Are you looking for a device that gathers the necessary data for accurate site weather predictions? The device is called a weather station. It consists of multiple sensors that collect data from atmospheric conditions to generate reliable weather reports. Weather parameters are vital for research analysis in agriculture, hydrological monitoring, and industrial applications.

Understanding these parameters and their importance can help you decide what sensors you need. A typical weather station can detect wind speed, atmospheric temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure. However, depending on the application, the parameters can become complex. We aim to help you understand these parameters and find their utilization in your usage scenario. So, let's dive deep into the world of weather stations, starting from the basics to the complex data transmission and processing methods.

Purpose Of Weather Station

Weather stations gather meteorological data from the lowest layer, the troposphere. Metrologists can use this data to predict weather and issue warnings accurately. Depending on the application, weather stations can feature a variety of sensors. Let's look at some weather stations to understand their various purposes. Later, we will explain each sensor and its role in weather stations.

⋆ General Weather Station: Predict Weather or Climate Conditions

These weather stations are ideal for gathering information about weather conditions across geographical features. A single weather station can be enough to predict localized conditions in open areas like agricultural fields. However, the complex city system that varies in land use, altitude, and topology is unpredictable on small scales with a single weather station. For urban weather forecasting, a network of general weather stations must gather the key parameters to paint a whole image. These stations consist of the following sensors:

➔ Wind Speed

➔ Wind Direction

➔ Atmospheric Temperature

➔ Atmospheric Humidity

➔ Atmospheric Pressure

➔ Rain Fall

➔ Solar Radiation

⋆ Agricultural Weather Station: Enhance Growth and Production

Knowing the environmental conditions is vital to ensuring high yields in farming. Modern technologies use advanced sensors mounted on the agricultural weather station that provide an in-depth analysis of solar and soil conditions. We need temperature, rainfall, and sunlight data that can directly affect crop growth. Similarly, predicting weather conditions can help the agricultural sector take necessary actions to avoid crop devastation. A farming weather station consists of the following unique sensors in addition to the general weather station sensors that detect wind, atmosphere, solar, and rain conditions:

● PAR Sensor

● Soil Temperature

● Soil Moisture

● Carbon Dioxide

● Soil pH

● Soil Salinity

● Soil EC

⋆ Scenic Area Weather Station: Emergency Preparedness and Experience

Areas that are hard to reach have some of the most scenic views. Scenic area weather stations play a vital role in ensuring the safety of the tourists and preparing necessary emergency measures. Tourism management can analyze the conditions based on the data received from the field. It can enhance the tourist's experience by providing them with the ideal window for a visit. Here are the sensors besides the general weather station sensors:

● UV Radiation

● Ground Temperature

⋆ Greenhouse Monitoring Station: Comprehensive Control

Considering the controlled environment inside the greenhouse, manufacturers include additional sensors to monitor plant growth and production in the greenhouse comprehensive monitoring station. It analyzes the weather conditions inside the greenhouse to allow better control over the greenhouse environment.

➔ Atmospheric Temperature, Humidity and Pressure

➔ Carbon Dioxide

➔ Illuminance

➔ Soil Temperature and Moisture

➔ Soil pH, Salinity, and EC

➔ PAR Sensor

➔ Solar Radiation

⋆ Photovoltaic Power Generation Weather Station

As the name suggests, it's a weather station that does not require external power. It can utilize photovoltaic cells to generate electricity for its operation. They can continue sending data and their healthiness through different communication means to the owner. Based on its health, the owner can visit and perform necessary maintenance if it malfunctions. These types of weather stations are ideal for long-term independent operations. The additional sensors, in comparison to the general weather stations, are:

● Solar Radiation

● Hall Current Sensor

● Hall Voltage Sensor

● Photovoltaic Panel Temperature

Understanding Weather Station Parameters

Now that we know the parameters that various weather stations measure, we can dive deeper into the details of each parameter and its significance. Here are all the parameters that weather stations measure:

✦ Weather Monitoring Parameters

➔ Wind Speed and Direction: These are vital parameters in aviation, forecasting, and industrial stack release calculations. They measure the speed and direction of the wind and generate output signals using motors and resistive circuits. 0-45m/s is a typical wind speed measuring capability of modern devices.

➔ Atmospheric Temperature: It is measured using thermoresistive devices that change their resistance and voltage based on atmospheric temperature. The measurement capability is usually between -40 to 60°C. Temperature is one of the fundamental parameters for weather measurement.

➔ Atmospheric Humidity: Humidity is a vital parameter in predicting cloud formation and precipitation in weather. Humidity sensors feature metal oxide in the center of two electrodes, forming a capacitor. When humidity changes, metal oxide's capacity changes, indicating a change in humidity.

➔ Atmospheric Pressure: Measuring pressure helps predict weather conditions. Silicon capacitive pressure sensors are the most popular choice in weather station sensors. They use a flexible and fixed metal plate with silicon in the middle—the capacity of silicon changes with pressure.

