What's New in CHARM

May 20, 2009: We've implemented a new map for the CHARM home page that is built using the Google Maps API! On this new map, you can hover over a station for abbreviated station and rainfall data, and click on a station for full station and rainfall data. Plus, you get all the regular features of Google Maps. You can zoom in, pan around, and change the map type using the control buttons on the map. Feedback, comments, and suggestions are welcome; just email Erik at erik.r.reimers@nasa.gov. For more technical info, click "About the CHARM map" below the map on the main page.
February 6, 2008: CHARM's daily precipitation reports are now being used by both CoCoRaHS and the Huntsville Weather Forecast Office! The data for manual observer stations in CHARM is now being forwarded to the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow network (CoCoRaHS), and from there to the National Weather Service. This data is viewable both on the CoCoRaHS page and the NWS page.

CoCoRaHS Data
NWS Data

Novemeber 11, 2007
CHARM has now joined CoCoRaHS!
Read more!

October 16, 2007
CHARM has now implemented new data entry pages, in anticipation of forwarding data to CoCoRaHS!
Read more!

July 31, 2007
In an attempt to bring more attention to the case studies and monthly maps we do, we're going to try making a kind of news ticker for the main page, with a quick look at what's been posted lately. I hope this will encourage interest in some of the interesting weather that's been swirling around lately!

May 30, 2007
As I am typing this, the new CHARM website has just gone live. This has been in the making for awhile, as you can most likely tell if you notice the backlog of updates listed below since last October. All the kinks are worked out, and now every month of CHARM data has been put into contour plot form, as can be found on the Rainfall Analysis page. I'd welcome any comments or suggestions, my email (Erik) should be listed at the bottom of just about every page as curator. Enjoy!

January 12, 2007
Took steps and made minor tweaks to the site to make it more friendly for Firefox users (like myself, when I'm at home).

January 9, 2007
Updated with monthly plot for December, yearly plot for 2006, and updated the amount and anomaly graph for the year.

December 18, 2006
All of the gaps in the commentary for Monthly Analysis have been filled in, most notably the bulk of 2001, and the page formats have been tweaked. I've added a Cumulative Anomaly Graph for the airport from 1958-2000, keyed off of the break between 2000 and 2001, just like the more recent data graph.

December 15, 2006
The 70 month cumulative anomaly graph has been added to the Rainfall Analysis page. I've also developed a new header style for the core pages.

December 5, 2006
All of the data for 2001 has been processed, sorted, sifted, mapped, contoured, and shaken, but not stirred. Amount & Anomaly graphs have been added, summarizing the deviation from climatological average for January 2001 through November 2006. In the works is a 70 month cumulative anomaly graph, to illustrate trends in surplus and deficit month-to-month and year-to-year.

November 9, 2006
I've added the fancy new logo to several pages. Also, the title font has been changed, in an effort to make it more readable. I'm currently working on yearly rainfall graphs for four reliable stations, showing the amount of rainfall month-to-month and their deviation from the climatological mean.

October 24, 2006
This website is under new management! The current update is sweeping, with too many facets to list here. Among them are a new color scheme, more consistent font headings, statistical analysis and observations on data all the way back to 2002, and tons of page reorganization, to hopefully make the site more user-friendly and easier to navigate. A new hand-drawn logo and other updates are in the works, as well!

February 13, 2002
CHARM data now reported to Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center and the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center in near real-time for use in river forecast models, to validate radar estimated precipitation, and for precipitation forecast verification. Three daily forecast points (rivers) will be directly affected by the CHARM data. This could increase or grow when the new Huntsville National Weather Service office opens.

May 15, 2001
New reporting practice: For rain events in the Huntsville / Madison County area, if you do not get rain, report "0.0" for the daily total. This takes a bit extra time and effort but it is important for isolated convective rain events. Reporting "0.0" is more precise and allows for a more accurate analysis of the regional variations in precipitation.

May 14, 2001
The CHARM Network presentation to the Tennessee Valley Chapter of the American Meteorological Society on May 10 by Dr. Gary Jedlovec is now online for viewing. Check the CHARM homepage under Papers and Presentations.

May 3, 2001
A new feature has been added to the CHARM homepage. You can see the results and analysis of historical rainfall data on the page. April results have been posted. You are welcome to send your additions to paul.meyer@msfc.nasa.gov for posting.

April 26, 2001
Mark your calendar for the May 10 meeting of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of the American Meteorological Society. It will be held at 6:30 pm, in Room 4078 at the National Space and Technology Center, 320 Sparkman Drive, in Huntsville. Gary Jedlovec will be making a presentation on the CHARM program. Everyone is invited to attend this meeting! It will also be a great opportunity for CHARM participants to come and discuss the program and share their experience and questions on making rainfall measurements. Food and sodas will be served! We are planning on having a CHARM presentation and discussion at an upcoming meeting of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of the American Meteorological Society. You all will be invited to attend. Watch for details!

