Watts Up With That?

To get an idea of the measurement environment that exists today at stations used to gather climate data, I visited the Chico State University Fram on Hegan Lane, south of the city, to do a site survey in the format done by Dr. Roger Pielke of Colorado State University. This station is part of the US Historical Climate Network of weather stations that have been used as the source for surface temperature data in many climate models and studies. There were some interesting discoveries.

Site Survey

Chico State University Farm, Hegan Lane, Chico, CA  95926 (530) 898-6343

Date: 5/09/07

Survey By: Anthony Watts

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USHCN Reported Coordinates of site: CHICO (39.71°N, 121.82°W; 56 m)

Measured GPS Coordinates of site:

Lat/Lon 39.69194˚  N  121.82127˚  W

Elevation 54.5592 m (179 feet)

Site description and known history:

California State University, Chico has been in operation since a land grant made the college a reality in 1887. The CSUC Farm has been in operation since 1963, and it is believed the current site has been at the same location since then. The prior source and location for data in the climate record for Chico is unknown as of this writing.

Curator notes:

1. There has been encroachment by Oleander bushes onto the site in recent times, about 2 years ago, a prominent Oleander bush that was blocking the pyranometer view was removed, see before (sketch) and after photos below.
2. The curator notes that there was a complaint from a meteorologist from WeatherNews about a change in temperature data that coincided with a repainting of the CRS's a few years ago, but cannot recall the date exactly.

Site surveyor notes:

1. There are missing louvers on the north side of the CRS containing the automated data logger and temp/dp sensor
2. There is clear evidence that both shelters have been repainted with latex paint, including brush marks and drip marks.
3. There is an asphalt road that curves around the site, from the southwest to the southeast
4. The surface at the site is  mixture of gravel, soil, and debris. There is no grass.
5. There is a water filled evapo-transpiration pan within  10 feet of each CRS, its lineage seems to indicate it goes back to the establishment of the site in 1963
6. The fiberglass composite NEMA electronics enclosure containing the data logger, radio modem, and solar battery charger are placed inside the CRS within 6-8 inches of the temperature/dp sensor. The 12 volt gel cel battery is also inside the CRS. These items may introduce a heat bias from the operating electronics.

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Images of the site: (click for larger images)

Other Images: (click for larger images)

Interior of west most CRS with data logger, temp/dp sensor

Before (sketch) and after of vegetation encroachment

Various details of disrepair on both CRS's

Ground cover

Interior of east most, manual mercury thermometer CRS

Evidence of repainting, brush-marks, drips