The Crosstimber Micronet - An automated microscale surface observation network

The Crosstimber Micronet is a 5-acre outdoor laboratory designed for the study of microscale near-surface meteorological phenomena in an area of complex vegetation and terrain. It is ideally located in a small valley where large microscale anomalies frequently are observed to occur. The Micronet lies near the center of the Oklahoma Mesonet, a mesoscale network of 117 sites across the state of Oklahoma.

Five surface observation stations have been in operation since September 2002. Since then, two additional stations were added. The average spacing between stations is approximately 40 meters. The sensors, parameters measured, measurement levels, and sampling rates used by the Crosstimber Micronet are generally the same as those by the Oklahoma Mesonet. Thus, observations from the Micronet are directly comparable to those at nearby Mesonet sites.

Unique meteorological phenomena and substantial microscale variations have been observed by the Crosstimber Micronet. The high spatial resolution and ideal location of the Micronet make it extremely valuable in studying these phenomena.