➔ Rainfall: A tipping bucket rainfall sensor is a reliable measurement method. It has a bucket with a fixed volume. The rain fills the bucket and tips it over. The number of tips gives the rainfall quantity. It is excellent for measuring the effect of rain on land.

➔ Solar Radiation: Measuring solar radiation helps predict ground temperature, evaporation rates, crop water usage, and air pollution. The solar radiation sensor uses a simple photovoltaic converter to predict radiation levels.

✦ Agricultural Monitoring Parameters

➔ PAR Sensor: Photosynthetically Active Radiation detects the range of light that initiates photosynthesis in plants. It's vital for agricultural applications where a wavelength of light between 400 and 700 nm is required. A weather station specific to agricultural applications or eco studies features a PAR sensor.

➔ Soil Temperature and Moisture: These are vital parameters to monitor in greenhouses and plants. A soil temperature and moisture sensor comprises probes that go into the soil. Thermistors and capacitance-based sensors provide these data from the soil.

➔ Carbon Dioxide: CO2 is the lifeline of plants, and monitoring its level allows farmers to increase or decrease greenhouse ventilation proactively. Nondispersive infrared sensors are popular in carbon dioxide monitoring. It uses an infrared chamber at one end and a filter-detector combination at the other.

➔ Soil pH: 5.5-6.5 pH is ideal for most plants. In horticulture, monitoring soil pH using probes buried underground by the owner can enhance yield. Pen-type pH monitors are the most popular detectors for soil.

➔ Soil EC and Salinity Sensor: Measuring the conductivity can directly indicate the salinity in the soil. Higher salinity means it conducts more current. Low salinity is preferred to enhance germination and plant growth.

➔ UV Radiation: UV-B rays can stunt or slow plant growth. Monitoring them to ensure plant health is vital. Farmers can take various measures to maintain safe levels for crops.

✦ Scenic Site Condition Parameters

➔ Ground Temperature: A recent World Economic Forum highlights how tourism is being affected by rising temperatures at scenic spots. Finding the perfect time for tourism can involve monitoring atmospheric and ground temperatures as they directly affect human body temperatures. 25-30°C is the ideal temperature for barefoot walks.

➔ Illuminance: Lighting conditions can make a scenic site stand out. Similarly, light pollution can disrupt wildlife and ecosystems. Monitoring and maintaining lighting in areas where uneven terrain can cause injury is also important.

✦ Self-Powered Weather Station Monitoring Parameters

➔ Hall Current Sensor: These sensors can monitor a photovoltaic cell's or battery's health and provide live statistics without invasive methods.

➔ Hall Voltage Sensor:  Voltage is another representation of battery healthiness. If the battery can maintain its voltage, it's considered healthy. These sensors provide battery health for self-powered weather stations.

➔ Photovoltaic Panel Temperature: The temperature of a photovoltaic panel can directly affect its output power. Monitoring the temperature helps the owner understand the panel's output power.

Working Principal of Weather Stations

The working principle of weather stations is primarily dependent on the manufacturer's design. A typical design approach involves sensors generating analog signals, which convert to digital signals using analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). The microcontroller or computer within the weather stations gathers the data after calculations, filtration, formatting, and storage.

Later, the data is transferred to the central control computer or database using a cellular network, satellite link, or WiFi. The central computer can then use various codes and algorithms to predict weather. Or, in the case of applications other than weather tracking, it can provide the site with statistical data for the user. So, in a glimpse, the weather stations do the following:

● Sensor Data Collection

● Conversion of Analog Data to Digital

● Raw Data Processing

● Transmission of Data to Central System

● Data Analysis and Observation

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Weather Forecast

The use of AI and ML codes is increasing the accuracy of modern weather forecasting systems. In research, scientists can use machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms to predict weather conditions accurately. One good example is GraphCast by Google. It can predict a 10-day forecast in advance and accurately compared to the older High-Resolution Forecast (HRES) produced by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).

Rika Sensor is specialized in professional weather station for over 13 years, welcome to contact us to get further products information and tell us your demand, we provide aquaculture / weather / environmental monitoring solution. 

FAQ

1. Do I need a Weather Station for my farm?

Protecting crops against disease and pests is critical. Weather stations provide detailed temperature, humidity, rainfall, and important soil characteristics that can help timely take action to enrich germination and plant growth. Installing a weather station at your farm will provide valuable data available 24/7, compared to physical visits for monitoring.

2. How to find the perfect weather for tourism?

The best time to visit a scenic spot depends on weather conditions such as humidity, temperature, wind speed, and illuminance. Popular destinations have weather stations that provide live data and predictions of conditions on site for visits on official government or organizers' website pages. Thanks to AI and machine learning, modern weather predictions can be accurate for up to 10 days.

3. What is the purpose of a weather station system?

The purpose of the weather station is to provide live statistics of the on-ground atmospheric, soil, and equipment conditions. Weather stations have numerous sensors, such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, soil characteristics, solar radiation, PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation), and various other sensors. They can help in agriculture, highways, tourism, weather, and other applications.