CDMP

Forts Program

NOAA's CDMP is working with the Midwest Regional Climate Center (MRCC) to make some of the nation's oldest weather observations available to all. The Forts Program, begun in 2003, is focused on imaging and keying weather data from 1820-1892. Though much of the data is gathered from U.S. Army forts stations, other sources, such as Smithsonian Institution's 19th century network of voluntary observers, United States Signal Service observations, private journals, etc. are included in the program.

The forms, some almost 200 years old, have been preserved on CD-ROM and on CDMP's EDADS access system. Form there, CDMP meteorologists capture station metadata, and identify useful observations. Then separate station identifiers are created, and comments are left for the keying team. These comments are very important in the process, given the non-standard nature of the forms. The data is digitized and run through three separate QC tests.

The MRCC forts page contains station lists as well as more information on the program, which now includes data from over 300 stations from coast to coast.

• Image inventory, from the National Archives & Records Administration
• Stations keyed/selected to be keyed
• Detailed forts station histories

CDMP, through contractor HOV Services, partnered with the NOAA Library to make the Signal Service Annual Reports available on the internet. These reports include station history and weather data, as well as a detailed look at the working of the U.S. Signal Service from year to year.

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