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Once upon a time…. …and right in our backyard. In the wake of the Tulsa Flood of 1984…. Spring 1986: A statewide “mesonetwork” was proposed (Crawford, NWS; Kimpel, OU; Doswell, NSSL). Spring 1986: A proposal to upgrade OSU’s Ag Weather Station network
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Once upon a time…
…and right in our backyard
In the wake of the Tulsa Flood of 1984… Spring 1986: A statewide “mesonetwork” was proposed (Crawford, NWS; Kimpel, OU; Doswell, NSSL) Spring 1986: A proposal to upgrade OSU’s Ag Weather Station network had been in the works since 1982 (Elliott and Stadler, OSU)
The First Decision… 1987: A Mesonet Steering Committee was formed (conceptually) and was composed of individuals from OU, OSU as well as an outside member from the meteorological community in Norman. Thus, the ‘best and most effective’ partnership to date began — one that would prove critical to future successes.
The First Action… 1988: A funding and implementation proposal was written and a meeting held with ~30 agencies - federal, state and local. The goal: To gauge support for a Mesonet in Oklahoma and to determine collaborators who were willing to participate in its design. The great need was to identify ‘stakeholders’.
The support was unanimous. (of course!) And proposing at least one Mesonet station in every county was politically correct! But….
The Big Questions… Would a 77 station network satisfy everyone’s needs? Who would pay for it?
The First Steps… To achieve an appropriate station density, it was determined that 107 stations at a spacing of ~30 km were necessary. Thus, the Steering Committee began work to find models in other states for funding ideas. (and did not use an internet search engine!)
Lesson #1 - It is ‘OK’ to learn from the successes of others! In 1988, Washington State University began their Public Agriculture Weather System (PAWS) to help growers with management decisions. Initial funding to design, implement, operate, maintain and demonstrate a prototype automated weather station network in Washington was obtained in Fall 1987 through a three-year Washington State Energy Office grant ($131,000) from oil overcharge monies and a one year grant ($100,000) from the WSU Director of Cooperative Extension.
Another Early Lesson… 1989: Proposal to the OK Dept. of Commerce to use $2M in oil overcharge funds to develop the Oklahoma Mesonet. The proposal had to be submitted to the US Dept. of Energy for ‘approval’, even though the funds were from Governor Bellmon’s discretionary resources. It was rejected.
Lesson #2 - Be Persistent! 1990: The Mesonet proposal was reworked and resubmitted to the US Dept. of Energy.
Lesson #3 - Your first hire should be a graphics artist! The new proposal contained the same substance, but was packaged with fewer words and more graphics, including summary graphics. It was funded!
M&O: The Hardest Issue… 1991: Although $2.7M existed to begin the network, no maintenance and operations (M&O) money existed. These funds would be essential. Accordingly, the Steering Committee believed that satisfied customers would be critical to sustaining the Mesonet! Lesson #4 - “Education” would become a key word with State Legislators!
The Oklahoma Mesonet: Educational Outreach • K-12 outreach program for teacher • enhancement. • Began in 1992 with 3 classes of teachers who received computers, training, and access to Mesonet data via a dial- • up bulletin board • system. • Customized software. EARTHSTORM
EARTHSTORM Teacher Workshops Initial funding from the NSF for $750,000 over 3 years (1992-1994)
The First Big Success… “The Mesonet is providing my students with new insights into what science really is. My students have a new enthusiasm and interest in their education. Never in my 14 years of teaching have I had students begging to come and stay at school for any other curriculum.” Lori Painter, 6th Grade Teacher Monroe Elementary, Enid Public Schools
The First Big Success… EARTHSTORM In many rural Oklahoma communities, the EARTHSTORM computer was the only computer in the school (at the time). Soon thereafter, these same schools became the first ones in Oklahoma to access the internet. As a result, the first bricks of the Mesonet’s foundation were put into place with ‘partners’ in many schools in many counties from east to west and north to south.
