OAK LAKE CLIMATE & WEATHER DATA

Manual Measurements

Weather and climate data have been collected at Oak Lake Field Station for more than 10 years. Oak Lake Field Station became an official National Cooperative Observer (NCO) of the National Weather Service (NWS) in June of 1994. Max/min temperatures and precipitation data are recorded each morning from these instruments by the station caretaker. These data are submitted to the NWS each morning and are maintained on EXCEL spreadsheet files for use by station instructors and research staff. NCO data are available by clicking on the link below.

NWS Temperature & Precipitation Equipment

Installed & Operational June 1994

Period of Record: June 1994 - Present

Lat – 44^o 30.296’

Lon – 96^o 31.943’

National Cooperative Observer Data

Wind Tower Measurements

The University of North Dakota Wind Energy Institute installed a wind monitoring tower at Oak Lake Field Station in June 1998. A network of similar towers throughout the Midwest provides data to study the feasibility of wind power production. Anemometers and thermistor thermometers are installed at 10m, 30m and 40m above the surface. This instrumentation contributes measurements of wind direction, wind speed and air temperature every 10 minutes. Data are logged and downloaded through cell phone connection at regular intervals. Data downloads are maintained in yearly spreadsheets. All data collected throughout a calendar year are separated into 3 month periods on separate sheets within each yearly EXCEL spreadsheet. The header at the top of each sheet provides column heading information and should not be deleted. Yearly EXCEL files are accessible below.

Oak Lake Field Station Wind Tower

Installed & Operational June 1998

Period of Record: June 1998 - Present

Lat – 44^o 30.443’

Lon – 96^o 31.805’

Automated Monitoring

A Campbell Scientific Weather Instrumentation cluster was installed at Oak Lake Field Station in July 2005. This instrument cluster was loaned to the station by Dr. Carol Johnston (SDSU Biocomplexity Studies Program). Monitoring instruments on the cluster provide measurement of air temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction and solar radiation. Wind speed is measured every 10 seconds and averaged over 5 minute periods. Rainfall amounts represent 5 minute totals. All other readings from this instrument cluster are taken every 5 minutes throughout the day. Data are logged at regular intervals and transmitted to the SDSU campus network through a combined radio frequency and high speed wireless internet connection. Data provided by the cluster are available below in three formats (5 minute, hourly and daily).

Campbell Scientific Instrumentation Cluster

Installed & Operational June 2005

Period of Record: June 2005 - Present

Lat – 44^o 30.442’

Lon – 96^o 31.818’

5 – Minute Data

Hourly – Data

Daily - Data

Other Weather & Climate Links:

SDSU Climate & Weather Page

High Plains Regional Climate Center

National Climatic Data Center

For information on Oak Lake Field Station monitoring data contact:

Dr. Nels H. Troelstrup, Jr., Ph.D.

Director – Oak Lake Field Station

(605) 688-5503

mailto:Nels.Troelstrup@sdstate.edu

This web site was constructed and is maintained by the field station director. Materials drawn from this web site should be properly cited using the citation listed below:

Troelstrup, N.H., Jr. 2005. Oak Lake Field Station web site. 10-Mar-2005. http://www.biomicro.sdstate.edu/oaklake/index.htm.