Instruments

The data logger is the central component of the weather station. It collects information from each of the instruments and translates it into a useful form. It then sends the data to our campus weather lab and website over WIFI. | CR6-WIFI-ST-SW-CC (pdf)

The wind monitor measures horizontal wind speed and direction. It uses a helicoid-shaped 4-blade propeller to measure wind speed, and a wind vane attached to a potentiometer to measure wind direction. It can measure winds up to 100 meters/second (224 miles per hour). | 05103-L13-PT (pdf)

The rain gage has a small bucket inside that “tips” over when it collects .01 inches of rain.  Each time the bucket tips, the rain gage sends a signal to the datalogger. This allows us to measure rainfall with high precision (.01 inch increments). The rain gage is surrounded by a wind screen that reduces turbulence above the rain gage, increasing the accuracy of the measurement. | TE525WS-L25-PT (pdf)

The temperature and relative humidity sensors are housed together within a protective solar radiation shield. The sensors can operate in temperatures as low as -40°C (-40°F) and as high as 70°C (158°F). Together, the temperature and relative humidity measurements allow us to calculate metrics like the heat index, which tell us how hot the air actually feels to the human body. | HygroVUE10-10-PT (pdf) 

The pyranometer measures broad-spectrum shortwave radiation. These measurements allow us to quantify how much of the sun’s radiation is reaching Earth, helping us estimate important processes like evaporation and plant stress. | CS320-17-PT (pdf)

The reflectometer is buried underground and measures the amount of moisture in the soil and the temperature of the soil.  These measurements are important for monitoring plant health, and exchanges of energy at Earth’s surface. | CS655-17-PT-DS (pdf)