Prince William Sound Field Experiment

why care about weather?

In the Sound, high winds mean bigger waves, and hard rain can lead to uncomfortable conditions. The combination, however, could be hazardous for commercial fishermen as well as recreational kayakers and hikers -- especially when temperatures dip to the
freezing level.

Snotels in the sound

snotel telemetry sites in prince william sound

Go to AOOS SNOTEL data


Weather Stations and Precipitation Gages

Principal Investigator: Rick McClure, NRCS

Some of the first questions for most people venturing outdoors in Alaska are: How hard is the wind blowing? When will it start to rain?

Weather stations in Prince William Sound provide accurate real-time data on winds, temperatures and precipitation. These data are used as part of a new weather forecasting system for the Sound.

SNOTEL Stations: More Than Snow

Snowpack Telemetry (SNOTEL) stations were set up in the western states in the 1970s by the National Resources Conservation Service to measure precipitation from snow and rain and to feed drought predictions. As of 2007,Alaska had more than 50 SNOTEL stations.

snotel station near valdezEach automated station measures:

  • wind speed and direction
  • air temperature
  • air pressure
  • precipitation from rain + snow
  • solar radiation

Right: SNOTEL station at Sugarloaf Mountain near Valdez.

Bonus Features

The SNOTEL station on Mt. Eyak, near Cordova, can also measure the water volume of the snowpack. The stations at Esther Island, Port San Juan, Tatitlek, and Nuchek have digital cameras that transmit pictures every 15 minutes to the Internet so the actual weather conditions in each area can be seen.

Data Access and Applications

SNOTEL data will be accessible through the AOOS website and archived at UAF.

Accurate weather data from the SNOTEL network will allow scientists to better forecast the likelihood of wind and rain over 6-, 12-, and 24 hour periods. These data will also allow environmental managers and coastal communities to develop management plans based on the best weather measurements and computer simulations for the Prince William Sound area.

Photo: Natural Resources Conservation Service