The Oklahoma Mesonet

The Oklahoma Mesonet is a world-class network of environmental monitoring stations in every county of Oklahoma that measures atmospheric and soil conditions 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The network was designed and implemented by scientists and engineers at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. In the early 1980s, Oklahoma State University agricultural scientists sought to upgrade weather instruments at their research sites to expand the use of weather data in agriculture, while University of Oklahoma meteorologists were helping plan and implement a flood warning system for Tulsa. The two universities joined forces in 1987 after recognizing that one system would help both institutions achieve their missions, and the network was commissioned in 1994. Since then, the Oklahoma Mesonet has collected billions of weather and soil measurements and produced millions of decision-making products for local, state, and federal agencies, public safety officials, growers, ranchers, students, researchers, electric utilities, weather forecasters, and private citizens. It has received numerous awards, including national recognition from the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association, and Harvard University named it one of the most innovative programs in American government. The Oklahoma Mesonet is primarily supported by the State of Oklahoma, with additional support from federal partnerships, user fees, grants, and contracts through the collaboration of the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.

Norman, Oklahoma · United States