Weather Station Installation in Aranayaka

Weather Station Installation in Aranayaka

       April 12, 2019

Abstract

Staff members of TC went on a field visit to Aranayaka on April 12th 2019 for the purpose of installing Ambient Weather Station (AWS) W2092 and maintenance work on existing weather station W2095. The installation and maintenance of the instruments were successful.

Introduction

As planned we went on a field visit to Aranayaka on April 12th 2019. We took a Kandy to Colombo bus from Kandy Goods Shed bus stop at 6.30 a.m. and arrived in Mawanella Town at 8.00 a.m.

After having breakfast at a restaurant (Seetha) in Mawanella Town, we traveled to Aranayaka by a Mawanella -Aranayaka bus and arrived at 9.00 a.m in Aranayaka. We went into a local hardware store to purchase materials needed: plywood, paint, paint brush and multi plug. We were able to get the materials we were looking for, but had to choose an alternative for plywood since it was expensive. As per Piushani Ellegala’s suggestion we purchased PVC ceiling sheet.

We traveled to Lanka Transformers Private Limited (LTL) Station by a three-wheeler and arrived there at 9.45 a.m. We were greeted by the technical officer, Mr. Ashiq and he provided us with the required space for us to start our work. We observed the device and it was not indicating the outdoor readings at that moment. We examined the pole used to mount the instrument and we checked the premises of the LTL station for the best place to mount the AWS W2902 to get parallel measurements with that of the AWS W2095.

After talking with Mr. Ashiq and LTL labourer, we decided to mount the AWS W2902 on the roof of the main building, at the same level as the other instrument. We prepared the mounting pole (diameter – 2 inch) and covered one side of the PVC ceiling sheet with insulation shield and then we arranged a set up to minimize the heating from the roof with a barrier. We applied a plastic shields in between the sensors and the roof. The plastic shield (PVC ceiling sheet – 2*2ft.) consists of heat reflective aluminum foil in one side which can reflect the roof heat and the other side consists of dark green such that heat can be absorbed.

Figure 1: PVC ceiling sheet and insulation shield that was used to control the heat in the roof

The AWS was mounted after double checking the direction and the device was kept straight.

Figure 2: Mounted ambient weather station W2902
Figure 3: Mounted Ambient weather station W2905

After setting the instrument, we set up the alignments by making the level right and setting to North direction. Then came to the first instrument at the other edge of the roof (WS 2095) and changed batteries and did the same thing to reduce roof heat and checked the alignments same as before.  After finishing all the work on the roof, Wi-Fi configuration was done for the new instrument (WS 2902A) and registered it on Ambient Weather site.

While doing configuration we downloaded all the data stored in the other instrument and changed batteries. Then the outside readings were indicated.

Collected Data 

Instrument  

Duration  

Ambient Weather Station (WS 2095) 

29th April, 2018 to 11th – April, 2019 

Next steps  

  1. Need to analysis the variation of parameters of downloaded data from WS 2095 instrument. Need to compare the variation of parameters between two weather stations after a period of  one month.