Hobbies And Interests
Basics
Depending on the level of sophistication, a weather station will provide information about the weather when clients need it the most. Specially placed sensors gather readings, displaying the data on a console screen. A weather station can be updated as often as every hour, every three minutes, or every three seconds in some cases. The altitude at which a weather station is installed can be an issue with some home stations. Some are limited to 6,000 feet in order to get an accurate barometer reading.
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service is operated through the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. With 122 weather forecast offices and dozens of other weather centers located throughout the country, NOAA's National Weather Service helps shape decisions in the lives of Americans every day. In addition to local and regional forecasts, the NOAA provides life-saving information in the face of an emergency. "NOAA's National Weather Service is the sole official voice of the U.S. government for issuing warnings during life-threatening weather situations," the agency says on its website. Weather and climate sensitive industries, which account for one-third of the nation's gross domestic product, rely on the information collected by NOAA weather stations to operate efficiently.
Personal Weather Station
Weather stations can be purchased on a smaller scale for home use. In early 2011, prices ranged from as little as $30 for the most basic stations to $600 for more advanced stations. Basic personal weather stations measure temperature, humidity and barometric pressure. More sophisticated models will show past data, allowing you to examine weather trends. There are many factors to consider when installing a personal weather station, including the distance of the console and receiver from the placement of the sensors. The sensors and receiver need to be connected in order to display data. Wireless weather stations are also available; however, these home stations "have a maximum 'unobstructed' or 'line of sight' range rating which is diminished by the type and number of building materials the signal must penetrate," according to WeatherShack. This means that the material and thickness of your walls may interfere with your station's signal. Stronger signals may be needed for buildings made of thick concrete.
Considerations
Professional weather stations are typically more sophisticated than home weather stations. While most home weather stations base their forecasts on the rising and falling of the barometer, professional stations take into account wind, rainfall, temperature, humidity and the positioning of the station. These stations provide a more accurate forecast. A complete professional weather station can be linked to a computer where you can "record and graphically display weather trends, post data on the Internet or even send email alerts," as noted by WeatherShack. Special software will store data that can be retrieved at a later date.