weerstations

Weerstations are installations that measure atmospheric conditions to provide weather observations for forecasts and climate analysis. They range from national meteorological service stations to automated networks and hobbyist setups. Proper siting away from heat sources and obstructions is essential to avoid biases in readings.

Sensors commonly monitor near-surface air temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction, precipitation, and solar radiation. Some stations record soil temperature and moisture, visibility, or cloud observations. Data are usually collected continuously and timestamped for archival and real-time use.

Operations and networks: Data are transmitted to national or international meteorological organizations and merged into weather models and climate records. Quality control and calibration follow WMO guidelines to ensure comparability across stations. Networks include automated weather stations (AWS), traditional manned stations, and increasingly crowd-sourced networks.

Applications: Weather forecasts, severe weather warnings, aviation, agriculture, and climate monitoring. Public access to data varies by country, but many stations contribute to open data portals or national dashboards.

Challenges and trends: Siting, maintenance, sensor aging, and power supply in remote areas affect data quality and availability. Advances include low-cost sensors, remote monitoring, and integration with smart-city infrastructure, subject to rigorous validation to maintain data quality.