weather monitoring systems
This can be a little difficult when you’re wondering which weather monitoring system is right for your unique situation. As a researcher, you find that the reasons your study site monitors weather parameters are virtually unlimited. Unfortunately, the options available for making these measurements are also unlimited.
Scientists have spent thousands of hours installing weather stations and monitoring, interpreting and publishing data from field experiments. Over time, we’ve learned a lot about how to get good quality weather data. In this article, we share that expertise with you. More common weather monitoring methods, advantages and disadvantages, and which techniques can be applied to different types of field studies. Learn why modern weather monitoring is more than just weather stations.
Weather monitoring systems:
In an ideal world, a higher price would equal higher quality, and the price versus performance continuum would be a straight line.But choosing a weather station is not strictly about price versus performance. If a weather station gives you a better price to performance ratio ,then that weather station will provide a higher value for your unique measurement needs.
Factors affecting the value of weather monitoring systems
Instrument performance will change in the specific application monitoring system. Then, there are many factors affecting the relative performance of weather monitoring systems, such as:
- robustness
- Accuracy, installation and maintenance requirements
- Measuring kit
- Remote data acquisition
- Real-time data visualization
- Four seasons function
- Power demand
Performance is defined by your unique measurement needs. For example, if you’re measuring in a remote locationwhere you can’t access the site routinely, you’ll need extremely robust instrumentation. Robust weather monitoring equipment is also needed if people’s lives are at stake So in these situations the robustness of a weathermonitoring system will drive the relative performance.
Classes of weather stations
Below are definitions of the various types and classes of weather stations you might encounter in the marketplace.
Aviation class weather monitoring system
Aviation class weather monitoring systems are differentiated by their specialized observations.
They may include,for example,a visibility and present weather sensor that shows the distance that a pilot can reasonably see, a ceilometer that tells cloud height, or an instrument that indicates freezing rain or ice buildup. These specialized measurements wouldn’t be found on most weather monitoring solutions,but they do drive the performance of aviation weather systems.
Aviation systems also have specialized communications with VHF transmission and redundant phone systems. And,because human health and safety depend on these systems, they are extremely robust and include four-season performance (unless they are inthe tropics). In addition,the accuracy of aviation systems is very high becausemost of these data are piped into the climatological record.）
Custom weather monitoring systems
Researchers often need custom weather monitoring systems with a measurement suite tailor made for the research question they’re trying to answer. Also some weather networks use custom weather stations with a measurement suite that satisfies the needs of their stakeholders.
So in addition to measuring normal weather parameters,users may add things like:
· Infrared thermometer for measuring surface temperature · NDVI
·Redundant rain gauges
· Net radiation for surface energy balance studies ● A dual eddy covariance system measuring isotopic ratios.