Released by the National Weather Service-Shreveport
HENDERSON/RUSK COUNTY - The
National Weather Service has selected Henderson resident Jessie
Fay Barnes to receive the agency's Thomas Jefferson Award for 2012.
The
Thomas Jefferson Award is the National Weather Service's most
prestigious honor. There are more than 11,000 cooperative observers
across the United States. Normally, no more than 5 Thomas Jefferson
Awards are presented annually for outstanding and distinctive
achievements. Ms. Barnes has been a volunteer cooperative observer for the National Weather Service for over 39 years.
"Cooperative
observers are the bedrock of weather data collection and analysis,"
said Bill Proenza, Regional Director of the National Weather Service
Southern Region. "Satellites,
high-speed computers, mathematical models and other technological
breakthroughs have brought great benefits in terms of better forecasts
and warnings. But, without the
century-long accumulation of accurate weather observations taken by
volunteer observers, scientists could not begin to adequately describe
the climate of the United States."
"Jessie
Fay Barnes is typical of the thousands of cooperative observers who
have given generously of their time and energy because of their interest
in weather and dedication to our country," said Valverde. "We honor her with this award and thank her for her commitment."
Ms. Barnes is being recognized for consistently providing accurate and timely weather observations. She
has taken and reported observations during the most hazardous and
extreme weather conditions and has shown unusual efforts to continuously
provide them despite illness, emergency absences, or equipment
problems.
In
addition to her outstanding service as a cooperative observer, she has
served the National Weather Service as a very reliable storm spotter.
In 2004, Barnes received the 30-year Cooperative Observer Length of Service Award.
Weather records retain their importance as time goes by. Long
and continuous records provide an accurate picture of a locale's normal
weather, and give climatologists and others a basis for predicting
future trends. These data are invaluable for scientists studying floods, droughts, heat and cold waves. At the end of each month, observers mail their records to the National Climatic Data Center for publication in Climatological Data or Hourly Precipitation Data.
The
NWS Cooperative Weather Observer Program has given scientists and
researchers continuous observational data since the program's inception
more than a century ago. Today,
volunteer observers participate in the nationwide program to provide
daily reports on temperature, precipitation, and other weather factors
such as snow depth, river levels and soil temperature.
The
National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data,
forecasts, and warnings for the United States and its territories. It
operates the most advanced weather, flood warning, and forecast system
in the world, helping to protect lives and property, and enhance the
national economy. Visit us online at weather.gov and on Facebook.
NOAA's mission is to
understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the
depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and
manage our coastal and marine resources.
Pictured above from left to right: NWS Shreveport Observation Program Leader Aaron Stevens, Aaron Barnes, Jessie Fay Barnes, NWS Shreveport Meteorologist in Charge Mario D. Valverde.
