Modernizing a Mesonet. Part I: TexMesonet Installation and Wiring

Mesonets are environmental monitoring networks that measure mesoscale events. Their value to the scientific community is renowned. When referencing mesonets, Oklahoma Mesonet is the “gold standard”. Most recently New York Mesonet may be considered the “platinum standard”. Oklahoma mesonet resulted from the May 26-27, 1984, Tulsa area flood. The New York mesonet was funded from Superstorm Sandy. The Texas statewide mesonet (TexMesonet) resulted from deaths associated with the 2015 Memorial Day floods across Central Texas.

In 2016, TexMesonet began installing weather stations across Texas with a goal of adding 24 stations per fiscal year. At the end of August 2019 there were 61 stations across 32 counties with approval in 19 others. Texas is the second largest state in the United States by both population and area, with 254 counties. TexMesonet idealized network will have over 300 stations with an average coverage of 20 miles between each station. Currently, 78 counties (31%) have operational coverage with 109 counties (43%) having no coverage.

To meet such ambitions goals across such a vast state in the shortest amount of time and with limited resources, required innovation in design, wiring, and implementation. Network design saw the first implementation of a FirstNet APN – a dedicated first responder network with internal internet addressing. Installation designs that reduce installation time to less than 24 working hours with a two-person crew. Utilization of din rails, lever nuts and Velcro cable ties to minimize wire clutter, improve ease-of-use, and instrument replacement.

Overall impact has reduced staff time during implementation and maintenance with reduce network downtime.