d /

A N N U A L R E P O R T

I 9 7 3 7 4

The Laboratory of Climatology

Arizona State Universi�y
Tempe, Arizona 85381
July 8, 1971�
 THE LABORATORY OF CLIMATOLOGY

ANNUAL REPORT

( 1973 - 1971+)

I. EVOLUTION OF THE PROGRAM

On March 20, 1973, Mr. Robert M. White, Administrator of the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, informed Governor Williams that the
National Weather Service would terminate the State Climatology Program
in the interest of national economy. At the suggestion of Mr. James Ver­
cellino, the Director of the Arizona Department of Aeronautics, Governor
Williams asked Arizona State University to establish a State Climatolo�y
Program under the direction of Dr. Robert Durrenberger ( letter 4/6/73).
On May 9, 1973, President Schwada accepted a repository role for the
Clima tology Program: University funds were provided so that Paul Kan9icser,
former State Climatologist, could continue in an advisory capacity. And,
the Office of Economic Planning and Development funded a smal 1 project to
complete a set of preliminary atlases for the six planning regions of Arizona.
Additional funding came from the Arizona Waler Commission which contracted
for an inventory of al I the "unofficial" rain gages in the state. The
Laboratory of Climatology was formally cstabl ished by the Board of Regents
at their September 22, 1973 meeting. At this time Governor Williams ree.:i­
phasized: 1. That there was need for a State Climatology Program; 2. That
Arizona State should institute a program in climatology; 3. That the
University of �rizona and Arizona State University should cooperate in
this endeavor.

II. OPERATIONS DURING FISCAL YEAR ( 1973 - 1974)

A. Budget

1. Income

Office of Economic Planning and Development $1,220.00

Miscellaneous (Gifts, Services) 28 3. 04

Total . . . . • • . . • • . . • • . • • • • • . • . $1,503.04
 2. Expenditures *

Wc1,ges $ 650.00

Office Supplies . .. 60.00

Equipment 445.00

Reproduction ( Xerox, blue print, etc.) 100 . 00

Trave 1 • 40.00

Postage 50. 00

Telephone 75.00

Total • . • . . • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • $1,410. 00

*Expenditures are approximate. Computer printout for June

was not available at the time this report was prepared.

B. Activities

1. Compilation of Official Weather Records

One of the maier functions of the Laboratory - namely, the

compilation of the weather records of the National Weather Service�
networ� of climatological stations in Arizona - was carried forward
with the aid of four student assistants, Cheri Kinney, James
Miles, Nancy Reckard and Robert Roseman. As a consequence of
their diligent efforts, the records are now up-to-date.

2. Computer Graphics Program

A program to enter all significant weather data into the

university computer is under way. Four students, Donald Hadder,
Ruth Lorenz, El !en Brooker, and Harris Wil Iiams, have completed
punching hourly precipitation data for a number of statio�s.
Computer programs to prepare maps and charts from this data are
currently being prepared.

3. Planning District Atlases

Prel irninary statistical analysis of the data for the principal

stations in each of the six planning districts was completed.
These data were tabulated and bound. Two copies of each sta­
tistical utlas were given to the Office of Economic Planning and
Oeve l opment.
4. Inventory of "Unofficial 1' Rain Gages

An inventory of rain gages that do not constitute a part

of the cooperative reporting network o f National W eather Service
was completed, Over five hundred such "unofficial" gages exist
in the state of Arizona. Records of the amount of precipitation
collected in them are not published by any federal or state agency
and this valuable information is thus effectively lost to society.
A program to collect and publish this data should be instituted.

5. Surrrner Cooling Requirements

A study of th e various measures utilized to arrive at a

discomfort index (an index of cool ing requirements) are being
examined for arid regions util izing Phoenix data. A side question
being investigated is th e average date for the beginning of the
"Arizona Monsoon" which ordinarily marks th e time when evaporative
coolers are no longer effective.

6. Th e Contribu tion of Maior Winter Storms to the Water Supply

Needs of Arizona

A study of the nature of the ma ior winter storms and of their

signif icance to th e state of Arizona has begun. This is a long­
term project and will need additional funding.

7. Summer Thunderstorms ( Rain, .Wind, Dust, Fire)

Anoth er long-term study, currently under way, is a study

of summer thunderstorms and the numerous natural h azards associated
with them. Floods, violen t wind storms, dust storms, and 1 ightning­
caused fires result in tremendous loss of life and property in
the state of Arizona each year.

