Help file for showrpts_mc.html

The upper form enables the user to extract period or statistical data from the ALERT database for a single sensor.

For rain and water-level sensors, which report on an event basis (many reports during storms, few reports during dry times), the entire sensor history is kept in the database.

For weather sensors, which generally report every 15 or 30 minutes, only data since 01/01/2000 are kept in the database.

First, you need to know the sensor ID number (or name) for the station you are interested in. You can find this on the page entitled Find an ALERT Station.

If you know the name of the rain, water-level or weather sensor you are interested in, you can select it from one of the first three drop-boxes.

Otherwise, you can enter the sensor ID in the input box labeled “or Enter ANY Sensor ID:”.

Choosing the appropriate statistical parameter is the tricky part of this form. Not all parameters work for all sensor types. See below.

Rainfall in Each Period: Select to sum the rainfall amounts according to the selected report interval. For example, if “1 day” is selected as the report interval, a report will be generated (between the starting and ending times) which sums the rainfall amounts for each day.

Show Rated Value: Select to show cfs instead of feet (stage) for water-level sensors, or degrees C instead of degrees F for temperature sensors.

Last Data Value in Each Period: Returns the data value closest to the end time in each period. For example, if a temperature sensor reports at :05, :20, :35 and :50 minutes after the hour, and the report is requested in even hours (01:00, 02:00, etc.) then the report at 0:50 minutes will be displayed at 01:00 and the report at 1:50 will be reported at 02:00.

Maximum/Minimum Value in Each Period: Displays the maximum/minimum data value in each period. Will choose, say for a temperature sensor, the highest/lowest of 4 values in an hour, or the highest/lowest of 96 values in a day. Works with water-level and weather sensors. Do not use with rain sensors.

Average Value in Each Period: Calculates the average (mean) value of the data values in the selected period. It sums the values and divides by the number of values in the period. Works with water-level and weather sensors. Do not use with rain sensors.

Count Data Reports in Each Period: Displays the number of data values stored in the database for each period. For example, a properly functioning weather sensor that reports every 15 minutes should show 96 counts each day.

Volume in Cubic Feet: Calculates the volume of flow in cubic feet passing the water-level sensor. A cubic foot equals 7.48 gallons.

Volume in CFS-Days: Calculates the volume of flow in cfs-days passing the water-level sensor. A cfs-day is approximately 1.98 acre-feet.

Highest [time] Intensity in the Period: Calculates the highest [time] rainfall intensity between the starting and ending times. The report interval must match the time period bracketed by the starting and ending times. The example below will return the highest 1-hour rainfall at station 4765 on 02/13/2003, which was 0.75 inches.

Starting and Ending Date/Time: These times block the period of interest. Note that the starting time has midnight as 00:00 AM and the ending time has midnight as 12:00 PM. As in the above example, an entire day can be selected using the same date (the 13th) from midnight to midnight. It is important to select a report interval that can be evenly divided into the report period defined by the start and end times. For example, if you want to see 48 1-hour rainfall periods displayed, then your report period must span two days.

Report Interval: Selects the time interval for data reports or calculations. See the above paragraph for cautions.

Total the Report Column: Select the “t” to sum the report intervals in rainfall, report count and volume calculations.

LINK to the NOAA 14 Rainfall Atlas Website for Arizona

The lower form enables the user to extract raw data from the ALERT database for a single sensor.

For rain and water-level sensors, which report on an event basis (many reports during storms, few reports during dry times), the entire sensor history is kept in the database.

For weather sensors, which generally report every 15 or 30 minutes, data are available back to 1/1/2000.

First, you need to know the sensor ID number (or name) for the station you are interested in. You can find this on the page entitled Find an ALERT Station.

If you know the name of the rain, water-level or weather sensor you are interested in, you can select it from first drop-box.

Or, you can enter any valid sensor ID number in the “Enter ANY Sensor ID” box.

In the Select Extra Analysis box:

None: Will return one column of data in engineering units (inches, feet, degrees, etc.). The exception is selection of a water-level sensor, in which case the rated value (cfs) will also be displayed.

Incremental Rainfall: Will return a second column showing the rainfall increment between reports.

Cumulative Storm Rainfall: Sums the rainfall depth as a storm progresses. A time gap of 25 hours will cause the summation to restart at zero.

Hourly Intensity Between Reports: Performs a calculation for each pair of reports, dividing the difference in rainfall by the time between reports in hours.

Starting and Ending Date/Time: These times block the period of interest. Note that the starting time has midnight as 00:00 AM and the ending time has midnight as 12:00 PM. All reports stored in the database between the starting and ending times will be displayed. If you select a starting and ending date/time, do not enter a number in the “Desired Number of Reports” field.

Desired Number of Reports: Enter a number between 1 and 999 to return that number of data points back in time from the Ending Date/Time. If the Ending Date/Time is in the future, then the data points will begin at the most recent point received and go back in time.