USGS Provides Recent Rainfall Data on the Internet

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has made available recent rainfall data on the internet.  Data are available for 106 rainfall gages at stations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  To access this information, point your web browser to the Caribbean District home page at:

"http://pr.water.usgs.gov/" or "http://vi.water.usgs.gov/"

The data are presented in tabular form which show how much rain has fallen at the rainfall gages over various time periods that range from the last hour to the last 5 days.   In addition, the data are presented in cumulative rainfall graphs for each site.   These graphs show the distribution and total amount of rainfall that has occurred at each station during the past week.

Each station transmits the data by satellite to the USGS Caribbean District office in the San Juan area.  During normal operation, each station transmits every 4 hours and during extreme hydrologic events, such as floods, the stations transmit approximately every 5 minutes.  The data are received by a ground-station, automatically processed, and made available on the internet at the USGS World Wide Web site.

In addition to the recent rainfall data, the USGS home page for the Caribbean District offers access to recent and historical streamflow information for all current and discontinued streamflow gaging stations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  The information is part of an effort by all USGS offices to disseminate hydrologic data by the internet. Information on the water resources of the United States can be obtained at "http://water.usgs.gov/"

The rainfall data relayed by satellite is released on the internet as soon as it is received.  Because the information has not been reviewed or edited, it is considered provisional, may be subject to significant change, and is not citable until reviewed and approved by the USGS.  Users are cautioned to consider the provisional nature of the information before using it for decisions that concern personal or public safety or the conduct of business that involves substantial monetary or operational consequences.

As the nation's largest water, earth and biological science, and civilian mapping agency, the USGS works in cooperation with more than 2,000 organizations across the country to provide reliable, impartial scientific information to resource managers, planners, and other customers.  This information is gathered in every state by USGS scientists to minimize the loss of life and property from natural disasters, contribute to the sound conservation and the economic and physical development of the nation's natural resources, and enhance the quality of life by monitoring water, biological, energy, and mineral resources.

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(Note to editors: For additional information on recent rainfall data on the internet please contact USGS Caribbean District Chief, Rafael W. Rodríguez-Cruzado.  Telephone (787) 749-4346, Fax: (787) 749-4462.)

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