Meteorological Station


Information Monitors collects meteorological data to support its activities in Cocoa, Florida (28.4 N, 80.8 W). Eighteen years of data are available from our previous station in Cape Canaveral, FL, and since 1995 at our current site. Please note that this is research data, being collected automatically every 6-minutes. We attempt to keep the data as accurate as possible but we make no waranty on the accuracy of this data.

  

Data Acquisition System

A Campbell CR10 data logger is used to sample all transducers at 10 second interval. The measurements are averaged over 6-minutes interval and stored in the data logger. An automated process on the central computer system runs every 6 minutes, retrieving, processing, and storing the data into a database. Multiple reports used by various applications are also automatically generated . The following measuerments are recorded at this site:

Dry-bulb, dew point, and barometric pressure are recorded once every six minutes. Precipitation is summed continuously and the total in every six minute period is recorded. The other measurements are made once every second and a six minute average is recorded. The recorded maximum wind gust is the highest of these one second readings.

The meteorological measurements are made with sensors and translators made by Weather Measure Corp. The sensor types and accuracies are listed below:
Parameter  Sensor  Accuracy 
Wind speed  3 cup anemometer 
photon coupled chopper 
0.5 mph threshold 		 + 0.15 mph or 1% 
Wind direction  light-weight vane 
low torque potentiometer 
0.5 mph threshold 		  0.5% linearity 
Dry-bulb temperature  platinum resistance thermometer  + 0.1 degree C 
Dew point temperature  chilled mirror system with 
platinum resistance thermometer 		  + 0.3 degree C 
Barometric pressure  piesoresistive element  0.08% of  reading 
Precipitation  tipping bucket 
0.01 inch resolution 		  0.5% at 0.5 in/hr 

The dry-bulb temperature sensor is mounted in a motor aspirated radiation shield. The barometric pressure sensor is located 17 feet above mean sea level. The precipitation gage is protected by an alter type wind screen. All sensors and translators are calibrated at least annually.

Wind Velocity

Wind speed and direction are measured using a three cup anemometer and a vane at a height of 10 meters above theground. This is the standard height for meteorological wind measurements. A special "photo-chopper" design is used in the anemometer (wind speed) to enable it to measure wind as slow as 0.2 meters per second (one half of a mile per hour). 		  
 

Precipitation 

Rainfall is measured by a tipping bucket rain gauge. Rain is collected in a funnel and alternately fills two small cups (buckets). These two cups are attached together and placed on a pivot such that when one up fills the assembly tips to the side. At each tip, the full cup is emptied and the empty cup is placed under the funnel.

Air Temperature

Air temperature is measured with a platinum resistance thermometer. This is a very accurate temperature measuring device. It is placed in a long tube which has been painted white on the outside to reflect solar radiation. A small blower pulls ambient air into the tube and across the thermometer. This allows measurement of the true air temperature without the effect of solar heating.