Welcome to the National Weather Service Alaska Region
Data Acquisition Branch
The Data Acquisition Branch (DATAC) manages regional execution of national policy in the surface, upper air, marine, cooperative, and hydrologic observational programs. This includes providing training, certification, forms, equipment, supplies, quality control, and station inspections. In addition, DATAC coordinates with other divisions, branches, and offices within the region to validate requirements and proper instrument siting for the establishment of new hydro-meteorological data sites. This includes coordinating data communications and maintenance issues related to the automated data collection sites within the region.
The DATAC Chief oversees the station programs at 12 Weather Service Offices (WSOs) within the Alaska region and directly supervises the station managers at those sites. DATAC also operates a Mobile Emergency Unit that consists of five meteorological technicians who fill in for staff shortages at the various NWS offices around the region.
The Alaska region WSOs provide expert hydro‑meteorological data in support of local, regional, national, and global weather, hydrologic, and climatic forecast and warning programs, in accordance with the NWS mission. The WSOs also support the mission of the Weather Forecast Offices and goals of the NWS through value‑added public service, education, and outreach.
The DATAC Chief serves as the liaison with NWS Headquarters and other NWS Regions on data acquisition policies and procedures, as well as with other agencies (Federal, State, local), and the private sector.
Observational Program Management
The Surface/Cooperative Observation Program manager oversees the aviation and hydro-meteorological data collection within the Alaska region and supervises an Aviation Quality Control Specialist and a Cooperative Program Specialist within DATAC. The Surface/Co-op manager also serves as the regional NWS Location Identifier focal point. The following are short descriptions of the observational programs managed by DATAC.
Surface Aviation Observing Programs
Cooperative Observation Program
The Cooperative Observation Program is a network of volunteer weather observers dispersed across the Alaska region. These volunteers document weather statistics using equipment supplied by the NWS. Virtually all of the volunteer’s record daily precipitation and many also record the maximum and minimum temperatures, river stages, soil temperatures, or evaporation data.
This group of volunteers is the backbone of the climatic database developed and archived by the National Climate Data Center. Groups interested in agriculture, tourism, construction, and resource management, to name just a few, use the information provided by this network.
The DATAC staff at the regional headquarters administers the station documentation files, budgets the expense of the program, make station visits, and provide support to WFO staff that visit these volunteer stations. The DATAC staff makes periodic visits to ensure that equipment is operating properly, that observer training is provided, and that needed supplies are adequately stocked at the station.
Upper Air Observing Program
The Upper Air Program Manager oversees the Alaska Region network that is comprised of 13 stations: Anchorage, Annette, Barrow, Bethel, Cold Bay, Fairbanks, King Salmon, Kodiak, Kotzebue, McGrath, Nome, Saint Paul Island, and Yakutat. These stations launch helium-filled balloons twice a day, which carry aloft a meteorological sensor package that transmits observational data back to the base station. The meteorological parameters of wind, temperature, humidity, and pressure obtained during the upper air observation plays an important role in the performance of the world’s weather forecast computer models.
Marine Observation Program
Alaska has 13 weather offices located near one of the oceans or seas that surround the state. These offices regularly interact with the marine community through radios, telephones and ship visitation. Alaska weather offices have received weather observations from over 700 ships in the last 5 years. Alaska has three part-time Port Meteorological Officers (PMOs) which are stationed in Anchorage, Kodiak, and Valdez. Alaska PMOs have a formal relationship with 270 Voluntary Observing Ships (VOS). The PMOs provide observational supplies, training, and support to these ships on a regular basis. Alaska weather offices are also responsible for transmitting Marine Reports (MAREPS). In addition to weather and sea conditions, MAREPS can also include ice observations, sea water temperature, river conditions, and reports from ships not yet in the formal VOS Program.
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