MesonetSectionsOverviewThe Oklahoma Mesonet is a world-class network of environmental monitoring stations. The network was designed and implemented by scientists at Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Mesonet consists of 120 automated stations across Oklahoma. There is at least one Mesonet station in each of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. At each site, the environment is measured by a set of instruments located on or near a 10-meter-tall tower. The measurements are packaged into “observations” every 5 minutes, then the observations are transmitted to a central facility every 5 minutes, 24 hours per day year-round. The Oklahoma Climatological Survey at OU receives the observations, verifies the quality of the data and provides the data to Mesonet customers. It only takes 5 to 10 minutes from the time the measurements are acquired until they become available to the public. Back to TopHistoryIn 1982, Oklahoma scientists recognized the need for a statewide monitoring network. At OSU, agricultural scientists wanted to upgrade weather instruments at their research sites. Their primary goal was to expand the use of weather data in agricultural applications. Meanwhile, scientists from the OU meteorological community were helping to plan and implement a flood-warning system for Tulsa. The success of Tulsa’s rain gauge network pointed to the potential for a more extensive, statewide network. OSU and OU joined forces in 1987 when they realized that one system would help both universities achieve their respective missions. Once funding was available, the Mesonet Project progressed quickly. Committees were formed, potential station sites were located and surveyed and instruments were chosen. In late 1991, the first Mesonet towers were installed and, by the end of 1993, 108 sites were completely operational. The Mesonet is unique in its capability to measure a large variety of environmental conditions at so many sites across an area as large as Oklahoma. In addition, these conditions are relayed to a wide variety of customers very quickly after the observations are taken. Back to TopData collectionThe weather data and products on Agweather are a product of the Oklahoma Mesonet. Weather data are updated every 5 minutes. Soil temperature data are updated every 15 minutes. Soil moisture data are updated every 30 minutes. Weather data collected at the tower locations are transmitted via radio signal to nearby law enforcement offices. From these offices, data are transferred by wired network connections to computers located at the Oklahoma Climatological Survey (OCS) office in the National Weather Center in Norman. All data are tested for quality assurance before being posted on the Oklahoma Mesonet Web servers. Data considered suspect are flagged and not posted until verified by an OCS quality assurance meteorologist. Agweather products will show data gaps, when data have been flagged as suspect. Every effort is made to provide Oklahoma Mesonet weather data and products 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Data flow may be interrupted due to power outages, unique weather events or solar activity that disrupts radio communications. Good data not currently displayed over the Web are collected at a later time and included in Oklahoma Mesonet archive and summary products. Back to TopVariables MeasuredEvery Five Minutes
Frozen precipitation eventDuring precipitation events involving sleet, ice or snow, the rain gauges used by the Oklahoma Mesonet may freeze over and show no rainfall. Once air temperatures raise enough to allow thawing, accumulated frozen precipitation in the rain gauge will melt. The rain gauge will then show rainfall occurring, during a time when none has fallen. All Oklahoma Mesonet towers use unheated rain gauges since they are located in rural areas without nearby electricity. The solar panels and backup battery used to power data collection, storage, and radio transmission are not sufficient to allow the use of heated rain gauges. A frozen precipitation event may also cause the wind speed sensors to freeze. When this happens stations will indicate no wind or wind direction. While wind speed data during these periods are not recorded, lack of wind sensor data can be used to identify areas of severe icing. Back to Top |