequently many persons, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, maintained weather records. Thomas Jefferson maintained an almost unbroken record of weather observations between 1776 and 1816, and George Washington took his last observation just a few days before he died.

Two of the most prestigious awards given to Cooperative Weather Observers are named after Holm and Jefferson. Because of its many decades of relatively stable operation, high station density, and high proportion of rural locations, the Cooperative Network has been recognized as the most definitive source of information on U.S. climate trends for temperature and precipitation. Cooperative stations form the core of the U.S. Historical Network (HCN) and the U.S. Reference Climate Network.

Volunteer weather observers conscientiously contribute their time so that observations can provide the vital information needed. These data are invaluable in learning more about the floods, droughts, heat and cold waves affecting us all. The data are also used in agricultural planning and assessment, engineering, environmental-impact assessment, utilities planning, and litigation. Coop data plays a critical role in efforts to recognize and evaluate the extent of human impacts on climate from local to global scales.

COOP Equipment Used

What equipment does a Cooperative Station use?

A cooperative weather observer uses different equipment dependent on the type of station they are at. Typically, and at a minimum, all observers have a rain gage with a few having a thermometer. Observing sites are placed in one or more of the following climate networks:

• A Network: The basic climatic network of the NWS, and specifically support climatological operations, and are the backbone of the Nations Climatic database. These sites observe 24 hour maximum and minimum temperatures and 24 hour precipitation totals. Included in the "A" network are stations in the historical climatology network (HCN), which must have at least 80 years of records.
• B Network:  Specifically designed to support hydrologic operations and are used primarily to support hydrologic operations. These sites always report 24 hour precipitation totals with many also take river level readings.
• C Network: Stations were setup to act as meteorological sites and to supplement the "a" and "b" network. These sites support the issuance of warnings and forecasts programs.
• AB Network:  Support both Climatological and hydrological programs of the NWS.

All sites play important roles in the daily operations of the National Weather Service.

Temperature Equipment

Precipitation Gauges

There are several types of gauges used but the COOP program uses two basic types:

• Recording (Fischer Porter Rain Gauge (FPR))
• Non-Recording (8 inch Standard Rain Gauge (SRG) & 4 inch Plastic Rain Gauge)

Cellular Cooperative Observation Program (CCOOP)

Snowfall and Snow Depth

Communicating the Observations to the NWS Office

There are several methods available to the COOP observer to send data to the NWS. Some observers call information to the office using a toll free number. Others use a programmable telephone or a PC based program. The newest and most preferred method is via a web based reporting system called WxCoder.  All the observer provided data is coded in a special format which NWS computers can read and decipher, allowing the viewing of this data both graphically and in a tabular format.

The COOP observer plays an extremely important part in the role of the National Weather Service. The data they collect are used in a wide variety of applications: agriculture, industry, city planning, litigation, and studies about long term climatological events such as El Nino and La Nina.

COOP observers are truly unsung heros whose dedication needs to be celebrated and their efforts sung from the heights.

COOP Awards

National COOP awards can be viewed through the Cooperative Observer Newsletter (1982 to present)

There are different types of awards that are available to cooperative observers and institutions based on both length of observations and quality of service.  There are Length of Sevice (LoS), Institutional and Special Service awards.  Institutions include schools, power stations, Corps of Engineer dams, local governments, and other entities, where an individual is not identified as the observer. Often, whomever is working at observation time will record the data. Institutions shall receive an award for each 25 years of service. Special Service awards are presented from a local level, and may be given for any reason that is appropriate. This may include recognition for an individual who has been the primary observer for many years at an institution, and otherwise would not be officially recognized.

Individual Cooperative Observer Awards

Length of Service (LoS) Awards are given to individual cooperative observers after 10 years of service and every 5 years thereafter.  Two of the more prestigious awards are the Thomas Jefferson award and the John Campanius Holm award. Both were created in 1959 for the National Weather Service to honor cooperative weather observers, and the first of each was presented in 1960. To be eligible for these awards, observers' excellence must include accuracy, promptness, legibility, cooperation, consistency and care of equipment. These things must have been done over a long period of time.

Figure 1: John Campanius Holm Award This award is to honor cooperative observers for outstanding accomplishments in the field of meteorological observations. It is named for a Lutheran minister, the first person known to have taken systematic weather observations in the American Colonies. Reverend Holm made observations of climate without the use of instruments in 1644 and 1645, near the present site of Wilmington, Delaware. No more than twenty-five Holm awards are given annually.

Figure 2: Thomas Jefferson Award This award was named in honor of Thomas Jefferson, our third President, who kept an almost unbroken series of weather records from 1776 to 1816. The Thomas Jefferson Award is the most prestigious award a cooperative observer can receive. Five cooperative observers are honored each year with the Jefferson Award for outstanding and distinctive achievements. All candidates for the Jefferson Award are required to have been a recipient of the Holm Award five or more years before the year the nomination form is submitted for the Jefferson Award.

