|
Voluntary weather stations
|
|
Making your observations count |
|
We receive many weather observations from Met Office staff at various
locations, like airfields. But we also benefit from UK weather stations
run voluntarily by private individuals, local authorities, water companies,
agricultural bodies, industrial concerns, universities, and other educational
and research establishments.
Weather observations must be made regularly at fixed times each
day throughout the year by a trained observer, using accurate instruments
of standard design. Only then can we compare reports from stations
in the UK and overseas.
This is why certain conditions must be met for us to recognise
you as a voluntary station, and for your observations to be entered
into the National Meteorological Archive.
The information included on this page is a brief guide only.
Contact our Customer
Centre for more details.
|
Voluntary co-operation schemes |
|
Four main station types operate on a voluntary basis:
- Rainfall stations - rainfall is measured at about 5,000 UK
stations; observers complete forms each month that give the daily
totals
- Climatological stations - about 500 stations make detailed
observations daily, including rainfall, temperature, humidity,
wind speed/direction, cloud amount, visibility, ground state
and sunshine. The data are sent in on forms or on disk at the
end of each month
- Health resort stations - under the Health resort scheme, various
coastal and inland stations telephone some data to an automatic
receiving centre for transmission to the Met Office. These reports
are included daily in official releases to the press
- Agricultural meteorological (Agromet) stations - these are
maintained by people or organisations interested in the effects
of the weather on horticulture, forestry and agriculture. Stations
record additional data such as soil temperature, solar radiation
and run-of-wind.
|
|
Observations are to be made each day of the year by a competent observer
at 0900 UTC (Universal Time Co-ordinated) - 9 a.m. in the winter, 10
a.m. during BST.
Instruments should be of a standard design, and should be set
up on generally level ground away from obstructions like fences,
plants, trees and buildings.
The site should be representative of its general location and
have a planned life-span of more than five years.
The minimum elements measured at UK climatological stations are
daily maximum and minimum air temperature, and daily rainfall amount.
While most stations produce manual readings, we can also accept
observations from some automatic weather stations (AWS).
Many schools have weather stations but difficulties of observing
at the standard time, ensuring regular supervision by teachers,
and of keeping continuous records over weekends and holidays can
prevent them from joining the scheme.
|
|
All observations are made by a competent observer, with at least one
deputy observer available to ensure continuity for each day of the
year.
Manual observations are usually recorded in the Pocket Register for
climatological observers (Metform 3100), which is accompanied by full
instructions (Metform 3100A) for completing the monthly return form.
Records of any significant weather are made in the Weather Diary.
The observations and Weather Diary should be entered onto the form
each day to reduce the task at the end of the month and help data
returns to be sent promptly. Each co-operating station also receives
a free copy of the Observer's Handbook.
|
|
This table shows the instrument specification for using automatic measurements.
The same specifications apply to manual observations.
|
Minimum requirements
for a climatological station in the United Kingdom
|
Element |
Range |
Resolution |
Accuracy |
Remarks |
Maximum temp |
-30 ºC to +40 ºC |
0.1 ºC |
0.5 ºC |
Daily |
Minimum temp |
-30 ºC to +40 ºC |
0.1 ºC |
0.5 ºC |
Daily |
Rainfall amount |
0 to 999 mm |
0.2 mm |
0.2 mm < 4 mm, 5% > 4
mm |
Daily |
Time |
|
1 minute |
1 minute |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional elements
|
Element |
Range |
Resolution |
Accuracy |
Remarks |
Air temp |
-30 ºC to +40 ºC |
0.1 ºC |
0.3 ºC |
1 minute mean |
Concrete temp |
-40 ºC to +30 ºC |
0.1 ºC |
0.5 ºC |
|
Dew-point temp |
-50 ºC to +40 ºC |
0.1 ºC |
0.4 ºC |
|
Grass-min temp |
-40 ºC to +30 ºC |
0.1 ºC |
0.5 ºC |
|
Soil temp |
-30 ºC to +40 ºC |
0.1 ºC |
0.3 ºC |
|
Wet-bulb temp |
-30 ºC to +40 ºC |
0.1 ºC |
0.3 ºC |
|
Global radiation |
0 to 5 MJ m-2
0 to 40 MJ m-2
|
10 kJ m-2 |
5% or 10 kJ m-2
3% or 10 kJ m-2 |
Hourly
Daily |
Net radiation |
-1.5 to 5 MJ m-2 |
10 kJ m-2 |
10% |
Hourly |
Wind direction |
10 to 360° |
10° |
10° |
Hourly modal |
Wind speed |
0 to 150 kn |
1 kn |
1 kn or 5% |
1-minute mean |
Gust direction |
10 to 360° |
10° |
10° |
Daily |
Gust speed |
0 to 150 kn |
1 kn |
1 kn or 5% |
3 seconds |
Gust time |
0 to 59 minutes |
1 minute |
1 minute |
Daily |
Relative humidity |
1% to 100% |
0.1% |
5% below 50%
2% above 50% |
|
Sunshine duration |
0 to 24 hours |
0.1 hour |
0.3 hour |
Daily |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Co-operating observers must send in a return listing all daily observations
at the end of each month. Monthly return forms/disks are supplied free,
together with prepaid addressed envelopes. Each station is urged to
complete as much of the return as possible.
It is important to forward your return as soon as possible after
the end of the month (it should reach us no later than the 6th
of the following month).
The form Metform 3208B enables the direct keying of weather information
into computer data sets. After a little practice, you should encounter
little difficulty in completing your return. Completion of the
Weather Diary on the reverse of the form helps staff performing
quality control comparison checks.
It is also now possible to submit monthly data on disk. Data Input
System for Climatological Stations (DISCS) runs under Windows 3.1,
and logs the daily readings and Weather Diary. It also automatically
calculates monthly totals and means.
Where observations have been made by an automatic weather station
(AWS), data can be submitted using the CAWS (Met Office Climatological
AWS) format. This allows the transfer of a series of observations
made over set periods (usually a month).
|
Free publications, forms and postage |
|
Stations are provided, free of charge, with:
- free monthly return forms or disks
;
- prepaid addressed envelopes;
- Pocket registers for recording observations;
- The Observer's Handbook
;
- free sunshine cards (if making sunshine records)
|
|
If you can meet our requirements, we will ask for plans of the site.
These should be shown, where possible, on a large-scale map showing
the precise position, National Grid Reference and height above mean
sea level. A detailed large-scale plan is also required showing neighbouring
obstructions, distances from the site and heights.
A site visit is normally be made by a Met Office representative
to confirm suitability. Soon after the establishment of a co-operating
station, a further visit is made to inspect the station and discuss
any difficulties. Visits are then made every three years.
|
|
Observers are encouraged to attend residential training courses at
the Met Office College in Exeter, or in Edinburgh (for observers in
Scotland) - no fee is charged. Travel expenses are refunded and accommodation
is provided.
|
|
|
|