Weather & Climate

Automated Weather Stations (AWS) & Meteorologic Instruments

Case Study » Townsville, Australia: Buoy-Based Weather Station

Project Summary

Application Type:
Buoy-based meteorological and hydrological monitoring

Location:
Ross River Dam near Townsville, Australia

Products Used:
CR10X

Contracting Agencies:
New South Wales Department of Land & Water Conservation

Measured Parameters:
Wind speed and direction, humidity, air temperature, water temperature at multiple depths, solar radiation, rainfall

A one-in-200 year flood event was recorded by a buoy-based monitoring station at the Ross River Dam near Townsville, Australia. The automatic weather station had been installed through the New South Wales (NSW) Dept. of Land & Water Conservation to monitor evaporation rates and water temperature of the dam. When Cyclone Sid arrived on January 10th, 1998, the station endured buffeting by wind and torrential rain for several hours to record the event. In one night more than 650 mm (25.6 in.) of rain fell on the region. Water level of the dam rose from 72% capacity to 2.5 m (8.2 ft) over the spillway wall in little more than a day.