Temperature and wind sensors must be mounted on a boom assembly to avoid interference from the station itself. The boom should extend several station heights away from the station, preferably vertically rather than horizontally. This vertically deployed configuration will allow optimal sampling of atmospheric surface layers. The most important meteorological surface measurement is atmospheric pressure which determines the large-scale mass field. Next in priority is measurement of the overhead visible opacity and scattering properties of aerosols which can be used to determine the thermal forcing of general circulation patterns, and the behavior of dust and clouds.
Infrared opacity is also a desirable measurement, but is more difficult to obtain.
Net solar and infrared flux measurements would allow studies of surface heat balance which are particularly crucial for evaluating polar processes. At the same level of priority are temperature and wind velocity. Temperature measurements would complement atmospheric opacity measurements because diurnal variations are strongly influenced by suspended dust. Temperature and wind measurements would also allow partial characterization of the lowermost atmospheric boundary layer. Although humidity measurements are desirable for water cycle studies, they are difficult to conduct in the cold martian environment.