1. What in the world is NeRAIN
2. Whose idea was this??
3. Who can participate??
4. What will we be doing??
5. What do we hope to accomplish??
6. Who is sponsoring this program??
7. What benefits are there in volunteering??
8. How can I sign up??

What in the world is NeRAIN??

NeRAIN is an acronym (a type of abbreviation) for our precipitation measurement project here in Nebraska.  It stands for the Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network.  Scientists often give their research projects names like this.

NeRAIN is a special project designed to include volunteers in a study of the fascinating and very complex patterns of rain, hail and snow from our weather here in Nebraska.   Many volunteers are needed in order to accurately measure and describe rainfall, and snowfall patterns and hail swaths across our state.

The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources in collaboration with the Nebraska Natural Resources Districts initiated this program. It is based on a program called Community Collaborative Rain and Hail Study (CoCoRaHS) located in Fort Collins, Colorado on the Colorado State campus. CoCoRaHS staff provided the initial training and distribution materials for the Nebraska Regional Coordinators. Additionally, data collected through NeRAIN will be integrated into a regional database for the Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming area coordinated through CoCoRaHS.
 

This is a community project.  Everyone can help, both young and old.  The only requirements are an enthusiasm for watching and reporting weather conditions and a desire to learn about the power and beauty of our natural world.  We will welcome participation by any motivated individual or family.
 

Each time a rain, hail or snow storm crosses the area, volunteers will be taking measurements of the precipitation from as many locations as possible.  Precipitation reports will be transmitted by computer using a web site designed to allow you to enter your precipitation data.   Computer specialists will process the data and prepare detailed maps showing rainfall patterns.  Scientists will later study these maps to learn how storms developed and moved across the region.

Hail does not occur as often as rain, but it can cause severe damage to crops and property.  Volunteers will be asked to carefully observe and record several properties of hail from each storm including number of stones per unit area, size ranges of stones, stone hardness, color and other properties.  It will be very important to make note of exact times when hail begins, ends or changes form.  Observers will be asked to transmit hail reports as soon as possible after hail begins.  Special maps will be prepared that show where hail is occurring.  Observers will also be asked to keep notes detailing storm characteristics and related weather conditions.

NeRAIN has several goals.  The size, intensity and duration and preferred tracks of summer rain and hail storms in Nebraska will begin to be documented by surface measurements in more detail than ever before.  We will collect the type of thorough rain and hail data that is needed to support research efforts by the University of Nebraska.  This, in turn will help improve radar estimates of rainfall and radar detection of hail and hail swaths.  Training and education opportunities for community members will be provided to improve local awareness of severe weather and other natural hazards to help make this area more resistant to the impacts from natural disasters.  Finally, we plan to demonstrate that volunteers in Nebraska can work together to make a significant and beneficial contribution to scientific research.  People can make a difference.
 

Many organizations have contributed either financially, or with supplies and equipment, to help keep NeRAIN going. Our list of sponsors has grown to the point that they get their own page. Click here to see them.

Other organizations and individuals have also pitched in with volunteer assistance to help get this science-education project up and running. Many thanks to our sponsors. This project would not be possible without your help.

This unique project will give participants a chance to join in a effort to improve the collection of precipitation data to improve State Wide weather forecasting.

Just fill out the NeRAIN Volunteer Registration form and return it as soon as possible.