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Automatic weather station

January 01, 1970

An automatic weather station (AWS) is an automated version of the traditional weather station, either to save human labor or to enable measurements from remote areas.[1] An AWS will typically consist of a weather-proof enclosure containing the data logger, rechargeable battery, telemetry (optional) and the meteorological sensors with an attached solar panel or wind turbine and mounted upon a mast. The specific configuration may vary due to the purpose of the system.[1] The system may report in near real time via the Argos System, LoRa and the Global Telecommunications System,[2] or save the data for later recovery.[3]

An Antarctic Automatic Weather Stations Project AWS in Antarctica

In the past, automatic weather stations were often placed where electricity and communication lines were available. Nowadays, the solar panel, wind turbine and mobile phone technology have made it possible to have wireless stations that are not connected to the electrical grid or hardline telecommunications network.[4]

One of the main advantages of an automatic weather station is that it can provide accurate and reliable weather data in remote, inaccessible or hazardous locations. The AWS can be programmed to alert authorities in case of severe weather events.

Sensors edit

 
An RWIS station

Most automatic weather stations have[1][5]

Some stations can also have[4]

Unlike manual weather stations, automated airport weather stations cannot report the class and amount of clouds. Also, precipitation measurements are difficult, especially for snow, as the gauge must empty itself between observations. For present weather, all phenomena that do not touch the sensor, such as fog patches, remain unobserved.[1] The change from manual observations to automatic weather stations is a major non-climatic change in the climate record.[6] The change in instrumentation, enclosure and location can lead to a jump in, for example, the measured temperature or precipitation values, which can lead to erroneous estimates of climate trends. This change, and related non-climatic changes, have to be removed by homogenization.

Data-logger edit

 
Data-logger for automatic weather station

The data-logger is the heart of the Automatic Weather Station.
In high quality weather stations, the data-logger may be designed by the supplier to be the perfect solution for a particular meteorological client. Indeed, usually data-loggers found in the market don't fit the requirement in terms of power consumption, inputs, communication, protection against animals (ants, rats, etc.), humidity, salty air, sand, etc.
The main functions of a data-logger are:

  • Measurement: the data-logger collects the information from every sensor and archives it.
  • Calculation: the data-logger processes most of the meteorological data for the users (avg, min, max...).
  • Data storage: the data-logger saves all the data either on its own memory or on uSD memory card.
  • Power supply: the data-logger manages the power supply of the Automatic Weather Station, using a solar panel for instance.
  • Communication: the data-logger manages the communication protocols with the remote server. The different communication protocols are usually GSM, GPRS, RTC, WiFi, uSD, and RS-232.

Enclosures edit

 
Enclosure with solar panel for data-logger of weather station

Enclosures used with automatic weather stations are typically weather proof fiberglass, ABS or stainless steel, With ABS being the cheapest, cast aluminium paint[7] or stainless steel the most durable and fiberglass being a compromise.[1]

Power supply edit

The main power source for an automatic weather station depends on its usage. Many stations with lower power equipment usually use one or more solar panels connected in parallel with a regulator and one or more rechargeable batteries. As a rule of thumb, solar output is at its optimum for only 5 hours each day. As such, mounting angle and position are vital. In the Northern Hemisphere, the solar panel would be mounted facing south and vice versa for the Southern Hemisphere. The output from the solar panels may be supplemented by a wind turbine to provide power during periods of poor sunlight, or by direct connection to the local electrical grid. Most automated airport weather stations are connected to the commercial power grid due to the higher power needs of the ceilometer and present weather sensors, which are active sensors and emit energy directly into the environment.[4]

Mast edit

Main article: Meteorological mast

The standard mast heights used with automatic weather stations are 2, 3, 10 and 30 meters. Other sizes are available, but typically these sizes have been used as standards for differing applications.[1]

  • The 2-meter (6.6 ft) mast is used for the measurement of parameters that affect a human subject. The mast height is referenced to head height.
  • The 3-meter (9.8 ft) mast is used for the measurement of parameters that affect crops (such as wheat, sugar cane etc.) The mast height is referenced to crop top.
  • The 10-meter (33 ft) mast is used for the measurement of parameters without interference from objects such as trees, buildings or other obstructions. Typically the most important weather parameter measured at this height is wind speed and direction.
  • The 30-meter (98 ft) mast is used for the measurement of parameters over stratified distances for the purposes of data modelling. A common application is to take measurements of wind, humidity and temperature at 30, 10, and 2 meters. Other sensors are mounted around the 2 meter or lower height.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f King, Jeremy. "Automatic Weather Stations". from the original on 22 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  2. ^ . Automatic Weather Station project. The National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs. Archived from the original on February 4, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  3. ^ . ADDI. Archived from the original on 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  4. ^ a b c "Automatic Weather Stations for Agricultural". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on May 31, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  5. ^ . Archived from the original on 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  6. ^ Begert, M., Schlegel, T., and Kirchhofer, W.: Homogeneous temperature and precipitation series of Switzerland from 1864 to 2000. Int. J. Climatol., 25, 65–80, 2005.
  7. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-12-16.