Federal Partners… By 1993, the USDA-ARS became the first federal ‘partner’ with a decision to modernize their historical Micronet across the Little Washita Watershed. The continued operation of the ARS Micronet by the Mesonet team helped the Mesonet infrastructure reach maturity and advance with changing technology. DOE/ARM also has been a continual partner because the Mesonet made it possible to shift more of the ARM/CART into Kansas. And, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have continually supported their access to quality-assured rainfall data.
Defining the ‘Core’ Mesonet… Beyond these three agencies, it proved impossible to secure on-going M&O support from other federal agencies - no matter how small the request. Why? Perhaps those used to ‘free data’ do not ever expect to pay. But, life teaches that nothing is ever ‘free’. Perhaps ‘setting a precedent’ was the concern. Who knows? So, attention refocused on securing M&O support for the core Mesonet from the State of Oklahoma.
Meanwhile… Spring 1994: Because of the Mesonet’s growing reputation and the need for continued M&O funds, State Senator Cal Hobson asked 8 State Cabinet Agencies if they would contribute $25K each. As a result, the Mesonet received $200K for its first M&O funds. Spring 1995: Because the Mesonet failed to secure a new Governor’s support, permanent M&O funds were not approved. Not surprisingly, these Cabinet Agencies were asked to contribute again to the Mesonet’s M&O as they did in 1994 — and they did.
Lesson #5 - Do not take any support for granted and be cognizant of changes in elected officials!
Another Lesson… Spring 2000: The “deregulation” craze comes sweeping down the plain! Mesonet viewed this as a prime opportunity to re-affirm its energy roots and asked to have additional M&O funding attached to the Oklahoma deregulation bill. The bill came under intense scrutiny, as did the Mesonet. Although the Mesonet surfaced unscathed, deregulation was scapped for the forseeable future, and with it, any permanent M&O dollars for the Mesonet.
Regrouping… After the deregulation fiasco of 2000, OCS worked throughout the Fall of 2000 to position itself for a stand-alone state appropriation that would support the M&O of the core Mesonet. Because of strong support from the Oklahoma Legislature and from Governor Frank Keating, the Mesonet Program received an “unprecedented” 400% increase to its previous M&O funds — to be phased in over a 2 year period.
Two Important Ingredients… Lesson #7 - Given a mature Mesonet (preparation), the opportunities to excel have been (and will be) abundant! These situations have contributed to the general well-being and to the safety and security of the citizens of Oklahoma. The result has been a powerful grass-roots group of supporters and partners. A few of the hundreds of success stories follow:
“Using the Mesonet, we now work in a laboratory without walls. Rural areas are at a disadvantage no longer.”JoAnn Ball, Comanche Public Schools Opportunity: K-12 Education
Opportunity: EarthStorm U • Funding provided by the Oklahoma EPSCoR Program • 18 Oklahoma 2- and 4-year college and university faculty attended training workshops based on EARTHSTORM • Professors incorporate real-time Mesonet, ARM, NEXRAD Radar, and Satellite data into undergraduate education and other science courses • Education majors enter the K-12 classroom knowing how to use Mesonet, ARM and other weather information to enhance science and math teaching • Scientists in other disciplines also use the Mesonet
A Hidden Opportunity… April 12, 1993: A controlled burn near Enid gets out of control due to an unexpected wind shift. As a result, heavy smoke impacted a state highway. Investigators using archived Mesonet data determined that if the data had been available in real-time, the burn permit might not have been issued and that Mesonet data could have been used in more effective smoke management efforts.
