Where to mount your weather station!
Where to mount your weather station! |
 | The installation of a weather station can be a confusing process. Do I mount it at ground level to improve my rainfall and temperature/humidity
readings or do I mount it on a roof to get better wind speed readings. At Instrument Choice we generally find it best to take
a pragmatic view of where to install your weather station. In an ideal world you would look to mount your station in an
open area at least 2 times the height of the nearest object away, mounted at approximately 1.8m. The anemometer would
then be mounted 10m off the ground atop a mast.
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In saying this you want your readings to represent your location, and this includes the fact you may have a tree blocking some
of the rainfall or wind. Very often the location will be affected by the local urban, commercial, geographic and vegetation
topography.
Your temperature and humidity sensors are best located in a shaded environment out of direct sunlight and weather. A shaded side of a wall or fence is good, but bear in mind radiated heat from an occupied building. Inside a purpose-made screen, or even a home-made one such as a white ice cream tub with ventilation holes. Force ventilating the screen will improve accuracy and response. If you have to mount it on a sunny aspect, then shade it behind something e.g. something shiny painted black on the reverse. Anemometers and wind vanes are ideally placed as high as you can mount them away from surrounding features and vegetation to
ensure a clear air flow. Of course a 10 meter pole in the middle of an open field would be good but not many people have
that opportunity!. Otherwise any pole or post clear of obstruction would be good. Often a fence post or aerial pole will
work well.
If you are going to mount it on a building or shed try to get it as clear of the building as possible to help negate the eddie effect of the building. Try to locate it on the prevailing side, Do not put it immediately on top of a large blank wall as during strong winds the rising air will have a marked affect on readings. The standard accepted exposure of a rain gauge is at a height of c.30cm above level grass surface and away from any obstructions. This is often impractical and so Davis supply theirs for 1200-1800mm high. This is acceptable for most amateurs and professionals. However, it is more important that it is not in the lee (shelter of) of a feature or vegetation. Often a flat roof is a suitable place, but it should always be set level on a flat surface. If you’re still unsure about where to mount your station, contact one of our scientists on 1300 737 871 or at [email protected] | ||
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Contact our expert scientists now to get the right meter or data logger to suit your needs and discuss your project.
Phone: 1300 737 871
Email: [email protected]