Showing papers on "Weather station published in 2000"

Severe weather detector and alarm

Abstract: A compact, portable weather station for predicting local extreme weather conditions and for reporting remote weather conditions. The weather station has sensors for determining local temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, ambient light, and ambient static charge. A microprocessor has memory for storing data relating to past weather conditions and data processing apparatus and algorithms for determining probable developing weather conditions responsive to sensed local conditions. The weather station has a radio receiver for communicating with global weather reporting communications systems utilizing cellular communications. Operating commands, predicted local weather conditions, and remote weather conditions are annunciated in synthesized voice in any one of a variety of predetermined languages. The weather station includes voice synthesizing and recognition apparatus for annunciating verbal prompts and weather conditions, and for responding to vocal control. The weather station is formed in two separable components, one having sensors and the other having radio communications apparatus.

Estimating daily pan evaporation with artificial neural networks

Abstract: Daily pan evaporation has been shown to be an important variable in making crop management decisions and in modeling crop response to weather conditions. However, daily pan evaporation is difficult to measure accurately and consistently over longer time periods. The objective of this research was to develop artificial neural network (ANN) models to estimate daily pan evaporation using measured weather variables as inputs. Weather data from Rome, Plains, and Watkinsville, Georgia, consisting of 2044 daily records from 1992 to 1996 were used to develop the models of daily pan evaporation. Additional weather data from these locations, which included 720 daily records from 1997 and 1998, served as an independent evaluation data set for the models. The measured variables included daily observations of rainfall, temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed. Daily pan evaporation was also estimated using multiple linear regression and the Priestley-Taylor method and was compared to the results of the ANN models. The ANN model of daily pan evaporation with all available variables as inputs was the most accurate model delivering an r 2 of 0.717 and a root mean square error of 1.11 mm for the independent evaluation data set. ANN models were developed with some of the observed variables eliminated to correspond to different levels of data collection as well as for minimal data sets. The accuracy of the models was reduced considerably when variables were eliminated to correspond with National Weather Service cooperative weather stations. Pan evaporation estimated with ANN models was slightly more accurate than pan evaporation estimated with a multiple linear regression model or the Priestley-Taylor equation. Future efforts will focus on the inclusion of the ANN model as part of the quality control procedure to estimate missing pan evaporation data of the automated weather station network.

Method and system for providing weather information over the internet using data supplied through the internet and a wireless cellular data system

Abstract: A system and method for accessing and displaying weather information are shown. A weather station (102) collects weather information data from sensors (108-114) using a collection program and assembles the data as a data string in a memory. A station access system (140) is used to call the weather station through the Internet (150) and a wireless cellular digital packet data system (154). The weather station downloads the weather data string to a data base (164). A user contacts the access computer through the Internet using his personal computer (170) to ask for the weather information. The information is compiled from the data base and transmitted to the user's display (172) over the Internet. A user such as a farmer can also supply the system with his particular field and crop conditions and the system will apply the conditions to the weather information and return customized crop production and control information to the farmer over the Internet.

GENETICS AND BREEDING Genetic Component of Heat Stress in Dairy Cattle, Development of Heat Index Function

Abstract: Production data obtained from AIPL USDA included 119,337 first-parity, test-day records of 15,012 Holsteins from 134 Georgia farms collected in 1990 to 1997. Weather information was obtained from the Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network and included daily minimum, average, and maximum temperatures and humidity for 21 stations throughout the state. Each test-day record was augmented with weather information from the closest weather station. Analyses were based on models that included effects of herd-year-season, age, test day, milking frequency, and several types of heat and humidity. The best model used a temperature-humidity index. With this model, the average test-day yield for milk was about 26.3 kg for a temperature-humidity index <72 and decreased at about 0.2 kg per unit increase in the temperaturehumidity index for a temperature-humidity index ≥72. For fat and protein, the test yield was 0.92 and 0.85 kg at a temperature-humidity index <72, respectively, and declined at a rate of 0.012 and 0.009 kg per degree of the temperature-humidity index, respectively. The temperature-humidity index calculated with the available weather information can be used to account for the effect of heat stress on production.

