Using volunteer observer networks to monitor precipitation and wildfires
Crowne Plaza Hotel de México – Salón Holiday 3, Dakota 95, Nápoles, Benito Juárez, Mexico City
Mexico
25 and 26 September, 2019
Semi-Private
Meeting to assess the feasibility of establishing and expanding the CoCoRaHs network and other citizen science observers networks to complement national and subnational observational capacities.
Agenda
DAY 1 (Wednesday)
The goal of the project, Using volunteer observer networks to monitor precipitation and wildfires, is to assess information needs and gaps relative to precipitation and wildfires and the feasibility of expanding citizen science and volunteer observation networks across North America, to complement national and sub-national capacities to prepare for and respond to extreme events. The specific objectives of the present meeting, which has been organized in support of this project, are:
- To discuss the expansion of the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow, (CoCoRaHS) network in North America; and
- To assess the feasibility of establishing or expanding other networks across the region.
Registration
Session 1: Welcome and Introductions; Objectives of the Meeting
- Orlando Cabrera, Head, Environmental Quality Unit, Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)
- Jorge Zavala Hidalgo, General Coordinator, National Meteorological Service (Servicio Meteorológico Nacional)
Session 2: Monitoring and prediction of precipitation and wildfires in Mexico:
Capacities, gaps, and needs
Fabián Vázquez Romaña
Observation and Telematics Networks,
National Meteorological Service (Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, SMN)
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Telma Castro Romero and Michel Grutter de la Mora
Atmospheric Sciences Center (Cientro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera),
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Red Universitaria de Observatorios Atmosféricos (RUOA)
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César Alberto Robles Gutiérrez
Associate Manager, National Fire Management Center (Centro Nacional de Manejo del Fuego),
National Forest Comission (Comisión Nacional Forestal, Conafor)
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Break
Session 3: CoCoRaHS and the added value of a North American network
Henry Reges, National Coordinator; Steve Hilberg, Project Manager; and Matt Spies, Volunteer Coordinator, CoCoRaHS United States
CoCoRaHS overview: Structure, volunteer engagement, coordination, quality control, data/technical needs, and relationships with other networks
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Rick Fleetwood
Manager, Atlantic Climate Centre,
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
Experience and lessons learned: Canada
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Odalys Martínez
CoCoRaHS Puerto Rico
Experience and lessons learned: Puerto Ricoo,
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Lunch
Session 4: Benefits of collaborating with the CoCoRaHS network
Chris Fiebrich
Executive Director,
Oklahoma Mesonet
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Sarah Ingram
Tribal Capacity and Training Program,
Local Environmental Observers (LEO) Network
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Break
Session 5: Feasibility of expanding the CoCoRaHS network: Factors to consider
Henry Reges
CoCoRaHS United States
CoCoRaHS as a Model: Considerations for a successful volunteer network
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Is this the right model? Next steps? – Group discussion
DAY 2 (Thursday)
Registration
Session 1: Re-cap of Day 1 – Key messages and lessons learned
- Orlando Cabrera, CEC
Session 2: Availability and communication of air quality and smoke data and information to protect public health
- Introductory comments –Annette Guiseppi-Elie, Associate Director for Exposure Science, National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Session 3: Availability and communication of air quality and smoke data and information to protect public health: Mexican and Canadian perspectives
Ramiro Barrios Castrejon
Director, Air Quality Management for Metropolitan Zones,
Environment Commission of the Megalopolis (Comisión Ambiental de la Megalópolis, CAMe)
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Luis Gerardo Ruiz Suarez
General Coordinator, Pollution and Environmental Health Division
National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (Instituto Nacional de Ecología y Cambio Climático, INECC)
Break
Session 3 (cont’d): Availability and communication of air quality and smoke data and information to protect public health: Mexican and Canadian perspectives
Sarah Henderson
Senior Scientist, B.C. CDC
British Columbia Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
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Session 4: Existing tools for communicating air quality, smoke/fire, and public health information
Olivia Rivera
Directora, SIMAT – Secretaria de Medio Ambiente (SEDEMA),
Ciudad de México
AIRE application
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Céline Audette
Senior Policy Analyst, Air Quality & Health Forecast Services, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
Firework Wildfire Smoke Prediction System
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Lunch
Session 4 (cont’d): Existing tools for communicating air quality, smoke/fire, and public health information
Ana Rappold
Principal Investigator, Smoke Sense, U.S. EPA
Smoke Sense project: Overview and findings
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Session 5: Perspectives of volunteer observation networks in North America
Evaristo Rojas
Director, Data Sciences, and Ana Marichal, GECI, Mexico
Island Ecology and Conservation Group (Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas, GECI)
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Sarah Ingram
Tribal Capacity and Training Program, LEO Network
Local Environmental Observer (LEO) Network, United States
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Session 6: Expanding Smoke Sense and other tools or networks: Factors to consider
Sarah Julien
CEC Communications Coordinator
Communications perspective
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Ana Rappold
EPA
Smoke Sense project: Next steps
Session 7: Opportunities for mutual collaboration across North America; next steps
Group discussion
Session 8: Closing remarks and meeting adjournment
- Orlando Cabrera, CEC
Contact
Orlando Cabrera-Rivera
Head of Unit, Environmental Quality
(514) 350-4323