8. Arizona Weather Watchers

The Laboratory of Climatol ogy in conjunction with the Central

Ar·izona Chapter· of the American Meteorological Society has insti­
tuted a program to work with al 1 of th e amateurs who are interested
in weather observation and forecasting. This organization wil 1
cooperate with th e science teach ers in the state who teach units on
weath er and climate. There are currently over seventy members
of th e organization in al 1 parts of the state who wil 1 make ob­
servations of unusual weather events and report them to th e
laboratory .
III. PROBLEM S AND NEEDS

For most of the past year the operations of the L aboratory were
severe 1 y 1 i mite d by 1ack of adequat e space , 1ack of equiprne n t, 1 ac k o f
time, lack of qualified assistants, and lack of operating funds.
For a long time the weather records were kept in the office of the
Director; consequentl y, they were not readily available to the public.
They are now stored in two rooms in the north half of Building 60 located
at 6th Street and College Avenue in Tempe. This was an old elementary
school building acquired by the University . It has been used as a book
store, a psychology laboratory , workshop for physical plant, and most
recently as an art studio. The facility fits the needs of the Laboratory
of Climatology nicely, but needs some modification and refurbishing for
the special needs of our program. Work orders to accomplish these
modifications are being sent forward to the appropriate authorities.
During the past year the Director has found it difficult to accomplish
any of the tasks for which he was responsible in a satisfactory manner
because of his heavy teaching load and his other professional activities.
With a half-time appointment for teaching purposes this next year, he
should be able to function more effectively.
A major portion of the Director's time has been taken in supervising
and training the work -study students who have been compiling and analyzing
the weather observations collected by the National Weather Service'�
Climatological network. Most of these st udents wil 1 return but are not
competent to pursue research into the many important unresolved problems
involving the climate of Arizona. Several additional fellowships for
graduate research associLltes are required to carry on the investigations
currently under way in the Laboratory. A number of research proposals
wil 1 be sent forward to the appropriate agencies for financial support
of these activities. Additional ly, the private sector will be solicited
for funds for graduate fellowships.
The Laboratory could not have operated this past year without the
assistance of the Department of Geography which provided office supplies,
postage, and tel ephone services for much of the year. Operating funds
fer 1974--75 may not be sufficient for the needs of the Laboratory because
of the cost of t he initial outlays necessary to begin an office operation.
The 1974-75 b�dget request was hastily drafted and did not anticipate
such expenditures as telephone, postage, or computer paper. These 1tems
have been included in the 1975-76 budget request.
One unresolved issue and a potential problem is that of charges for
services rendered to individuals and private firms or state agencies.
'we will attempt to resolve this issue by asking representatives of
various private and governmental agencies to serve on an advisory council
which would provide the Director with advice on this and other matters.
IV. NEW DEVELO PMENTS

Operations of the Laboratory should proceed more ef ficiently

this coming year. We wil 1 rece ive state funding to support our act iv ities
and an o ffice manager, Amanda N icolai, and a hal f-time research associate,
Donald Hadder, have been added to the staf f. One pro fessional climatolog ist,
Anthony Brazel, has joined the Department o f Geography and wil 1 parti-
c ipate in the activities o f the Laboratory . In add ition, most of the
work-study students who assisted in the preliminary organizational work
this year will return. Some of the needed equipment (weather wire) may
be provided from other University funds.
In addit ion, preliminary discussions have been held with Or. Wendel 1
Minckley, Director o f the Lower Colorado River Laboratory, to determine
the feasibility of joint utilization and operation o f our facilities under
the direction o f the Center for Env ironmental Stud ies. The princ ipal
goal o f this jo int operation would be to provide better services at a lower
,cost to the state. *
We have begun our own observational program. Weather monitor ing
instruments given to the Laboratory by Hugh Hamilton are now activated
and observation s o f temperature, humidity, and rainfall are be ing recorded.
Addit ional pieces o f equipment, including a radiosonde unit have been
given to the Ldboratory by Nat ional Weather Service and will be activated
when funds are obtained to purchase balloons, radiosondes, and helium.
Pre !iminary discussions have been held with the A ir Pollution Control
Unit o f Maricopa County Health Department about the installat ion of air
pollution monitor ing equipment at the Laboratory and at the Ar izo�a S tate
Un iver sity Farm. This proposal would involve the University in an in­
depth analysis of the a ir pollut ion problems o f metropolitan Phoenix.
Beginning with the month of August the Laboratory w il 1 prepare
a s urm,ary of the each month's weather as well as a discussion of unusual
weather events that have occurred within that month. These surrmar ies
will include observat ions of the Arizona Weather Watchers and will be
sent to the news media and all interested individuals .
The f irst meeting of the Ar izona Weather Watchers will be held in
conjunct ion with that of the American Meteorolog ical Soc iety on September
18th at the FAA Building at Sky Harbor Internat ional Airport . The act iv­
ities of this organ izat ion are being coordinated and subsidized by the Lab­
oratory of Cl imatology.
In summary, we are look ing forward to an excit ing ne11-, year in which
we hope to ach ieve a smoothl y operating organization serving the needs
of the people of the state o f Arizona.

*Arn0ng the shar�d equipment and services would be o ffice supplies, secre­
tarial help, telephone, computer fac ilities, reproduction equipment, ana
electronic laboratory equipment.