5. Siting and exposure
DANGER:
If any part of the weather station comes in contact with power lines, you could be killed.
Contact local utilities for the location of buried utility lines before digging or driving ground
rods.
Selecting an appropriate site for the weather station is critical to obtain accurate meteorological
data. In general, the site should be representative of the general area of interest, and away from
the influence of obstructions such as buildings and trees.
The weather station should not be located where sprinkler irrigation water will strike sensors or
instrument enclosure.
Some general guidelines for site selection are listed below, which were condensed from EPA
(1988), WMO (1983), and AASC (1985) publications. See
5.1 Wind speed and direction
Wind sensors should be located over open, level terrain, and at a distance of at least ten times
(EPA) the height of any nearby building, tree, or other obstruction (
FIGURE 5-1. Effect of structure on wind flow
Section 5. Siting and exposure
10
