• It has been recognized for some time that the inadequate spatial and temporal resolution of weather related data limits our ability to provide timely information to the many users around the State
• Our first initiative to achieve our common goal of a statewide network is across the counties from the Southern High Plains to Central Texas to bring the people of the region substantial economic and quality of life benefits
  • automated with a real-time data collection and dissemination capability
  • data will be updated hourly and be readily available via both universities' home pages
  • it will provide near instant access to current weather information for citizens, schools, agencies, and industry
• Once completed, people of the region can expect more accurate weather forecasts and improved severe weather and flood warnings, more effective emergency management, enhanced fire control, more efficient use of water resources, accurate records to quantify drought severity, better travel advisories, and reduced electric and gas utilities along with better customer service
  • In particular, for the first time every farmer and rancher will have access to reliable and comprehensive recent weather data as they conduct agriculture activities such as planting, irrigation, pesticide application, and harvesting
  • Other benefits of this initiative include: weather data availability in K-12 classrooms to stimulate science literacy, new information for undergraduate programs and value-added to research programs at universities, and a new data source for planning for weather sensitive industries

With this agreement Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University will establish a partnership as a first step to bring to reality a statewide network of both surface weather stations and lower atmosphere profilers. Each university has pledged towards a proof-of-concept project to collect and make available existing data from reliable weather stations not routinely available.