Colorado State University to Help Aurora Water, Schools with Free Rain Gauges in Training Program that Makes Science Fun

Colorado State University climatologists, working in tandem with Aurora Water, will offer a free training session on monitoring precipitation to benefit Aurora schools on Wednesday, Sept. 28.

The training session, which is open to the public, will be 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Aurora Central Library, 14949 E. Alameda Ave., Aurora. Reservations are recommended by calling Noah Newman at (970) 491-8545.

The training program is sponsored by the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, or CoCoRaHS, which is a volunteer program now boasting 15,000 volunteers across the country. Colorado State University State Climatologist Nolan Doesken created the program in 1997 to help scientists obtain more localized rain measurements after a devastating flood hit Fort Collins.

Aurora Water has sponsored seven rain gauges for local schools. Additional fundraising efforts have been ongoing, and teachers from other area schools who pre-register and attend this training session are eligible for a free rain gauge for their school.

Participants will learn how the National Weather Service measures precipitation and why it is important for weather and climate scientists across the country. Volunteers will learn to contribute their own precipitation data that will benefit local communities and scientists.

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