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Doesken, Nolan ¹

¹ Colorado State Climatologist and Senior Research Associate, Director, Fort Collins Weather Station

Underlying most work in hydrologic science is a basic knowledge of climatic characteristics of precipitation -- the quantity, frequency, intensity, duration of precipitation as well as information on how precipitation varies geographically, seasonally, and interannually. This knowledge is based primarily on recent and historic measurements. The history of precipitation measurement in the U.S. will be provided with examples of observing networks, types of rain gauges used, and analysis and climate information products that have resulted. Limitations and gauge inaccuracies will be discussed. Pros and cons of remote sensing of precipitation will also be presented. The climate of Colorado will then be described in some detail showing the complex patterns and geographic distribution of moisture that results from a mid-latitude, high elevation, interior continental location with complex topography. Finally, the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow network (CoCoRaHS -- an effort to engage tens of thousands of citizens across the U.S. in hydrologic science through participation in back yard rainfall measurements, will be explained.