Mesonet

Depending upon the phenomena meant to be observed, mesonet stations use a spatial spacing of 1 to 40 kilometres (0.6 to 20 mi)[6] and report conditions every 1 to 15 minutes.

Micronets (see microscale and storm scale), such as in metropolitan areas such as Oklahoma City,[7] St. Louis, and Birmingham UK, are yet denser in spatial and sometimes temporal resolution.

[8] Thunderstorms and other atmospheric convection, squall lines, drylines,[9] sea and land breezes, mountain breeze and valley breezes, mountain waves, mesolows and mesohighs, wake lows, mesoscale convective vortices (MCVs), tropical cyclone and extratropical cyclone rainbands, macrobursts, gust fronts and outflow boundaries, heat bursts, urban heat islands (UHIs), and other mesoscale phenomena, as well as topographical features, can cause weather and climate conditions in a localized area to be significantly different from that dictated by the ambient large-scale conditions.

The long-term observing networks (ASOS, AWOS, COOP), however, are too sparse and report too infrequently for mesoscale research and forecasting.

Mesonet data is directly used by humans for decision making, but also boosts the skill of numerical weather prediction (NWP) and is especially beneficial for short-range mesoscale models.

In addition to meteorology and climatology users, hydrologists, foresters, wildland firefighters, transportation departments, energy producers and distributors, other utility interests, and agricultural entities are prominent in their need for fine scale weather information.

Environmental, outdoor recreational, emergency management and public safety, military, and insurance interests also are heavy users of mesonet information.

For instance, this is especially true of citizen science and crowdsourced data systems, such as the stations built for WeatherBug's network, many of which are located on school buildings.

[14] Whether the mesonet is temporary or semi-permanent, each weather station is typically independent, drawing power from a battery and solar panels.

Advancements in computer technology and wireless communications in recent decades made possible the collection of mesonet data in real-time.

In addition to operational work, and weather, climate, and environmental research, mesonet and micronet data are often important in forensic meteorology.

Data were recorded continuously by an inked stylus that pivoted about a point onto a rotating drum covered by a sheath of graphed paper called a trace chart, much like a traditional seismograph station.

In time, universities and other quasi-public entities began implementing permanent mesonets for a wide variety of uses, such as agricultural or maritime interests.

Some of these privately implemented systems are permanent and at fixed locations, but many also service specific users and campaigns/events so may be installed for limited periods, and may also be mobile.