4onse as a complementary to conventional weather observation network

Abstract

Over the centuries, sensing the weather has been important to mankind for decision making. Weather observations are important to better understand the climate variability and its consequences which ranges over different temporal and spatial scales such as localized rainfall and thunderstorms to large scale storms and droughts. Analysis of climate induced phenomenon is data intensive and the data collected from very sparse network of professional weather stations have become incapable to forecast magnitude of the climate induced events. In this research, we present a 4ONSE network as a complementary to professional, state-owned weather station network. This open network was built on 4 open pillars – open hardware, open software, open standards and open data. Credibility of the network was assessed by analyzing the reliability and accuracy of data, cost incurred in building the station and conformity of measured parameters with WMO standards. Even though the 4ONSE station is not a high tech, professional weather station, these mini stations can be used to filling the gaps left by professional weather stations. Thus, they can be used to improve the coverage of the existing weather network of the country and to obtain the observations at near real time for producing accurate weather and disaster forecasts.