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The Texas MesoNet Program |
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The Texas MesoNet Program |
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Texas is weather sensitive with a diverse climate, yet it has numerous data-void areas. For example, if you live in a rural area today, weather maps and five-day forecasts for nearby cities like Austin, Corpus, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock, and/or San Antonio may not provide adequate weather information to meet your needs. Consequently, you must adjust forecasted arrival of weather fronts and associated temperatures and rainfall expectations. All too often, this important information is not specific enough, but it is frequently the unknown variable critical to many weather sensitive activities. By making targeted improvements in weather and climate data availability and access we believe the quality of life and economic efficiency of Texas can be improved.
This is not meant to imply the National Weather Service (NWS) is not doing their job. In fact, NWS forecasts are getting better and better. Today, the NWS uses the advanced Doppler weather radars to provide more timely severe weather information than ever before. However, they do not have the mandate or the funds to observe local conditions everywhere, or to serve specific applications better handled at the state and local level, by state agencies, or by private consulting meteorologists or industry. The NWS serves as a willing partner with local agencies in sharing data. One dramatic success story has been the NWS's use of data from extensive quality network in Oklahoma (and elsewhere). Today, Oklahoma is the only state with a fully operational statewide mesonet system in place. The Oklahoma Mesonet is operated by the Oklahoma Climatological Survey has 114 automated sites with at least one in each of the 77 counties. The Oklahoma Mesonet has been many meteorologists' dream come true with the State's citizens the winners.
Successful installation of the Texas MesoNet system would be a great step forward by Texas to modernize weather data collection and availability. Instruments would be positioned in every county and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico to enhance weather awareness across every county. Citizens will have more accurate weather forecasts and improved severe weather and flood warnings, more effective emergency management and disaster mitigation planning, enhanced fire control, more efficient use of water resources, accurate records to quantify drought severity, better advisories for land and offshore activities, and assist electric utilities to streamline operations while enhancing customer service. In particular, for the first time every farmer and rancher will have access to reliable and comprehensive recent weather data as they conduct agriculture activities such as planting, irrigation, pesticide application, and harvesting. Other benefits of this initiative include: weather data availability in K-12 classrooms to stimulate science literacy, new information for undergraduate programs and value-added to research programs at universities, and a new data source for planning for weather sensitive industries. In short, the Texas MesoNet will benefit everyone -- individuals, agencies, commercial and industrial interests will make better decisions based on timely and accurate environmental information.
Thanks to our friends at theTexas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), Texas A&M University, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), and Texas Tech University we have been able to continue our efforts to inform stakeholders and develop partnerships with other academic institutions, state agencies, and the private sector. The intent of this effort is to improve today's deficient weather data collection system and make this valuable information readily available to the capable citizens of Texas!
Texas A&M University began this initiative in early 1994. The vision for the MesoNet goes to many that attended the early meetings. Two special individuals deserve mention -- Ken Crawford and Dan White.
Dr. Ken Crawford, Director of the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, is a pioneer who understood how the citizens of Oklahoma would benefit from a dense network of weather stations, at least one per county, if the data were available in real time, and accessible easily by anyone. Ken made the Oklahoma Mesonet a reality and has been an ardent supporter of the Texas MesoNet Program.
Dan White, Atmospheric Scientist with TNRCC's Office of Air Quality and a career U.S. Air Force Meteorologist. Dan recognized early air quality information across Texas was insufficient for TNRCC to do the best job possible and better environmental information was needed. Knowing the benefits a statewide MesoNet has for citizens, he focused his energy to meet the needs of all Texans, believing that "if Oklahoma can do it, Texas can do it better!"
April 1997: Weather Monitoring Proposal presented to the Public Utility Commission (PUC). The commissioners agreed the project is worthwhile.
June 1997: Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University agree to cooperate to make a statewide MesoNet a reality.
October 1997: TNRCC hosts a meeting for Utilities to review the MesoNet Plan.
April 1998: Radian International hosts a MesoNet workshop to demonstrate the critical need for additional environmental monitoring across Texas to improve severe weather forecasting.
May-June 1998: Significant forecast improvements are acknowledged as possible as a direct result on an in-place MesoNet. Analysis offered as to how improved weather information might be leveraged by the electric utility industry to reduce the impact of weather events on day-to-day operations.
August 1998: LCRA submits Petition 19809 to the Texas PUC requesting capital and operating costs of the system be included in electric transmission rates -- for just pennies a month, moderized automated weather data collection across Texas could be a reality.
August 1998: Texas Tech University receives word that funding available for a 28-county network around Lubbock -- the West Texas Network.
September 1998: County Judges' and Commissioners' Association endorse the MesoNet System.
November 1998: MesoNet inputs reviewed. Utilities (HL&P, CSW, TU) filed comments stating they do not oppose the MesoNet, but oppose funding the system via electric transmission rates.
February 1999: The Public Utility Commission's reviews the MesoNet petition. Vote ends in a statemate.
March 1999: The Cattleman Magazine endorses the MesoNet System (this prompted a number of ranchers to offer sites on their property for future MesoNet stations).
March 1999: Senator Jeff Wentworth (Rep, San Antonio) introduced a MesoNet amendment to Senate Bill 7. Amendment is tabled.
January 2000: MesoNet update to the LCRA Board of Directors. Discussions centered on the importance of the MesoNet System to Texas and the role of LCRA to the project's successful implementation.
Summer 2000: LCRA assesses refiling the MesoNet petition with the PUC and decides to seek federal assistance for a "Heart of Texas" project across Central Texas... LCRA remains the project's champion.
October 2000: MesoNet proposal taken to Washington DC to U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. Senator Hutchison's office very supportive of the project if Texas Stakeholders are serious about supporting the initiative.
November 2000: Texas A&M University submits the MesoNet as a congressional initiative.
December 2000: Texas Department of Agriculture endorses the Texas MesoNet project (December 12, 2000)... The Governor's Division of Emergency Management agrees to endorse the project (December 7, 2000).
January 2001: Texas Farm Bureau endorses the project (January 16, 2001)... Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission endorses (January 26, 2001) and agrees to "in-kind" assistance using their communications network.
February 2001: National Weather Service, Southern Region Headquarters endorses the project (February 12, 2001). New stakeholders contacted: Texas Department of Transportation, the Gulf of Mexico Program (presently assessing what the project will mean to Coastal and Offshore activities), and the County Judges & Commissioners Association.
Recent Milestones:
Please read our Disclaimer.
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