January 01, 1970
automatic, weather, station, automatic, weather, station, automated, version, traditional, weather, station, either, save, human, labor, enable, measurements, from, remote, areas, will, typically, consist, weather, proof, enclosure, containing, data, logger, r. An automatic weather station AWS is an automated version of the traditional weather station either to save human labor or to enable measurements from remote areas 1 An AWS will typically consist of a weather proof enclosure containing the data logger rechargeable battery telemetry optional and the meteorological sensors with an attached solar panel or wind turbine and mounted upon a mast The specific configuration may vary due to the purpose of the system 1 The system may report in near real time via the Argos System LoRa and the Global Telecommunications System 2 or save the data for later recovery 3 An Antarctic Automatic Weather Stations Project AWS in Antarctica In the past automatic weather stations were often placed where electricity and communication lines were available Nowadays the solar panel wind turbine and mobile phone technology have made it possible to have wireless stations that are not connected to the electrical grid or hardline telecommunications network 4 One of the main advantages of an automatic weather station is that it can provide accurate and reliable weather data in remote inaccessible or hazardous locations The AWS can be programmed to alert authorities in case of severe weather events Contents 1 Sensors 2 Data logger 3 Enclosures 4 Power supply 5 Mast 6 See also 7 ReferencesSensors edit nbsp An RWIS station Most automatic weather stations have 1 5 Thermometer for measuring temperature Anemometer for measuring wind speed Wind vane for measuring wind direction Hygrometer for measuring humidity Barometer for measuring atmospheric pressure Some stations can also have 4 Ceilometer for measuring cloud height Present weather sensor and or visibility sensor Rain gauge for measuring liquid equivalent precipitation Ultrasonic snow depth sensor for measuring depth of snow Pyranometer for measuring solar radiation Unlike manual weather stations automated airport weather stations cannot report the class and amount of clouds Also precipitation measurements are difficult especially for snow as the gauge must empty itself between observations For present weather all phenomena that do not touch the sensor such as fog patches remain unobserved 1 The change from manual observations to automatic weather stations is a major non climatic change in the climate record 6 The change in instrumentation enclosure and location can lead to a jump in for example the measured temperature or precipitation values which can lead to erroneous estimates of climate trends This change and related non climatic changes have to be removed by homogenization Data logger edit nbsp Data logger for automatic weather station The data logger is the heart of the Automatic Weather Station In high quality weather stations the data logger may be designed by the supplier to be the perfect solution for a particular meteorological client Indeed usually data loggers found in the market don t fit the requirement in terms of power consumption inputs communication protection against animals ants rats etc humidity salty air sand etc The main functions of a data logger are Measurement the data logger collects the information from every sensor and archives it Calculation the data logger processes most of the meteorological data for the users avg min max Data storage the data logger saves all the data either on its own memory or on uSD memory card Power supply the data logger manages the power supply of the Automatic Weather Station using a solar panel for instance Communication the data logger manages the communication protocols with the remote server The different communication protocols are usually GSM GPRS RTC WiFi uSD and RS 232 Enclosures edit nbsp Enclosure with solar panel for data logger of weather station Enclosures used with automatic weather stations are typically weather proof fiberglass ABS or stainless steel With ABS being the cheapest cast aluminium paint 7 or stainless steel the most durable and fiberglass being a compromise 1 Power supply editThe main power source for an automatic weather station depends on its usage Many stations with lower power equipment usually use one or more solar panels connected in parallel with a regulator and one or more rechargeable batteries As a rule of thumb solar output is at its optimum for only 5 hours each day As such mounting angle and position are vital In the Northern Hemisphere the solar panel would be mounted facing south and vice versa for the Southern Hemisphere The output from the solar panels may be supplemented by a wind turbine to provide power during periods of poor sunlight or by direct connection to the local electrical grid Most automated airport weather stations are connected to the commercial power grid due to the higher power needs of the ceilometer and present weather sensors which are active sensors and emit energy directly into the environment 4 Mast editMain article Meteorological mast The standard mast heights used with automatic weather stations are 2 3 10 and 30 meters Other sizes are available but typically these sizes have been used as standards for differing applications 1 The 2 meter 6 6 ft mast is used for the measurement of parameters that affect a human subject The mast height is referenced to head height The 3 meter 9 8 ft mast is used for the measurement of parameters that affect crops such as wheat sugar cane etc The mast height is referenced to crop top The 10 meter 33 ft mast is used for the measurement of parameters without interference from objects such as trees buildings or other obstructions Typically the most important weather parameter measured at this height is wind speed and direction The 30 meter 98 ft mast is used for the measurement of parameters over stratified distances for the purposes of data modelling A common application is to take measurements of wind humidity and temperature at 30 10 and 2 meters Other sensors are mounted around the 2 meter or lower height See also editPersonal weather station Mesonet Cooperative ObserverReferences edit a b c d e f King Jeremy Automatic Weather Stations Archived from the original on 22 May 2009 Retrieved 2009 04 15 About the Automatic Weather Station project Automatic Weather Station project The National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs Archived from the original on February 4 2009 Retrieved 2009 04 15 ADDI Automatic weather stations ADDI Archived from the original on 2009 03 26 Retrieved 2009 04 15 a b c Automatic Weather Stations for Agricultural Australian Bureau of Meteorology Archived from the original on May 31 2009 Retrieved 2009 04 15 North Hants Weather AWS Archived from the original on 2009 01 07 Retrieved 2009 04 15 Begert M Schlegel T and Kirchhofer W Homogeneous temperature and precipitation series of Switzerland from 1864 to 2000 Int J Climatol 25 65 80 2005 AWS with cast aluminium enclosure PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2013 12 16 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Automatic weather station amp oldid 1195214325, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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