Empowering NYC with a Network of Weather Stations

A few weeks ago, I installed the 21st weather station on the ground in New York City to measure temperature, rainfall, humidity, and soil moisture. Given the challenge of finding safe and open spaces in a crowded city, we were able to find space and installed the network of weather stations in public schools, community colleges, botanical gardens, and NY City Housing Authority (NYCHA) real estates to create a strong network of citizen science and community engagement across the city. There is a demand for more weather stations in schools, and we are currently seeking to support this endeavor. Any suggestions are welcome.

The primary objective of these weather stations is to serve as an environmental lab for K-12 students and educators, connecting their lessons with real-world environmental problems beyond the classroom setting. The data produced by these stations is available to the public, agencies, and researchers through open access servers located at the CUNY CREST Institute in the City College of New York. The data collected is used to validate satellite data products, develop urban flash flood guidance, heat wave and energy demand predictions, and assist city officials and emergency managers in making informed decisions during extreme weather events.