Open-Source Weather Data: A Treasure Trove for the Curious and the Informed

Here is a detailed article on “Freely available and redistributable weather observations over the USA”:

Introduction to open weather data in the USA

Over the past decade, there has been a growing movement towards open data, where government agencies and other organisations make their datasets freely available for public use and redistribution. This trend has been particularly pronounced in the geosciences, including weather observation data. In the United States, there are now numerous sources of high-quality, freely available weather data that can be used by researchers, businesses, and the general public. This article provides an overview of some of the major sources of open weather data in the US and explains how these datasets can be used.

The availability of open weather data has enabled a wide range of innovative applications, from building advanced weather forecasting models to powering personalised weather apps. By making these valuable datasets freely available, government agencies and other organisations are empowering the public to harness the power of weather data in new and transformative ways. This article explores some of the use cases and benefits of open weather data in the US.

National Weather Service (NWS) weather data

The National Weather Service (NWS), a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is the primary source of weather data and forecasts for the United States. The NWS operates a vast network of weather observation stations, radars, and other monitoring equipment across the country that continuously collects a wealth of data on temperature, precipitation, wind, and other atmospheric conditions.

Much of this weather data is made freely available to the public through the NWS website and other platforms. The NWS offers a variety of data products, including real-time observations, historical archives, and specialised data sets for specific applications. For example, the NWS provides access to its Integrated Surface Database (ISD), which contains hourly observations from over 20,000 weather stations around the world, including thousands in the United States.
In addition to the ISD, the NWS offers other open data resources, such as the Global Forecast System (GFS) model data, which provides high-resolution forecasts for the entire globe. These datasets can be downloaded in a variety of formats, including comma-separated values (CSV) and NetCDF, making them accessible to a wide range of users and software applications.

Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS)

While the NWS maintains a robust network of official weather observation stations, there is also a thriving community-based initiative that supplements this data with additional observations from volunteer observers. The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) is a non-profit organisation that encourages individuals to report daily precipitation measurements from their own rain gauges and other weather instruments.
The CoCoRaHS dataset is freely available to the public and can be accessed through the organisation’s website. This crowdsourced data provides valuable information on precipitation patterns at a more granular, local level, filling in gaps that may exist in the NWS network. Researchers, meteorologists and other users can use the CoCoRaHS data to gain a more comprehensive understanding of weather conditions across the United States.

The CoCoRaHS project has been running since 2010 and has grown to include more than 20,000 active volunteer observers in all 50 states. The data collected by these volunteers is quality controlled and made available for download in a variety of formats, including CSV and shapefile formats for Geographic Information System (GIS) applications.

Citizen science weather monitoring projects

In addition to large-scale initiatives such as the NWS and CoCoRaHS, there are numerous citizen science projects that contribute to the pool of open weather data in the US. These projects often involve volunteers using low-cost weather sensors and instruments to collect hyper-local weather observations, which are then aggregated and made publicly available.
One such example is the Weather Underground Personal Weather Station Network, which allows individuals to connect their home weather stations to a central platform and contribute their data to a growing database. This data is then made freely available for download and use by researchers, educators and the general public.

Another citizen science initiative is the mPING project, run by the University of Oklahoma and the National Severe Storms Laboratory. mPING encourages people to report real-time observations of precipitation type (rain, snow, hail, etc.) using a mobile app, providing valuable ground-truth data to support weather forecasting and research efforts.

These citizen science projects not only contribute to the overall pool of weather data, but also help to engage the public in the scientific process and promote a better understanding of local weather conditions.

Using open weather data for innovative applications

The availability of freely accessible and redistributable weather data in the US has opened up a world of opportunities for innovative applications and research. Developers, researchers and entrepreneurs can now create a wide range of products and services that harness the power of this data, from personalised weather apps to advanced climate models.

For example, businesses can use open weather data to optimise their operations, such as adjusting delivery schedules or inventory management based on predicted weather conditions. Researchers can use the data to study long-term climate trends, develop new forecasting techniques or investigate the impact of severe weather events.

The open nature of these weather datasets also enables collaboration and the cross-pollination of ideas. Developers can build on existing open source weather applications, while researchers can share their findings and models with the wider community. This collaborative approach fosters innovation and helps drive progress in weather science and technology.
As the availability and quality of open weather data continues to improve, the potential for new and transformative applications will only grow. By making this valuable resource freely available, government agencies and other organisations are empowering the public to unlock the full potential of weather data and contribute to a better understanding of our dynamic climate system.

FAQs

Freely available and re-distributable weather observations over the US?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) provide a wealth of freely available and re-distributable weather data and observations for the United States. This includes real-time and historical weather data from weather stations, satellites, radars, and other sources. The data can be accessed through various online portals and APIs, and is often available for download in open data formats for use in research, analysis, and applications.

What types of weather data are available?

The freely available weather data includes a wide range of observations and measurements, such as temperature, precipitation, wind speed and direction, humidity, atmospheric pressure, and more. This data is collected from a network of weather stations, buoys, and other monitoring equipment across the country. Additionally, satellite and radar imagery, as well as weather forecasts and models, are also made freely available by NOAA and the NWS.

How can the weather data be accessed and used?

The weather data is typically available through various online portals and APIs provided by NOAA and the NWS. These include the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), the National Weather Service website, and the application programming interfaces (APIs) like the NOAA API and the National Weather Service API. The data is available in formats such as CSV, JSON, and XML, making it easy to integrate into various applications and analyses.

What are some common use cases for the freely available weather data?

The freely available weather data has a wide range of applications, including weather forecasting, climate research, agriculture, transportation, energy planning, and disaster management. Researchers, developers, and organizations can use the data to build weather-based applications, analyze historical trends, and develop models for various purposes.

Are there any limitations or restrictions on the use of the weather data?

While the weather data provided by NOAA and the NWS is generally freely available and re-distributable, there may be some restrictions or limitations on its use. Users should always refer to the specific terms of use and licensing information provided by the data sources. Additionally, the data may have certain quality or accuracy limitations, and users should be aware of these when using the data for critical applications.