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Microclimate Sensor Stations

Stations

We have four stations set up in the Indiana Dunes State Park measuring microclimate conditions throughout the park.  Please click on the links for the most recent readings from each location. 

See below for a brief explanation of each measurement and for a definition of microclimate and an explanation of our project.

 National Weather Service - Beverly Shores Indiana

Sensors

 The sensors take readings over a measurement interval that is typically five minutes.

  • Rain - measures the amount of rainfall in millimeters (mm).  25.4 mm = 1 inch.  The solid line indicates the amount of rainfall from one measurement to the next, and the dashed line indicates cumulative rainfall.  Currently, our sensor can only give accurate measurements for rain, not for snow (Model: S-RGB-M002).
  • Wind Speed - measures the average wind speed in meters per second (m/s). 1 m/s = 2.24 miles per hour. (Model: Wind speed and direction: S-WCA-M003; Wind speed (only): S-WSA-M003)
  • Gust Speed - measures the highest 3-second wind speed during a measurement interval.
  • Wind Direction - measures the average wind direction over a measurement interval.  0o/360o = North, 90o = East, 180o = South, 270o = West.  (Model: S-WCA-M003)
    • Note: Sharp jumps between 0o and 360o look drastic on the graph but only indicate that the wind direction is fluctuating between North-east and North-west.  We are are working on making a wind direction graph that is easier to read.
  • Air Temperature - measures air temperature in oC.  0oC = 32oF, 10oC =  50oF, 25oC = 77oF, 35oC = 95oF. (Model: S-THB-M008)
    • Note: Air temperature graphs are immediately above Relative Humidity (RH) graphs (so as not to confuse air temperature and soil temperature).  We are working on better labels for our graphs.
  • Relative Humidity (RH) - measures the amount of moisture in the air compared to how much moisture the air can hold.  When RH = 50%, then the amount of moisture in the air is 50% of what the air can hold.  (Model: S-THB-M008)
    • Note: RH is dependent on temperature.  Warm air can hold more moisture than cold air, so the same amount of moisture in the air will give different RH readings at different temperatures.  Dew point is often used instead of RH as an indicator for how humid it feels.
  • Dew Point - indicates the temperature at which, at the current humidity, the air would be saturated and dew (or, if below freezing, frost) would form, in oC.  A dew point around 15oC is a comfortable humidity, below 10oC is dry, and above 20oC is uncomfortably humid. 
    • Visitthis website for a good explanation of humidity and the difference between relative humidiy and dew point.
  • Soil Temperature - measures the temperature of the soil in oC. 0oC = 32oF, 10oC =  50oF, 25oC = 77oF, 35oC = 95oF. (Model: S-TMB-M006)
    • Note: Temperature graphs NOT immediately above RH graphs are soil temperature graphs.
  • Soil Moisture - measures the water content of the soil.  Specifically, measures the ratio of water volume  to total soil volume, m3/m3. (Model: S-SMC-M005)
  • Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) - measures light intensity.  Specifically, measures the intensity of light in wavelengths important for photosynthesis, 400nm to 700nm.  The measurements are in micro-Einsteins (uE).  1 uE = 1 umol photons/1 m2*sec. (Model: S-LIA-M003)
  • Leaf Wetness (Wetness) - measures the percent of the surface of an artificial leaf that is moist, in percent (%).  (Model: S-LWA-M003)

 

More info

 

 Mesh network and remote sensor stations

 

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