Figure 3: Dick Hagemeyer Award This award was established in honor of Dick Hagemeyer (1924-2001) whose career spanned 51 years with NOAA and his last 20 years were served as Director of the NWS Pacific Region. Prior to this position, he served as a Substation Network Specialist/ Cooperative Program Manager. This award is granted to an observer for 45 years of service.	Figure 4: Edward H. Stoll Award This award was created and became effective in 1975 in honor of Mr. Edward H. Stoll. Mr. Stoll was the observer at Elwood, Nebraska for over 76 years and was the first to receive the prestigious Stoll award. To receive this award, an observer must have taken observations for 50 years.	Figure 5: Benjamin Franklin Award This award was established in honor of Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) who invented the lightning rod and was one of the first to describe the movement of large storm systems. As Postmaster General, he received weather reports from a network of observers along the coast. The reports are the first known record of hurricanes having been systematically tracked. This award is granted to an observer for 55 years of service.
Figure 6: Helmut E. Landsberg This award was created in 1986 in honor of Dr. Helmut E. Landsberg, one of the preeminent climatologists of our time. This award is presented to all observer who have completed 60 years of service as cooperative observers.	Figure 7: General Albert J. Myer Award The award was named after an observer at Eagle Pass, Texas. In 1870 Mr. Meyer was appointed to establish and direct the "Division of Telegrams and Reports for the Benefit of Commerce," now known as the NWS. Anyone who serves as an observer for 65 years is eligible for this award.	Figure 8:  Ruby Stufft Award In 1991, Mrs. Ruby Stufft of Elsmere, Nebraska, completed 70 years as a cooperative observer. This award was named in her honor, and is presented to any observer attaining 70 years of service.
Figure 9:Earl Stewart Award This award was named for an observer in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Mr. Stewart completed 75 years of continuous observations in 1992. The criterion for this award is that an observer serve the NWS as an observer for a period of 75 years or more.	Figure 10:  Richard Hendrickson Award This award was established in honor of Richard Hendrickson. Mr. Hendrickson completed 80 years of continuous observations at Bridgehampton, New York, in 2010. He continued his work into 2015 as a primary observer until he retired at age 103. Observers receive this award after 80 years of observations.

Data, Records & Sources

For our local users in Southeast Michigan, some data sets are available on the local Climate and Past Weather section.  Our climate page also contains daily and monthly climate reports for Detroit, Flint and Saginaw.   A variety of products for many sites across Michigan can be accessed via the NOWData page.

Monthly normals, climate records, top 20 lists and more for Southeast Michigan can be found our Local Climate Data Page under the tab Local Data/Records.

National snow analyses can be found at the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC).

The following links are to the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC) Midwest Climate Watch, which is an entry point to a wealth of current information on the Midwest.  The Midwest Climate Watch includes daily, 7-day, 30-day, and month-to-date maps of temperature, precipitation, snowfall, snow depth, and growing degree days, as well as maps for prior months and seasons

• Maximum Temperatures
• Minimum Temperatures
• Daily Station Precipitation
• Daily Station Snowfall
• Daily Station Snow Depth

Certified Weather & Climate Data

The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) is the official repository of NWS data and the world’s largest archive of an extensive range of weather and climate data. All certified data must be obtained directly from NCEI. NCEI archives 99% of all NOAA data and makes it available in a number of formats. Climatological publications are available as well.

More information about data certification and costs can be found here.

Southeast Michigan's COOP Program

Interested in the COOP Program?

The weather observers who make up the Cooperative Observer Program are a core of volunteers numbering over 11,000 people across the country. This all volunteer network of weather observers has become an American institution. The program and its history of success continue to arouse the envy of other countries around the globe and has been acclaimed as the most cost-effective weather data collection network in the world.

The Cooperative Observer Network operates basically as it did the first year of its inception over 100 years ago. This data has become more valuable with time as the data now forms the cornerstone of the Nation's climatological history.  Cooperative Weather Observers come from all walks of life, even water and pollution control plants, schools, as well as many local and state government offices are all among those contributing to the program.

The Cooperative Observing Program mission is two-fold. It provides daily maximum and minimum temperatures, 24 hour precipitation and snowfall totals and then provides this data in near real-time to support forecast, warning and other public service programs of NOAA's National Weather Service.

Equipment to gather this data is provided by NOAA's National Weather Service and maintained by the Cooperative Program Manager. The data that is sent to your local weather service office is quality controlled, then sent to the National Centers for Environmental Information in Asheville, North Carolina; where the data is archived.

Becoming a NOAA's National Weather Service Cooperative Observer volunteer requires the following:

• Dedication to public service
• Attention to detail
• Ability to perform daily duties in all types of weather
• Willingness to allow NOAA's National Weather Service to place instruments on your property and allow the Cooperative Program Manager access to that instrumentation
• Have internet access

If you are interested in becoming an Official Cooperative Weather Observer for your area in Southeast Michigan, please contact the NWS Detroit/Pontiac, MI office at: w-dtx.webmaster@noaa.gov

COOP Links & Resources

Handbooks, Guides & Forms

WxCoder

Measuring Snow

NWS COOP Program