U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE 1325 East-West Highway Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3283

TO:                 All Holders of Operations Manual

SUBJECT:     Transmittal Memorandum for Operations Manual Issuance 86-10

1. Material Transmitted:

WSOM Chapter B-15, Paid and Non-Paid Basic and Synoptic Surface Stations.

2. Summary:

This chapter provides an updated description of the part-time paid and non-paid surface stations managed by the National Weather Service.

3. Effect on Other Instructions:

Cancels WSOM Chapter B-15, transmittal issuance 69-29, dated July 1, 1969, and OML-9-79, dated June 5, 1979, filed with B-15.
 
 
 
 

Richard E. Hallgren
Assistant Administrator
for Weather Services

Issue Date    Org. Code             NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE     Part Chap.
11-18-86        W/OSO14                         Operations Manual                         B     15

Table of Contents:

1. General

1.1    Definitions
1.2  Identification of Unofficial Observations
1.3  Restriction in Use of Unofficial Observations

2. Criteria for Establishing

3. Channels of Action

3.1 Processing Requests
3.2 Approval
3.3 Establishing Stations
        3.3.1 Station Site
        3.3.2 Observers
        3.3.3 Fees
        3.3.4 Documentation

4. Duties and Responsibility of Observer

5. National Weather Service Responsibility

5.1 Basic Stations
5.2 Unofficial Stations

6. Observational Program

6.1 Program Review
6.2 Temporary Suspension of Observations
        6.2.1 Notification of Suspension

7. Supervision

8. Inspection

9. Continuation of Climatological Observations

Exhibit:

B-15-1 Agreement for Observer Reports
 

1. General. This chapter prescribes the procedures and policies governing the establishment and management of paid and non-paid basic and synoptic surface weather observing stations.

1.1 Definitions. The following definitions pertain to terms used in this chapter.

        a. Paid station. A station staffed with observers who are paid by the National Weather Service (NWS) to take, record, and disseminate basic or synoptic observations at specific times or upon request (on call). These observers are not full-time employees of the Federal Government.

        b. Non-Paid station. A station where observations are taken without personnel cost to the NWS. Non-paid observers referred to in this chapter take basic and synoptic surface observations. Cooperative observers who take climatological and hydrologic observations are covered in Weather Service Operations Manual (WSOM) Chapter B-17.

        c. Paid observer. An observer who takes weather observations for the NWS and is paid by the observation.

        d. Non-Paid observer. An observer who takes weather observations for the NWS without pay.

        e. Cooperator. An agency, company, or organization which provides personnel full- or part-time to take observations for the NWS without pay therefor.

Note: While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) are cooperating agencies in the field of data acquisition, the establishment and management of surface weather observing stations at FAA and USCG facilities are discussed in WSOM Chapters B-13 and B-16, respectively.

        f. Contractor. An agency, company, organization, or person that agrees to provide observations to the NWS as specified in the contract.

        g. Unofficial Observation. An observation taken by an observer not certified or otherwise qualified in accordance with WSOM Chapter B-61 to take such an observation.

1.2 Identification of Unofficial Observations. Each such report when disseminated shall be identified as unofficial, or in some cases, the source of the report (e.g., State Police) may be given as an indication of its reliability. For further details on handling unofficial reports, see Federal Meteorological Handbook No. 1, Surface Observations.

1.3 Restriction in Use of Unofficial Observations. Unofficial observations shall not be used for the dispatch or control of aircraft.

2. Criteria for Establishing. Paid or non-paid observing stations may be established to obtain basic and/or synoptic surface weather observations at locations from which meteorological data are required for use by the Government in the discharge of its responsibilities and --

        a. the observational program does not require full-time employees; or

        b. resources available are insufficient to support full-time Federal Government employees; or

        c. full-time Federal Government employees supporting other meteorological or related activities do not have the time or appropriate facilities (site, exposure, communications, etc.) to take such observations.

In this connection, observations required solely to meet the needs for aircraft operations by airlines, air taxi operators, airport authorities, and other private aviation interests are not within the definition of this program and shall be established as Supplemental Aviation Weather Reporting Stations as outlined in WSOM Chapter B-14.

3. Channels of Action.

3.1 Processing Requests. A request by a field station for establishing a paid or non-paid basic or synoptic weather observing station or for modifying the observational program at or for closing an existing station, will be submitted through the regional headquarters (RH) for approval. Requests by other offices, divisions, or units will be submitted to the Office of Systems Operations, NWS Headquarters. Each request should contain all details in reference to the recommended actions, such as the need for the observations, instrumentation to be provided, hours of operation, estimated cost, etc.

3.2 Approval. Generally, the establishment or closure of basic or synoptic weather reporting stations must be approved by the Assistant Administrator for Weather Services. However, these observational programs may be modified at the discretion of RH in accordance with section 6.2.

3.3 Establishing Stations. Correspondence requesting the establishment or change in the program of a basic or synoptic weather reporting station should, as appropriate, specify the location, outline the instrumentation to be provided, indicate the content and frequency, as well as the dissemination of the observations, and provide an itemized list of additional funds required to establish and operate the station, if any.

