New York Looking For Farmers To Host Weather Stations – AG Matters

The severe thunderstorms that have rocked the area the last few days prove the need for accurate weather forecasting. New York is assembling a statewide weather network and the first step is finding locations to host weather stations.

The Governor's Office is looking to construct 125 weather stations around the state with two purposes in mind.  One goal is to "detect weather phenomenon across the entire state."  The other purpose of the stations will be to measure and record agricultural data.

With these products available emergency management decision-makers will be enabled to mitigate and better plan for extreme and devastating weather events. In addition, these stations will empower critical agricultural research and will be great educational outreach tools.  For example, soil moisture and temperature data will improve irrigation efficiency, and various pest models will be much improved with more local data inputs.

The weather stations will measure wind, temperature, pressure, solar radiation, soil temperature and moisture. The state covers all expenses related to construction, operation and maintenance of them.

each station must be at least 300 feet from the nearest tall obstacles or potential heat sources. Most sensors will be mounted on a 33 ft tower at the center of a 33 ft x 33 ft plot of land.

 

The weather network will go by the name Mesonet  and is being modeled after a weather network in Oklahoma. You can see the working model here.  If you're interested in hosting one of the weather stations, contact Program Manager, Jerry Brotzge at 518-442-6376, or email jbrotzge@albany.edu.

SOURCE: Cornell Cooperative Extension