A Spatial Interpolation Model for Daily Minimum Temperature over Mountainous Regions

Abstract: Spatial interpolation of daily temperature forecasts and observations issued by public weather services is frequently required to make them applicable to agricultural activities and modeling tasks. In contrast to the long term averages like monthly normals, terrain effects are not considered in most spatial interpolations for short term temperatures. This may cause erroneous results in mountainous regions where the observation network hardly covers full features of the complicated terrain. We developed a spatial interpolation model for daily minimum temperature which combines inverse distance squared weighting and elevation difference correction. This model uses a time dependent function for 'mountain slope lapse rate', which can be derived from regression analyses of the station observations with respect to the geographical and topographical features of the surroundings including the station elevation. We applied this model to interpolation of daily minimum temperature over the mountainous Korean Peninsula using 63 standard weather station data. For the first step, a primitive temperature surface was interpolated by inverse distance squared weighting of the 63 point data. Next, a virtual elevation surface was reconstructed by spatially interpolating the 63 station elevation data and subtracted from the elevation surface of a digital elevation model with 1 km grid spacing to obtain the elevation difference at each grid cell. Final estimates of daily minimum temperature at all the grid cells were obtained by applying the calculated daily lapse rate to the elevation difference and adjusting the inverse distance weighted estimates. Independent, measured data sets from 267 automated weather station locations were used to calculate the estimation errors on 12 dates, randomly selected one for each month in 1999. Analysis of 3 terms of estimation errors (mean error, mean absolute error, and root mean squared error) indicates a substantial improvement over the inverse distance squared weighting.

Weather typing system and method with spatial synoptic classification by sliding seed days

Abstract: The spatial synoptic classification (SSC) is modified by taking seed days within sliding periods so that seed days are selected from the warmest and coldest periods of the year and two intermediate periods. Artificial seed days are produced to represent typical weather patterns on other days of the year. From the selected seed days and the artificial seed days, a classification technique is developed to categorize a weather type for any day. Once the seed days are selected for a weather station, those seed days can be used to select seed days for nearby weather stations.

Mobile weather station; has casing enclosing central data logger coupled to climatic sensors, global positioning signal system and energy supply device

Abstract: The weather station has a weather-resistant casing contained in a rucksack or similar carrier, enclosing a central data logger (3) coupled to a number of climatic sensors (5-10), a global positioning signal system (4) and an energy supply device (12), e.g. a battery. Sensors may be provided for air pollution or for medical or physical parameters. The global positioning signal system may incorporate measurement of the altitude from the detected air pressure. A personal computer may be used to programme the measuring procedure.

Synoptic and subsynoptic variability in the North Atlantic as revealed by the Ocean Weather Station data

Abstract: Surface meteorological records from Ocean Weather Stations are used to characterise interannualchanges in the intensity of synoptic and subsynoptic processes over the North Atlanticmid-latitudes during the period from early the 1950s to 1990s. Individual 3-hourly data werefiltered to separate ultra-high frequency variability (0–2 days) and synoptic scale variability(2–6 days). Joint consideration of the intensities at these 2 scales in mid-latitudes makes itpossible to construct parameters which are highly correlated with the North Atlantic Oscillationindex. In high latitudes, intensities of synoptic and ultra-high-frequency processes are stronglynegatively correlated on interannual and decadal time scales. This phenomenon is discussed inthe context of interaction between high and mid-latitudinal synoptic variability. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0870.2000.d01-6.x

A case study of integrated risk assessment mapping in the Southland Region of New Zealand

Abstract: Risk assessment at the regional level requires quality resource information on critical factors for sustainable land-use decisions. This paper describes a major community initiative underway in the Southland Region of New Zealand involving geographic information systems mapping of 850,000 ha at a 1:50,000 scale. At a southerly latitude of 46° in the southern part of the South Island of New Zealand, the critical factors affecting plant growth are soil quality and air temperature. Air temperature is being measured with a network of 900 automatic data loggers positioned to represent key features of the landscape and recording maximum and minimum temperatures every hour for a full year. Data are then differentially adjusted using the nearest long-term weather station to the site to generate a 30-year normal temperature record and consequent growing-degree-day value for each site. Isocontour maps are then generated to identify microclimates of interest within the landscape. Soils of the area are being mapped at the same time and to the same scale to allow integrated development of the critical information for sustainable land-use decisions. Basic soil attributes will be interpreted to produce maps for crop suitability, vulnerability to structural degradation, and leaching risk. High-class soils will also be identified. An Internet site and a bureau service will be established. This will provide technical support and interpretation of the data for clients to encourage wide use of the information produced by the project. The project is being supported and funded by the local community in the belief that the provision of high-quality resource information will lead to significant employment opportunities in the region.

A method and a system for controlling a heating plant

Abstract: A method for controlling a heating plant as well as a control system for such a plant. More specifically the invention relates to the control of a heating plant adapted for local heating of surfaces to avoid ice and snow on such surfaces, and in particular controlling street heating plant or point heating plants (for rails), provided with one or several heating elements; so that a low power consumption is obtained. The control system is provided with at least one remotely operated unit (4) adapted to be controlled in such a manner that consumed energy is controlled in dependance of meteorological data representing present and anticipated temperatures and amounts of precipitation. The plant may also include one main station or weather station (10) which is influenced both by signals transmitted at a time depending of anticipated meteorological conditions and signals stating detected temperature and humidity at the weather station itself, and at least one satellite station (7) controlled by remote control only, e.g. via a modem, and then by a signal (16) transmitted from the weather station (10).

