Fire Weather
Off-the-shelf Fire Weather Stations or Custom Instrumentation
Campbell Scientific has manufactured thousands of automated weather stations. Our weather stations are known
for their versatility and reliability, even in harsh environments. These features make them ideal for fire
weather monitoring. Several configurations of our fire weather stations are available, but all of our fire
weather stations monitor, record, and transmit meteorological data relevant to fire danger prediction. Our
measurement instrumentation is also used for fire research.
Sensors used in Fire Weather Stations
Our fire weather stations are equipped with a suite of high quality meteorological sensors
for monitoring wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, air temperature, and relative humidity. Sensors to
measure fuel moisture, fuel temperature, soil water content, soil temperature, solar radiation can also be added
to a fire weather station.
Telemetry
Data can be transmitted over a variety of telecommunication options including
satellite, telephone, cell phone, and radio. In the United States, GOES1 satellite telemetered data can be
collected via NIFC2 and stored to WIMS3 or collected directly from NESDIS4 using Remsoft's WeatherPro and
NESDIS module. NFDRS5 indices are calculated using WIMS or WeatherPro. Our High Data Rate GOES transmitter,
the TX312, features transmission rates of 1200, 300, and 100 bps.
1Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite
2National Interagency Fire Center
3Weather Information Management System (database)
4National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
5National Fire Danger Rating System
Campbell Scientific equipment can interface to many sensors with different output types. Our
dataloggers can also measure large numbers of sensors. The versatility of the
dataloggers allow them to serve more than one purpose. Our equipment has been used for fire research during
prescribed burns, and monitored conditions near fire lines. A suitably sited fire weather station could also
be used for avalanche forecasting in the winter or serve as a year-round hydrological monitoring station with
the addition of a water depth sensor.
Fire Weather Station Benefits
- Sensors such as wind speed, wind direction, air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, fuel
temperature and fuel moisture are commonly used in our systems.
- Data transfer options include: phone, cellphone, GOES satellite telemetry, and radio. You can also call
the fire weather station via a hand-held radio and receive a verbal report of site conditions.
- Our weather stations have proven reliability in harsh environments worldwide.
- Fire weather stations can do double duty:
ET calculation, hydrologic monitoring, avalanche forecasting, and more.
- Stations provide on-board mathematical and statistical processing.
- Stations are compatible with Remsoft's WeatherPro software.
- Maintenance contracts are available.
Quick Deployment Weather Station
Because of their light weight and quick setup, these pre-configured stations are ideal for prescribed burns
or other temporary installations. Setup of our quick deployment stations can occur in as little as 15 minutes
without tools. The station (at right) fits neatly into one case for transporting.
Permanent Weather Stations
Campbell Scientific provides a wide selection of sensors and
data transfer peripherals for configuring a custom
station that matches the exact requirements of your application. Our fire weather stations feature simplified
installation and operation with a standard suite of sensors, a prewired datalogger enclosure, color-coded sensor
connectors, and a fixed program in the datalogger. Custom weather stations are configured from a wider selection
of sensors and data transfer peripherals, allowing for greater flexibility in matching an application's exact
requirements. Permanent fire weather stations typically use 20-foot instrumentation towers. 10- and 30-foot
instrumentation towers and 6-, 10-, 15-, and 20-foot tripods are also available.
Dataloggers for Fire Weather Stations
Our measurement systems are based around programmable dataloggers that measure the sensors, then process, store,
and transmit the data. We offer a family of rugged, reliable dataloggers, but the
CR1000 is usually suitable for
fire weather applications. Our dataloggers have programmable execution intervals, wide operating temperature ranges,
on-board instructions, and ample input channels for commonly used sensors. Our dataloggers interface directly to
most sensors, eliminating external signal conditioning.
Data are typically viewed and stored in the units of your choice (e.g., wind speed in mph, m/s, knots). Measurement
rates and data recording intervals are independently programmable, allowing calculation of 15-minute, hourly, and
daily data values from 1-minute or 1-second measurements, for example. Conditional outputs, such as rainfall intensity
and wind gusts, can also be recorded. The program can be modified at any time to accommodate different sensor
configurations or new data processing requirements. If needed, channel capacity can be expanded using multiplexers,
including a model designed specifically for thermocouples.
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Phone: (780) 454 2505