Weather station

29-Mar-2023: Automated Weather Stations

The reception of Automated Weather Stations (AWS) data and its quality is being monitored round the clock at India Meteorological Department (IMD) Pune Central Receiving Servers and all IMD State Meteorological Centres. The network of Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) with Sensors for the meteorological parameters viz. Atmospheric pressure, Air temperature, Relative humidity, Rainfall, Wind speed and Wind direction undergo servicing/routine preventive maintenance at regular intervals by trained manpower available at IMD offices to ensure the quality of data from the system.

The preventive maintenance ensures necessary exposure conditions at AWS sites as per World Meteorological Organization (WMO) guidelines. The technical team during preventive maintenance/servicing, carry out grass cutting, cleaning of solar panels, equipments and general upkeep of the observatory site to ensure the quality of data from the system.

While doing the calibration of sensors, the atmospheric parameters are compared with the travelling standards of sensors during preventative maintenance/Servicing. If any sensor’s accuracy of AWS is not performing as per the WMO criteria, the sensor is replaced with new sensors.

2019

14-Jun-2019: World's highest weather station at Mount Everest

Climate scientists have created a history by installing world's highest operating weather station at Mount Everest's Death Zone, including five other automated stations on other parts of the mountain.

Tom Matthews and Baker Perry, along with a crew of engineers, stood on the Mount Everest's flank at 27,650 feet (8,430 metres), and erected seven-foot- building of a weather station that can withstand extreme winds and cold weather.

The weather station will record data on temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed, and wind direction. Besides, the new weather stations will also give scientists direct observations to understand jet stream, and will also help understand how the climate change is affecting the Himalayas.

The other five weather stations that are located in the Mount Everest are in Balcony area (8,430 m), South Col (7,945m) at Phortse (3,810 m), Everest Base Camp (5,315 m) and Camp 2 (6,464 m).

The National Geographic Society has worked in partnership with Tribhuvan University, the Nepal government, and received funds from Rolex to launch the two-month expedition involving over 30 scientists.

The team members from eight countries, including 17 Nepali researchers, the expedition team conducted trailblazing research in biology, glaciology, meteorology, geology and mapping to understand environmental changes and their impacts.