the oklahoma mesonet: evolution from real-time weather network to climate network christopher...
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THE OKLAHOMA MESONET: EVOLUTION FROM REAL-TIME
WEATHER NETWORK TOCLIMATE NETWORK
Christopher Fiebrich and Kevin A. KloeselOklahoma Climatological Survey
Norman, OK, USA
The Oklahoma Mesonet
• Commissioned in 1994• 120 stations• Report every 5 minutes• Over 4 billion observations
Primarily for Real-Time Weather
Data Quality is Top Priority
• Over 4 Billion high quality observations in the Mesonet archive– Every sensor calibrated before deployed to station
and re-calibrated at defined intervals– Every site visited 4 times annually on average for
site maintenance, sensor testing, and metadata updates
– Comprehensive automated and manual quality assurance
Extremes Measured in 2011
• Coldest Temperature Ever Recorded in State History– 10 February 2011– Nowata Mesonet station: -35 °C (-31 °F)– Reviewed by State Climate Extremes Committee of
the National Climate Data Center
Record Cold
Extremes Measured in 2011
• Highest Wind Gust Recorded in State History– 24 May 2011– El Reno Mesonet station: 67.4 m/s (151 mph)
Record Wind Gust
4:20 PM LT 4:25 PM LT
Extremes Measured in 2011
• Hottest Average Monthly Temperature for Any State and Any Month– July 2011– Statewide Average Temperature: 30.5 °C (86.9 °F)– Grandfield Mesonet site exceeded 37 °C (100 °F) on
101 days (old state record was 86 days)
Mesonet Inclusion in COOP
Mesonet Inclusion in COOP
• Mesonet data now included in official climate division average calculations
• Midnight-to-midnight observations from Mesonet eliminate the need for time of observation adjustments
Mesonet Continuity Sites
• Sensor Upgrades are Inevitable– Naturally ventilated to aspirated temperature
shelters in 2008– Relative humidity sensor (Vaisala HMP45) no
longer manufactured– Evaluation of new rain gauge models– Transition to thermocouple sensors for soil
temperature
Continuity Sites• 5 stations across the state selected– Minimal impact from anthropogenic sources– Minimal impact from wind obstructions– Minimal slope– History of very high data quality– High likelihood of long-term stability
• Will provide long-term (multiple years) overlap of old sensor and new model
Continuity Sites
Questions?
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