3.3.1 Station Site. A site should be selected within an area convenient to a source of potential observers which best meets sensor exposure requirements (see WSOM Chapter B-11), provides necessary facilities (space, electricity, etc.), and has a source of communications available.

3.3.2 Observers. A sufficient number of qualified observers (WSOM Chapter B-61) should be appointed at each station to assure an uninterrupted schedule or program of observations. If qualified observers are not available, an observer from the Cooperative Program should be appointed, if feasible, to assure continuity in climatological data during the absence of the observer, whenever the station is in the climatological/hydrologic network (WSOM Chapter B-17). The understanding reached between the RH representative and the observer will be documented on NOAA Form 36-14. See exhibit B-15-1.

The need for, or documentation of, any understanding or agreement with persons or sources for unofficial observations is left to the judgment of the RH.

3.3.3 Fees. It may be necessary to pay a fee to obtain the required observations. The average fee is $2.50 per observation. Depending upon the availability of resources, higher fees may be in order where the average fee does not adequately compensate the observer. Consideration should be given to the local prevailing wage scales and for the time, effort, inconvenience, and cost involved in taking and transmitting the observations. Some conditions under which the payment of additional fees may be desirable include locations where the observing site or equipment is not located in or near the observer's home or the observer must provide communications facilities beyond his personal needs to transmit the observations.
 

Timing and adjustments in the amount of compensation are tied to the pay raise of Federal workers. When Federal workers receive a pay raise, fees for paid observers are raised by the same percentage.

For contract stations not already funded in the regional base funding, the Chief, Data Acquisition, will send a memorandum to the Chief, Observing Systems Branch, W/OSO14, in July each year, giving the name of each station for which money will be needed in the following fiscal year. Also, the expected cost for each contract station will be included. In October, a Financial Operating Plan will be submitted to NWS Headquarters to effect the transfer of funds.

Program adjustments requiring additional funds should have the approval of NWS Headquarters, including situations where funds to offset the increase can be made available within the Region.

3.3.4 Documentation. The observational program of a station, its location, instrumentation, fees, and communications will be reported to the NWS Headquarters promptly. Likewise, any changes in the foregoing will be reported as they occur. Forms described in WSOM Chapter A-11 will be used for this purpose.

4. Duties and Responsibility of Observer. Each part-time observer, whether paid or non-paid, will take and disseminate observations, provide preventive maintenance, and protect Government equipment entrusted to his care as directed by the RH and provided for in the agreement with the observer.

5. National Weather Service Responsibility.

5.1 Basic Stations. For part-time paid or cooperative, except unofficial, stations the NWS will:

        a. train and certify observers;

        b. furnish observational forms, instructions, supplies, all or part of equipment, and replacements required for the observing program;

        c. monitor weather reports;

        d. inspect and supervise the station;

        e. maintain NWS equipment; and

        f. arrange for communications where the NWS wishes to receive real-time observational data.

5.2 Unofficial Stations. For unofficial cooperative stations, the NWS will accomplish as many of the items in Section 5.1 as possible within current resources, except issuing a certificate.

6. Observational Program. The schedule and content of observations at each station, if not specified by NWS Headquarters, will be specified by the RH.

6.1 Program Review. RH should review periodically the observational program at each observing station under its supervision. Adjustments should be made as necessary to reflect current program requirements.

6.2 Temporary Suspension of Observations. At stations where observers cannot be recruited locally or resources will not permit the detail of certified observers to the station to maintain the observational schedule, the observational program may be temporarily modified to permit the observers to be absent on vacation or for personal reasons. However, insofar as practicable, the observational program will be continued uninterrupted at stations in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) or National Meteorological Center (NMC) networks. At stations in the climatological networks (WSOM Chapter B-17), provision should be made to observe and record at least temperature extremes and precipitation data daily during the absence of the observer(s) unless autographic records are available for this time period (see 3.3.2).

6.2.1 Notification of Suspension. Where all or part of the observations are likely to be suspended, arrangements will be made with the observers to notify the RH a week in advance, if feasible. This information will be passed on to the NWS Headquarters for stations in the WMO and NMC networks and to other local and area users of the data to the extent considered essential by the RH.

7. Supervision. The RH shall supervise and manage each station within its region or designate a nearby Weather Service Office or Weather Service Forecast Office to perform this function. Supervision and management shall consist of a review of weather reports from these stations by the supervisory station. In addition, the supervisory station shall carry out the NWS's responsibility as outlined in section 5.

8. Inspection. Each part-time station should be inspected twice a year, whenever practicable, by an RH representative or by a member of the supervising facility. Inspection visits will be accomplished in accordance with WSOM Chapter B-66.

9. Continuation of Climatological Observations. When stations which provide data for either the climatological or hydrologic networks as defined in WSOM Chapter B-17 are closed, the acquisition of extreme temperature data and of precipitation measurements should be continued, if feasible, using local persons as cooperative observers.