April 2, 2001
CHARM rainfall observations should be made at the 1200 UTC synoptic time (6:00 am LST or 7:00 am LDT). Since we changed time several weeks ago, the more appropriate observation time is 7:00 am Local Daylight Time (LDT). If this is not convenient for you, continue to make observations at your normal time.
Novemeber 11, 2007: CHARM has now joined CoCoRaHS!
Read more!
October 16, 2007: CHARM has now implemented new data entry pages, in anticipation of forwarding data to CoCoRaHS!
Read more!
July 31, 2007: In an attempt to bring more attention to the case studies and monthly maps we do, we're going to try making a kind of news ticker for the main page, with a quick look at what's been posted lately. I hope this will encourage interest in some of the interesting weather that's been swirling around lately!
May 30, 2007: As I am typing this, the new CHARM website has just gone live. This has been in the making for awhile, as you can most likely tell if you notice the backlog of updates listed below since last October. All the kinks are worked out, and now every month of CHARM data has been put into contour plot form, as can be found on the Rainfall Analysis page. I'd welcome any comments or suggestions, my email (Erik) should be listed at the bottom of just about every page as curator. Enjoy!
January 12, 2007: Took steps and made minor tweaks to the site to make it more friendly for Firefox users (like myself, when I'm at home).
January 9, 2007: Updated with monthly plot for December, yearly plot for 2006, and updated the amount and anomaly graph for the year.
December 18, 2006: All of the gaps in the commentary for Monthly Analysis have been filled in, most notably the bulk of 2001, and the page formats have been tweaked. I've added a Cumulative Anomaly Graph for the airport from 1958-2000, keyed off of the break between 2000 and 2001, just like the more recent data graph.
December 15, 2006: The 70 month cumulative anomaly graph has been added to the Rainfall Analysis page. I've also developed a new header style for the core pages.
December 5, 2006: All of the data for 2001 has been processed, sorted, sifted, mapped, contoured, and shaken, but not stirred. Amount & Anomaly graphs have been added, summarizing the deviation from climatological average for January 2001 through November 2006. In the works is a 70 month cumulative anomaly graph, to illustrate trends in surplus and deficit month-to-month and year-to-year.
November 9, 2006: I've added the fancy new logo to several pages. Also, the title font has been changed, in an effort to make it more readable. I'm currently working on yearly rainfall graphs for four reliable stations, showing the amount of rainfall month-to-month and their deviation from the climatological mean.
October 24, 2006: This website is under new management! The current update is sweeping, with too many facets to list here. Among them are a new color scheme, more consistent font headings, statistical analysis and observations on data all the way back to 2002, and tons of page reorganization, to hopefully make the site more user-friendly and easier to navigate. A new hand-drawn logo and other updates are in the works, as well!
February 13, 2002: CHARM data now reported to Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center and the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center in near real-time for use in river forecast models, to validate radar estimated precipitation, and for precipitation forecast verification. Three daily forecast points (rivers) will be directly affected by the CHARM data. This could increase or grow when the new Huntsville National Weather Service office opens.
May 15, 2001: New reporting practice: For rain events in the Huntsville / Madison County area, if you do not get rain, report "0.0" for the daily total. This takes a bit extra time and effort but it is important for isolated convective rain events. Reporting "0.0" is more precise and allows for a more accurate analysis of the regional variations in precipitation.
May 14, 2001: The CHARM Network presentation to the Tennessee Valley Chapter of the American Meteorological Society on May 10 by Dr. Gary Jedlovec is now online for viewing. Check the CHARM homepage under Papers and Presentations.
May 3, 2001: A new feature has been added to the CHARM homepage. You can see the results and analysis of historical rainfall data on the page. April results have been posted. You are welcome to send your additions to paul.meyer@msfc.nasa.gov for posting.
April 26, 2001: Mark your calendar for the May 10 meeting of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of the American Meteorological Society. It will be held at 6:30 pm, in Room 4078 at the National Space and Technology Center, 320 Sparkman Drive, in Huntsville. Gary Jedlovec will be making a presentation on the CHARM program. Everyone is invited to attend this meeting! It will also be a great opportunity for CHARM participants to come and discuss the program and share their experience and questions on making rainfall measurements. Food and sodas will be served! We are planning on having a CHARM presentation and discussion at an upcoming meeting of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of the American Meteorological Society. You all will be invited to attend. Watch for details!
April 2, 2001: CHARM rainfall observations should be made at the 1200 UTC synoptic time (6:00 am LST or 7:00 am LDT). Since we changed time several weeks ago, the more appropriate observation time is 7:00 am Local Daylight Time (LDT). If this is not convenient for you, continue to make observations at your normal time.

Contact: Dr. Gary J. Jedlovec (gary.jedlovec@msfc.nasa.gov)
Page Curator: Kevin M. McGrath (kevin.m.mcgrath@nasa.gov)
Responsible Official: Dr. James L. Smoot (james.l.smoot@nasa.gov)

Last updated: February 6, 2008