DOI: 10.5683/sp3/b43409
title: McMaster Weather Station (MUWS) Data

description: Introduction McMaster Weather Station is operated by the Hydrometeorology and Climatology Lab in the School of Geography and Earth Sciences,  McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It is being supervised by Dr. Altaf Arain, Professor in the School.  The primary purpose of this weather station is to support undergraduate and graduate teaching and serve the campus and  surrounding community in west Hamilton.  The station was established in October 2007 and a number of meteorological
variables are being measured. Those using data are  encouraged to check sensor details.   Note: A large open space free of surrounding obstacles was not available at McMaster University campus to install this weather station.  General Science Building roof top was the most appropriate location, available.  ================================================================ * Station location:  McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada. Latitude: 43°15'
42.93" N Longitude: 79° 55' 11.86" W Ground elevation: 90 m above sea level Roof surface elevation: 114 m above sea level  ================================================================ * Sensor descriptions and heights:  1. Wind sensor at 7m above the roof surface - Wind speed and wind direction are measured using R.M. Young Wind Monitor, model 05103. The wind speed sensor is a helicoid-shaped,  four-blade propeller-type, anemometer, with fuselage and tail wind vane. (http://ww
w.campbellsci.com/05103-l)  2. Radiation sensor at 2m above the roof surface - Measured using four-sensor net radiometer, manufactured by the Kipp and Zonen, model CNR1. The radiometer measures the energy  balance between incoming short-wave (CM3 sensor) and long-wave (CG3 sensor) radiation versus surface reflected shortwave and outgoing longwave radiation.  The CNR1 also includes a sensor to measure the radiometer's internal temperature and a heater that is used to prevent condensation. (
http://www.kippzonen.com/Product/33/CNR-1)  3. Air temperature and humidity sensors at 2 m above the roof surface - Air temperature and relative humidity are measured using Vaisala RH and Temperature Probe, model HMP45C. Probe is covered with a radiation shield.  The probe uses a capacitive polymer H chip to measure RH and a PRT to measure temperature. (http://www.campbellsci.com/hmp45c-l)  4. Barometer at 1.5 m above the roof surface - Atmospheric pressure is measured by R.M. Young Baro
metric Pressure Sensor, model 61205.  5. Rain gauge at 1 m above the roof surface - Precipitation is measured by a R.M. Young Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge, model 52202, which meets the specifications of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).  It is heated for operation in cold temperatures. (http://www.campbellsci.ca/52202)  Data File Description: - Data are available as comma-separated, ASCII-encoded files, produced separately for each year. Three files are created for each year, wh
ich reflect the time step of measurements: 1. 15-minute files (e.g. MCM_WX_Met_Stn_Met2_2010.csv) are time series of variables, calculated by the data logging software as the average (or sum) value for all 5-second sample measurements within that period. The values reported represent the mean for the preceding 15 minutes.  2*. Hourly files (e.g. MCM_WX_Met_Stn_Met2_2010_Hourly.csv) are aggregated at hourly time steps from the 15-minute files. 3*. Daily files (e.g. MCM_WX_Met_Stn_Met2_2010_
Daily.csv) are aggregated at daily time steps from the 15-minute files.
* Note that some variables (e.g. Albedo) are not well-represented by the hourly and daily aggregation. Therefore, it is recommended for the 15-minute files to be  used as the bases for further analyses  ================================================================ * Descriptions of Variables  Year (EST)  JulianDay (EST) - Day of year (1-365 or 366) End_Time (HrMn_EST) -ending Hour and Minute of samples used to make average Month (EST) Day (EST) CM3_DownSW_Avg (W/m2) - Mean dow
n-welling shortwave radiation CM3_DownSW_Max (W/m2) - Maximum down-welling shortwave radiation CM3_DownSW_Min (W/m2) - Minimum down-welling shortwave radiation CM3_UpSW_Avg (W/m2) - Mean up-welling shortwave radiation CM3_UpSW_Max (W/m2) - Maximum up-welling shortwave radiation CM3_UpSW_Min (W/m2) - Minimum up-welling shortwave radiation CNR1_DownLW_Avg (W/m2) - Mean down-welling longwave radiation CNR1_UpLW_Avg (W/m2) - Mean up-welling longwave radiation CNR1_Temp_Avg (degC) - M
ean CNR1 correction temperature (not air temperature) CNR1_NetRad_SW_Avg (W/m2) - Mean net shortwave radiation CNR1_NetRad_LW_Avg (W/m2) - Mean net longwave radiation Albedo_Avg (n/a) - Mean albedo CNR1_DownSW_Avg (W/m2) - Mean down-welling shortwave radiation CNR1_UpSW_Avg (W/m2) - Mean up-welling shortwave radiation CNR1_NetRad_Avg (W/m2) - Mean net radiation PanelTemp_Avg (degC) - Mean datalogger panel temperature (not air temperature) HMP45C_AirTemp_Avg (degC) - Mean air te
mperature HMP45C_AirTemp_Max (degC) - Maximum air temperature HMP45C_AirTemp_Min (degC) - Minimum air temperature WindChill_Avg (degC) - Mean wind chill temperature HMP45C_RelHum_Avg (%) - Mean relative humidity HMP45C_RelHum_Max (%) - Maximum relative humidity HMP45C_RelHum_Min (%) - Minimum relative humidity DewPoint_Avg (degC) - Mean Dewpoint temperature VapPres_Avg (kPa) - Mean vapour pressure SatVapPres_Avg (kPa) - Mean saturation vapour pressure Humidex_Avg (degC
) - Mean humidex WindSpd_m/s_Avg (m/s) - Mean wind speed WindDir_Avg (deg) - Mean wind direction WindDir_Std_Avg (deg) - Mean wind direction WindSpd_k/h_Avg (k/h) - Mean wind speed WindDir2_Avg (deg) - Mean wind direction WindDir_Std2_Avg (deg) - Mean wind direction WindSpd_k/h_Max (k/h) - Maximum wind speed WindDir_WindSpd_Max (deg) - Wind direction at maximum wind speed  WindSpd_k/h_Min (k/h) - Minimum wind speed WindDir_WindSpd_Min (deg) - Wind direction at mini
mum wind speed  Pressure_Raw_Avg (kPa) - Mean barometric pressure (uncorrected) Pressure (kPa) - Mean barometric pressure (corrected) Pressure_Max (kPa) - Maximum barometric pressure Pressure_Min (kPa) - Minimum barometric pressure Precipitation_Sum (mm) - Summed precipitation CertificationCode (n/a) -  RevisionDate (YYYYMMDD) - Last date of update