Environmental Observatory

Real-time Environmental Measurements from the Blue Oak Ranch Reserve

please note that the variable "Rain 2010" has now been modified in our database to display the cumulative rainfall between July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010, consistent with NOAA standards.

National Weather Service forecast, data and climate summaries

Mount Hamilton/ Blue Oak Ranch vicinity 2 day and 3-5 day forecasts

alternate text only Zone forecast (in case the link above this is not working) search text for SANTA CLARA VALLEY...INCLUDING SAN JOSE-

Bay Area Weather Forecast Discussion

Very interesting web site of climate predictions including potential climate-related threats (drought, fire, storms, etc.)

Hourly satellite images

Northern California Radar Image (Intellicast)

NOAA Base Reflectivity Radar

Current NOAA GOES-10 1 kilometer Visible

Current NOAA GOES-10 4 kilometer Visible

Current NOAA GOES-10 4 kilometer Infrared

Current NOAA GOES-10 4 kilometer water vapour

Weather data including near real-time measurements

Mount Hamilton - Monthly Climate Summary

Cal Fire RAWS station at Blue Oak Ranch Reserve

Wildland fire related link

Daily Incident management Situation Report (requires Adobe Reader plug-in)

Alpha Node Instrumentation Specifications and Meta Data

Station ID#: 1

Geographic Coordinates:

Latitude 37.38
Longitude 121.74
Altitude 645m

Equipment:

Aluminum frame support structure and 20' tower

Solar photovoltaic power supply, 4 -75 watt BP Solar PV modules, 2 sealed lead acid AGM batteries, adjustable inclination of solar panels for optimization of seasonal sun angle

Wireless Ethernet Bridge radios:

UCOLick-BORR - TrangoLINK-45 5.8gHz wireless bridge

Alpha Node to Headquarters - Inscape "AirEther" AB54 2.4gHz Wireless Bridge

Weather Hawk Model 232 with IP module:

Sensors:

1. Air Temperature (TEMP) and Relative Humidity (RH) Sensor

The temperature sensor is a 10K thermistor.
Diameter: .018"
Type: Fast Resp.
Time Constant: 200ms (in liquids)
Operating Range: -40 to +65 deg C (0 to 100% rH) (-40 to +150 deg F)
Sensor Accuracy: +/-0.5 deg C (+/-0.9 deg F)
In-system accuracy: +/-1 deg C (+/-1.8 deg F)

2. Barometric Pressure (BP)

temperature compensation.
Maximum Error: 1.5% (0-85 deg C)
Temp Compensation: -40 to 125 deg C
Range: 15 to 115 KPa
Response Time: 0.1 mSec

3. Wind Speed (WS)

Sensor Type: 3 cup anemometer
Material: rotor - Lexan (poly carbonate) Body – ABS plastic
Rotor Diameter: 2 inches
Shaft: Hardened beryllium copper
Bearing: Self-lubricated, modified Teflon
Operating Temp: -55 to +60 deg C (0 to 100% rH) (-67 to +150 deg F)
Range:0.78 to 98 m/s (1.75 to 214 mph)
Starting Threshold:0.78 m/s (1.75 mph)

4. Wind Direction Sensors (WD)

Sensor Type:Vane
Material:Thermoplastic and Stainless Steel
Bearing:Ball bearings
Range:360 deg mechanical 352 deg electrical
Operating Temp:-55 to +60 deg C (0 to 100% rH) (-67 to +150 deg F)
Linearity:1% Resolution 1 deg
Sensitivity:1 m/s (2.2 mph)

5. Rainfall Measurement Sensor (RG)

Material: Styrosun (UV stabilized)
Orifice: 7.75 in2
Resolution: 0.04” (1 tip)

6. Solar Radiation (SR)

Spectral Response: 300 to 1100 nm
Operating temperature: -40 to +55 deg C (0 to 100% rH) (-40 to +131 deg F)
Accuracy: +/- 2% Range: 0-2000 Wm-2 (NOTE: full sunlight = 1000 Wm-2)

Product Website and additional specifications

http://www.weatherhawk.com/products-systems-specs.htm

Canon VB-C10 Pan-tilt-zoom network camera

1. zoom 16x

2. Pan angle range 200 degrees

3. Tilt angle range 120 degrees

4.video transmission rate 0.1 - 30fps

5. URL to access live viewing through camera

http://128.114.17.86/sample/LvAppl/lvappl.htm