Site Selection in the Oklahoma Mesonet

Mark A. Shafer

Oklahoma Climatological Survey

University of Oklahoma

Step 1: Guidance• Site Standards Committee

– Undisturbed sites– Representative of the region– Flat and unobstructed– Accessible for maintenance– Uniform vegetation

• Site Selection Committee– Specific site characteristics– WMO standards

Step 2: Design• Requirements

– At least one site per county– Agricultural experiment stations– Other agency needs

• Even station spacing• Location of other networks

– Fill in gaps in coverage– Co-location with other network sites for inter-

comparison

• Local interest / needs– Trade-offs: representative sites, communications

Step 3: Picking Sites• Finding local contacts:

– Statewide organizations with county offices (i.e., OSU Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma Conservation Commission, State Emergency Management)

• Contact local officials to seek assistance, clarify guidelines

• Local officials identified several possible sites, followed-up by staff site visits with local official

• Learning process as we went

Step 4: Paperwork• Land-Use agreements

– Limits liability and establishes 90-day notice– Legal uncertainties: who signed for the

universities?– Changes to agreement – especially to the “hold

harmless” clause (mostly federal sites)

• FCC licensing– six at a time!

• FAA clearance (on or near airports)• Environmental Assessments

Results• 108-station network actually installed• Minimal clustering

– usually on the basis of other requirements (i.e., experiment stations)

• Privately-owned rural rangeland or grassland usually best sites

http://www.mesonet.ou.edu

Results• 108-station network actually installed• Minimal clustering

– usually on the basis of other requirements (i.e., experiment stations)

• Privately-owned rural rangeland or grassland usually best sites

• Local enthusiasm underestimated– Sites readily offered, often faster than staff could visit

areas– Landowners content – only six stations moved since

installation (3 on same owner’s land)• 2 because of land-use change• 2 for research needs• 2 for improving site characteristics