NewsDrop-February-2024

EAA WEATHER STATIONS DEBUT ON GLOBAL SYNOPTIC DATA VIEWER

By: Bryan Anderson Director of Data Management

FOR OVER 25 YEARS , THE EAA HAS MAINTAINED A NETWORK OF WEATHER-RELATED DATA COLLECTION STATIONS.

As of 2024, the network has grown to feature 18 weather stations and 62 rain gauges across 11 counties where the weather data are collected continuously to monitor the most elusive input to the Edwards Aquifer… rainfall. This information is used by the agency to create regional calibrated

rain maps and as inputs for numerical models that assist in aquifer management. Knowing there were many other uses for the data externally, the EAA was one of the first enti ties to contribute to the TexMesonet statewide climate data network in 2015. Adding to this network was made possible through the public

benefit corporation, Synoptic Labs. With roots back to the original MesoWest Program started at the University of Utah in 1997 and the National Mesonet Program in 2009, Synoptic Labs acts as a hub to easily share weather information from around the globe.

To request custom data sets or reports, send an email to data@edwardsaquifer.org. Check back often as more improvements are coming to the Synoptic Data Viewer and the TexMesonet in the coming year.

With information coming in from over 120,000 stations worldwide, the recently launched Synoptic Data Viewer (https://synopticdata.com/data-viewer/) enables easy access to weather information from the backyard and beyond.

The tools in the viewer allow for the creation of custom dashboards and views so the most used station information is instantly accessible. Always have EAA station data available by clicking Networks on the side menu, then Cus tom. Type “EAA” to find the Edwards Aqui fer Authority network and apply the selection.

Along with rainfall, 16 of the stations collect air temperature, dew point, relative humidity, wind speed, wind gust, wind direction, air pressure, solar radiation, and soil moisture. The EAA Data Management Department maintains all data col lection sites in the network and processes all the continuous data.

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