Particular Problems of Instrument Design and Overall Development of Systems for Agricultural and Climatological Stations

Abstract

The increasing use of climatological information demands reliable and accurate observations. Observational errors and labor requirements can be reduced through automation of agricultural and climatological stations. The biggest advantage is that data can be obtained in a form compatible with rapid and efficient machine computations.

Because the majority of meteorological sensors available have or can be constructed to have voltage or pulse outputs, station designs should include means to measure, digitize and record voltage values, and to accumulate, digitize and record contact closures or pulses. Although readout in physical units is desirable to monitor meteorological parameters, it is not necessary if the data are to be machine processed. Furthermore, non-correctable errors may be introduced by scaling signals into physical units and the ability to utilize better sensors as they are developed may not be realized. Versatile designs should include the capability to record additional parameters for special short duration studies.