Curating and Visualizing Dense Networks of Monsoon Precipitation Data: Integrating Computer Science Into Forward Looking Climate Services Development

Abstract

Monsoon precipitation demonstrates a wide range of spatial and temporal variability in the U.S. Southwest. A variety of precipitation monitoring networks, including official networks, municipal flood control districts, and citizen science observers, can help improve our characterization and understanding of the monsoon. The data management challenges of integrating these diverse data sources can be formidable. Computer science and data management techniques provide a pathway for the design of forward looking climate services, especially those developed in collaboration with experts in this field. In this paper we present such a collaboration, integrating natural, social and computer science expertise. We document how we identified data networks and their sources and the computer science and data management workflow we employed to integrate and curate these data. We also present the web based data visualization tool and API that we developed as part of this process (monsoon.environment.arizona.edu). We use case study examples from the Tucson, AZ region to demonstrate the visualizer. We also discuss how this type of collaboration could be extended to existing or potential stakeholder collaborations, as we facilitate access to a curated set of data that gives an increasingly granular perspective on monsoon precipitation variability. We also discuss what this collaborative approach integrating natural, social and computer science perspectives can add to the evolution of climate services.

Effects of disturbances and environmental changes on an aridland riparian generalist

“…S1 ). Near-record heat and drought occurred in 2020 ( McMahan et al, 2021 ) and continued into mid-summer 2021 that left few disjunct pools with surface water during that time (B Blais, 2021, personal observations). Beginning in late July 2021, monsoon precipitation brought unusually persistent and relatively high discharge magnitude (mean daily flow (June–September 2021) = 1.24 m 3 /s, prior 10-year mean = 0.15 m 3 /s; ).…”

Assessing thermal ecology of herpetofauna across a heterogeneous microhabitat mosaic in a changing aridland riparian system

“…Sabino Canyon Recreation Area (SCRA) resides in the southern foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Tucson, Arizona, USA (Lazaroff 1993). The regional climate is semi-arid desert with bimodal seasonal precipitation peaks in winter/spring and summer, abutted by dry periods (McMahan et al 2021, Warter et al 2023. Our study area occurred in lower SCRA, adjacent Sabino Creek.…”

“…The methods and data obtained in this study can serve to establish baselines during seasonally and ecologically important periods and monitor thermal ecology changes across time for aridland riparian herpetofauna. The SCRA and greater Sonoran Desert ecoregion are in the midst of prolonged drought and extreme environmental disturbances (Bradley and Colodner 2020, McMahan et al 2021, Wilder et al 2021, Blais et al 2023. Considering how species such as aridland riparian herpetofauna respond to environmental changes and disturbances, maintenance of important riparian habitat heterogeneity and connectivity will be invaluable as thermal refuges for herpetofauna (Thompson et al 2018).…”

A Contemporary Systematic Review of Cyberinfrastructure Systems and Applications for Flood and Drought Data Analytics and Communication

“…There's also a growing interest in interactive web narratives that shed light on current and prospective flood threats (Oubennaceur et al, 2021). Additionally, historical isotopic data related to waters is being collated (Ahmed et al, 2022), marked by advancements in API technology (McMahan et al, 2021) and open-source libraries with APIs (Lagmay et al, 2017).…”