[BNAWX] Public Information Statement

[EMWIN Server]

NOUS44 KOHX 181303
PNSOHX
TNZ007-008-026>028-059-062-191300-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
800 AM CDT THU MAY 18 2010

...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...

...DEACTIVATION OF SUNSHINE SENSOR AT WFO OLD HICKORY EFFECTIVE JULY 1 2010...

EFFECTIVE THURSDAY...JULY 1 2010...THE FOSTER-FOSKETT SUNSHINE SWITCH SENSOR
AT WFO OLD HICKORY WILL BE DEACTIVATED.  THE RECORDING OF DAILY MINUTES OF
SUNSHINE...AND THUS ITS REPORTING IN THE LOCAL CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA /LCD/
PUBLICATION...WILL CEASE WITH THE DEACTIVATION OF THE SENSOR.

THE FOSTER-FOSKETT SUNSHINE SWITCH SENSOR IS NEARLY 60 YEARS
OLD...OBSOLETE...AND INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT...AND COSTLY TO MAINTAIN AND
CALIBRATE.  IN ADDITION...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE /NWS/ CURRENTLY HAS
NO REQUIREMENT TO RECORD MINUTES OF SUNSHINE...AND HAS ALREADY STOPPED
THE PRACTICE AT NUMEROUS LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SUNSHINE DATA...IN THE FORM OF RADIATION DATA WHICH CAN BE CONVERTED TO
MINUTES OF SUNSHINE...IS AVAILABLE AT THE NATIONAL CLIMATE DATA CENTER
/NCDC/ OWNED NETWORKS...INCLUDING THE CLIMATE REFERENCE NETWORK /CRN/
AND SURFACE RADIATION /SURFRAD/ NETWORK.  THESE DATA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE
MORE ACCURATE AND RELIABLE THAN THE MINUTES OF SUNSHINE CURRENTLY
OBTAINED BY THE FOSTER-FOSKETT SUNSHINE SENSOR.  THE CRN ALONE HAS 114 SITES
ACROSS THE COUTRY.  YOU CAN ACCESS THE CRN AT THE WEBSITE/USE LOWER
CASE LETTERS/

                    WWW.NCDC.NOAA.GOV/CRN/

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE DEACTIVATION OF THIS SENSOR...
PLEASE CONTACT

        LARRY VANNOZZI                      RALPH TROUTMAN
        METEOROLOGIST IN CHARGE             OBSERVING PROGRAM LEADER
        NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE            NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
        500 WEATHER STATION ROAD            500 WEATHER STATION ROAD
        OLD HICKORY, TN 37138               OLD HICKORY, TN 37138

        TELEPHONE: 615-754-4633             TELEPHONE:  615-754-4633
        EMAIL: LARRY.VANNOZZI at NOAA.GOV      EMAIL:  RALPH.TROUTMAN at NOAA.GOV


$$




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