Page Views since 3/14/06:
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In case you were curious
as to how to interpret some of the weather data you see here (or how we
determine this data), use the following guide: -= Current Conditions |
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The icon that you see
(Sunny, Partly Cloudy, Rain, Thunderstorm, Fog, etc) is generated using
the latest weather report from the Indianapolis International Airport.
In general, these conditions are accurate for our area. We would
use Anderson Airport's reported conditions, however they are not updated
except when the airport is open. Therefore, it is more accurate to
use the ones that are frequently updated in Indianapolis. We also use something called "Smart Forecast" to over-ride the conditions that the airport gives us. For instance, if there is currently a rain rate being reported by the weather station, we know that it is currently raining. Therefore, we can safely over-ride the conditions the airport gives us and replace it with our own generated conditions. We can take this a step further by taking into consideration the actual rain rate. If the rain is coming down fast, we know it's a "Heavy Rain" condition. If it is gusty, we can also consider that this might actually be a "Thunderstorm". As you can see, there is some room for error in the "Current Conditions", however this should be a fairly accurate guess as to what the conditions actually are at our weather station. -= Air Temperature |
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I'm sure you can guess
what air temperature is. We get this reading by using a sensor
that is enclosed in a shielded (but non-aspirated) case. The case
is designed to keep the probe in complete darkness, preventing the
temperature from being affected by solar heating. There are slots
in the case that allow for airflow around the sensor. -= Humidity/Dew Point |
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Our weather station
reports relative humidity. This is the amount of water vapor
actually in the air, divided by the amount of water vapor the air can
hold. This value is actually calculated from the station's reading
of the dew point, or the temperature at which the air would be saturated
given its current moisture content. High dew points are generally uncomfortable in the summer (most people will say it feels humid when the dew point is above 60 and will say it is sticky and uncomfortable at dew points over 70). When a storm is approaching, dew point can be a predictor of how severe a storm might get. Frequently, the higher the dew point, the higher the potential for severe weather. As evening approaches, dew point can help determine how cool it might get overnight. It will be difficult for the air temperature to drop below the dew point (exceptions would include a cold front coming through and bringing a different air mass with it). As the air temperature reaches the dew point, water vapor in the air will begin to condense, a process that actually releases heat. This condensation is what forms dew and fog. -= Wind Direction/Speed |
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Our anemometer is
located on a radio tower, approximately 30 feet off of the ground and
clear of all possible obstructions. The anemometer is located a
considerable distance from any trees or buildings near its height.
This allows for accurate readings of our wind speed and direction. -= Barometer |
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Our station includes a
barometer. This force that is exerted by the weight of the air on
the sensor. 29.92" Hg is considered 'average' at sea level.
Numbers above this generally predict fair weather, and numbers below
predict rainy weather. The barometric trend (rising or falling)
will help in predicting if the weather will clear or turn more
threatening. -= Road Temperature |
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We have imbedded a
temperature probe into a piece of asphalt on our property. This
probe is approximately 1/2" from the surface of the asphalt. The
probe is also compacted into the asphalt using putty, allowing for a
good thermal seal. The purpose of this probe is to allow us to be aware of when the road is cold enough that it is likely to have ice formation. It is important to remember that no two road surfaces are identical and one road may ice before another. Other factors (such as wind and available water) can play a part in road icing as well. When this sensor is near the freezing mark, please take extra caution while driving. -= Soil Temperature |
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We have buried a
temperature probe into the soil on our property. This probe is at
4" in depth and is in compacted soil. In the spring, heavy rains
sometimes occur while the ground is still frozen. This will often
result in flooding conditions. By using the soil temperature
sensor, we can often anticipate when flooding may occur following a
heavy rain.
-= Soil Moisture |
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A soil moisture sensor
is imbedded in the soil on our property. This probe is at a depth
of 3" and is buried at a 45 degree angle (per installation
instructions). By using this probe, we are able to see how
saturated the ground is, and how likely it will be to accept more water.
If we receive a heavy rain when the ground is already saturated,
flooding is the likely result. A lower number reading means more saturated soil. The following ranges were included as a guide with the sensor (obviously aimed towards farmers irrigating crops): For our purposes of flooding, a number of less than 10 centibars is a concern. A reading under 20 centibars is a possible concern if it is an extremely heavy rain. -= UV Index |
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Our weather station
includes a sensor to measure the UV Index. The UV Index is an
indicator of the intensity of UV-B rays. The following chart (made
by the EPA) is a good guide:
-= Solar Radiation |
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| Solar radiation is a measure of how much of the sun's energy strikes our sensor. This includes the entire electromagnetic spectrum, and not only the UV-B rays. |