Page 15 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2023 - Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN AND

TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITIES

WELCOME MILESTONE

150th Mesonet Station

he West Texas Mesonet added best possible weather information forecasts and provide us with real-time
the Lubbock Christian University to researchers, forecasters, and data during life-threatening weather
Tstation more than 20 years after individuals in the agriculture industry. conditions so we can more accurately
its first site was installed. warn the public in a timelier manner.”
“We’ve survived limited funding
“Lubbock Christian University is and limited staff through building As both Weaver and Schroeder pointed
thrilled to have the opportunity to partnerships in every phase of this out, weather intel has become an
partner with Texas Tech and the project,” said NWI senior director essential part of life on the South Plains
National Wind Institute to serve the John Schroeder. “Those partnerships by helping residents and industry
people of Lubbock with this 150th are exceedingly valuable to continued leaders to better respond to ever-
weather monitoring station,” said Scott growth and maintenance of the changing weather conditions.
McDowell, President of LCU. “West network.”
Texas people are problem solvers by “The network has been woven into the
nature, and we solve more problems The mesonet sites monitor 29 different fabric of life in West Texas,” Schroeder
when we collaborate than when we try parameters to aid in the evaluation said. “It impacts energy, transportation,
to go it alone—the mesonet network is of weather conditions, such as emergency management, research and
proof positive of that fact. temperature, wind, relative humidity, much more. It's probably one of the
rainfall, soil temperature, soil moisture, biggest community service projects we
A joint venture in 1999 between solar radiation, barometric pressure, have at Texas Tech.”
the Texas Department of Economic and more.
Development and Texas Tech More stations have been added
University’s National Wind Institute Thanks to data provided by the around the region since the opening
(NWI) created the West Texas Mesonet mesonet stations, meteorologists, like of the station on the LCU campus. The
(WTM), and almost a quarter century those at the National Weather Service 154th station was recently added near
after installing the first weather (NWS), can more accurately develop the town of Matador, the site of the
monitoring site, NWI, in conjunction forecasts and better inform the public. devastating tornado in June 2023. Each
with Lubbock Christian University mesonet site costs close to $25,000 to
(LCU), has station 150 up and running. “The word 'gamechanger' is probably install, which also includes various
overused, but that's what the WTM recurring fees for maintenance and
The new station is located on the has been to weather operations in West communications.
Lubbock Christian University campus Texas—a gamechanger,” said Justin
near Frankford Avenue and 27th Street, Weaver, instructor in Atmospheric When it comes to serving the citizens
the site of LCU’s cross country track, Science and meteorologist-in-charge at of West Texas, Texas Tech and
which was formerly the LCU golf NWS. “With the WTM, we now have LCU are willing partners. When
course. numerous stations 30 miles or less individuals work together, more can
apart, reporting weather parameters be accomplished. When large entities
Just two years ago, the WTM installed every minute. These high quality, like businesses and universities work
station 135 at the South Plains Food timely observations allow the NWS to together, we all benefit.
Bank. Now, another milestone is accurately diagnose the atmosphere
reached in the quest to provide the in order to produce higher-quality

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