“The Mesonet has proven to be one of the most valuable production and marketing tools available to Oklahoma producers.... Mesonet data will play an increasing role in pesticide and fertilizer applications, prescribed burning, confined animal operations, and irrigation scheduling, to name a few.”Mark Hodges, Exec. DirectorOklahoma Wheat Commission Opportunity: Agriculture
OK-FIRST An initiative by OCS to develop a decision-support system for Public Safety Agencies (Emergency Management, Fire, and Police). -The Oklahoma Mesonet Plus: -NEXRAD (~20 products from 15 radars + mosaics) -National Weather Service text and graphic products -Fostered more effective interaction with the NWS Provide instruction on how to use and apply (and how “not to” apply) critical weather data. 1996-1999: $550K one-time Federal grant1999-present: $250K/yr from Legislature
Opportunity: Firefighting/Hazardous Materials “Ardmore/Carter County Emergency Management routinely monitors … the Mesonet. They page this information to all Carter County fire departments so they are prepared for wind shifts and hazardous conditions.” “Ponca City and Kay County Emergency Management officials continually monitored Mesonet conditions during the Conoco refinery fire on October 29, 1999. They kept abreast of the wind conditions to keep a bad situation from becoming worse.” (full circle for the oil overcharge money!)
May 3, 1999 Lincoln County Emergency Management: Ben Springfield • Tanger Mall was cleared of people before the storm arrived. • Rural citizens were informed by updates broadcast on scanner and took shelter. • Patients at the Stroud Hospital were moved into hallways before debris completely filled the rooms.
“The Oklahoma Mesonet has quickly become a critical piece of information to make warning and forecast decisions at the National Weather Service. It has played key roles in situations ranging from the May 3rd tornadoes [of 1999] to forecast support during the Oklahoma City bombing recovery effort.”David L. Andra, Jr., Science and Operations OfficerNational Weather Service Forecast Office - Norman, OK Opportunity: Improved Government Efficiency
“From locating dry lines, checking rain totals for flooding, to wind gusts, the Oklahoma Mesonet gives operational meteorologists the timely data we need…. Other than the NEXRAD radars, I can’t imagine any other resource I have that provides as much weather data to help me warn our viewers of severe weather threats.”Dan Threlkeld, KFOR-TV, Oklahoma City, OK Opportunity: Improved Media Relations
“We had a wildfire … along the Red River south of Grandfield. Using the Mesonet and your fire weather products, I was able to relay to the first fire truck that was en route to the scene how fast the fire should burn and what the winds, soil and air temperatures would be at the scene. Because the spread component was high, we dispatched 2 more trucks to the scene even before the first truck arrived. The 3 trucks had the fire out within 30 minutes, quite possibly saving property and lives.”Tommy Thornton, Emergency Management Director Opportunity: Public Safety
“The Oklahoma Mesonet is proving to be a tremendous resource for the electric cooperatives of Oklahoma. Up-to-the-minute weather data are absolutely critical…. Not only is the information from Mesonet accurate and timely, but other services, such as … access to real-time weather radar, afford our electric co-ops the opportunity to enhance their abilities to deliver competitively priced electricity in a safe and reliable manner.”Sid Sperry, Director of Marketing & Member Relations Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives Opportunity: Public Utilities
One of Oklahoma’s Native Sons… Lesson #8 - “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity” Darrell K. Royal
“The Mesonet has grown over the past decade to an operation that reaches every county in Oklahoma, and impacts the economy of the state and the well-being of its citizens…. The management of the Mesonet should be applauded for continually … working closely with all end users. This useful exchange has resulted in products that are specifically catered to the users’ needs. This interaction has also resulted in a diverse clientele that is very satisfied with and highly supportive of the Mesonet.” AAAS External Review…
External Recognition… Outstanding Contributors to Emergency Management by Oklahoma Emergency Management Association (1998, 1999) Innovations in American Government Award Winnerin 2001 by Harvard University’s JFK School of Government Special Award from the American Meteorological Society in 2001 Finalist in 2001 Stockholm Challenge
A Climate Services Vision: First Steps Toward The Future National Research Council, 2001 The blue ribbon panel believed the Oklahoma Mesonet’s success was built upon five pillars: Users were involved from day one. Products were developed in direct partnership with users. Strong partnerships existed with mission agencies and with research elements. Information was accessible. Education of users and potential users was an important element of the program.