One-Dimensional Coupled Ecosystem-Carbon Flux Model for the Simulation of Biogeochemical Parameters at Ocean Weather Station P

Abstract: In this Technical Publication, we describe the model functionality and analyze its application to the seasonal and interannual variations of phytoplankton, nutrients, pCO2 and CO2 concentrations in the eastern subarctic Pacific at Ocean Weather Station P (OWSP, 50 deg. N 145 deg. W). We use a verified one-dimensional ecosystem model, coupled with newly incorporated carbon flux and carbon chemistry components, to simulate 22 years (1958-1980) of pCO2 and CO2 variability at Ocean Weather Station P (OWS P). This relatively long period of simulation verifies and extends the findings of previous studies using an explicit approach for the biological component and realistic coupling with the carbon flux dynamics. The slow currents and the horizontally homogeneous ocean in the subarctic Pacific make OWS P one of the best available candidates for modeling the chemistry of the upper ocean in one dimension. The chlorophyll and ocean currents composite for 1998 illustrates this premise. The chlorophyll concentration map was derived from SeaWiFS data and the currents are from an OGCM simulation (from R. Murtugudde).

Accuracy of weather data in long-term pavement performance program database

Abstract: To provide accurate climatic data for pavements under the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) Program, a climatic database was developed in 1992 and subsequently revised and expanded in 1998. In the development of this database, up to five nearby weather stations were selected for each test site. Pertinent weather data for the selected weather stations were obtained from the U.S. National Climatic Data Center and the Canadian Climatic Center. With a 1/R2 weighting scheme, site-specific climatic data were derived from the nearby weather station data. The derived data were referred to as "virtual" weather data. To evaluate the effect of environmental factors on pavement performance and design, automated weather stations (AWS) were installed at LTPP Specific Pavement Study Projects 1, 2, and 8 to collect on-site weather data. Since the virtual weather data were developed for all LTPP test sites and will be used for future pavement performance studies, it is essential that the derived virtual data be accura...

Introducing Freshmen To Engineering Design: Weather Station Project

Abstract: In recent years there have been many examples of engineering curriculum reform in the freshman year . Some involve adding design to existing freshman courses , others involve the development of optional design courses 1,2 , and yet others are quite focused on a particular engineering topic such as modeling . This paper reports on a group design project that is part of a required engineering course that was designed during a major curriculum reform effort at Union College.

Cross-correlation of velocity measurements for wind resource assessment over a large complex terrain

Abstract: In the present experimental investigation, the wind resource over a 5 km* complex-terrain potential site of a wind farm is being measured. For the wind measurements a new methodology is being introduced, in or&r to minimize the number of weather stations necessary to monitor the wind conditions and to increase the validity of the weather station measurements over a much wider range. The methodology is based on two-point space-time correlation measurements of the instantaneous velocity field Hot-wire anemometry was utilized in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer wind tunnel at UC Davis for the measurements. On site, correlation measurements were performed using two weather stations, one station was fixed and the other was portable. Since the correlation measurements do not require long measurement periods, the method appears to be inexpensive and gives reasonable velocity-field assessments over large complex sites using minimum number of measurement stations. The spatial correlation results gave more insight in the wind-flow field characteristics and pointed out locations, where a network of weather stations could be installed, for improving the tools for the creation of more reliable future prediction models for the wind resource assessment.

Method and means for transmitting and receiving weather information and weather forecasts

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting and receiving weather information and weather forecasts, in particular by regional, current weather information and weather forecasts using LW-RDS, consisting of a LW-transmitting station, and a receiver, a weather station (PWS), said weather information, including KNMI (Royal Netherlands Meterologisch Institute), are forwarded via a data transmission path to the LW-transmitting station with data servers and LW and the data collected to data transmission protocols in the data server and with the details of the existing local weather data and with the RDS protocol consisting be retrieved radiated from time values ​​for transmitted data, containing information on the message type, with details of the transmission time points and with a highly accurate time stamp from the LW and selected by a recipient of a PWS, the weather station of a LW data receiver, a power management and a D isplay consists of controls and weather icons and text lines, as well as of a μ-processor and can be queried selected using the controls, the regional weather information and weather forecasts. It is advantageous for the user that the weather data already processed professionally made available to the user as numerical values. The data to be transmitted are as numerical values ​​universally etc. applicable to other digital transmission platforms such as DAB, SWIFT.