Microclimate Monitoring Weather Stations

A microclimate is a set of climatic conditions in a relatively small area, where the climate is modified by significant features in the immediate vicinity.

By implication, microclimate conditions vary, sometimes significantly from the general climatic conditions in the greater area or region.

In microclimate measurements, the intention is to measure the climate including these local effects in contrast to Mesoscale or wide area monitoring, which has the intention of taking measurements that exclude any local effects.

Examples of microclimates include areas dominated by a large body of water, an urban area surrounded by brick buildings or an area covered by a canopy of vegetation. Microclimates can also be created by aspects of land such as north facing slopes as opposed to south facing slopes.

The effect of this, for example, is that large buildings will significantly modify both wind speed and direction in their immediate vicinity; air temperature and possibly relative humidity might also be changed as a result of absorption and re-radiation of heat.

As another example, an area under a canopy of trees would have vastly different soil temperature and moisture values, as well as varying wind characteristics from neighbouring open fields.

A crop trial therefore will typically have it's own unique micro-environment, as will a feedlot, or evaporation ponds.

Working environments - such as construction sites - will also have unique micro-environments when monitoring for worker heat stress.

• In microclimate applications, the weather station is typically located within the working area, whereas Mesoscale applications require more demanding siting requirements and a larger dedicated area is normally allocated, specifically for the purpose.
• Microclimates can provide a significant commercial advantage in industrial and agricultural applications and their effects should be given serious consideration.

• Depending on the specific requirement for microclimate monitoring, any of the Environdata weather stations may be the preferred choice.
• As readings are generally more localised, a small compact weather station such as Environdata’s WeatherMaster 3000, is likely to be the most well featured and economical solution.
• The Weather Maestro may well be considered for Micro-Environment weather monitoring where unique sensor combinations, specialised sensors, large numbers of sensors or future expansion is important.
• Sensors are typically mounted close together on a two metre mast and ten metre masts are rarely used unless you also need to monitor mesoscale weather to meet an environmental licence for example.
• Environdata can advise on the ideal solution for you and supply a wide range of specialised sensors and communications options to meet your specific requirements.

Microclimate weather stations do not have as stringent siting requirements as mesoscale weather stations and should be typically sited as close as possible to the area in question.