The weather has always been important to mankind. I mean…if it has the power to impact mood, I don’t think we need to further discuss how important it is! That being said, many industries rely on forecasting the weather, but weather reports are not 100% reliable. Actually, they can be very wrong and almost completely opposite of what the weather is like in your area. This is where a weather station comes into play. Being able to forecast the weather is essential to planning and working on projects in the foreseeable future, which is precisely what this device does.
A weather station is a device that uses sensors to collect data on the weather. You can choose between an analog and a digital weather station to buy, some of which you can connect to a computer and use specialised weather station software to analyse the data that you collect by the weather station. Weather stations utilise different sensors to measure temperature, humidity, pressure and rain. Basically, a weather station combines a barometer, thermometer, hygrometer, anemometer, rain gauge and wind vane into one single device.
There are numerous benefits to owning a weather station. That being said, there are many reasons to buy one. Being able to predict what the weather will be like in the near future allows you to organise better for an outdoor project, such as prospecting, construction, agriculture or anything else. It can protect you against bad weather, simply by making you aware of an upcoming flood, wind chill, storm or extreme heat.
With a weather station, you can track, store, share and analyse useful data that can help you plan ahead. For instance, in agricultural settings, a weather station can help the farmer decide when they should plant, when and how much to water their plants, and avoid wind and frost damage. Being ahead of the weather gives you time to act accordingly and protect your plants.
When looking for a weather station to buy the ideal one you need to consider a couple of factors. The sensor types, update interval and accuracy can all make or break a weather station. Depending on your individual needs, the sensor types of the weather station can vary. The most basic models collect air pressure, humidity and temperature. The more advanced models collect data on rain gauge and wind speed as well.
The accuracy of the weather station mainly depends on its quality. High-quality weather stations are usually more expensive and feature instruments with greater range and resolution, which translates in greater accuracy. The update interval also varies greatly, from just a second to every few minutes. Consider the update interval of the device if you want to collect relevant data very frequently or not before buying.