Mount Washington Observatory’s Weather Equipment Installed on Aconcagua
Wind speed measuring equipment from Mount Washington Observatory has been installed on Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, enhancing weather monitoring efforts. Developed for high-altitude conditions, this technology will aid in understanding regional water cycles amid ongoing drought since 2010. The initiative underlines the importance of environmental data for resource management.
Weather monitoring equipment developed at the Mount Washington Observatory has been installed on Mount Aconcagua, the tallest peak in the Americas. In February, a team of scientists and climbers reached the summit to deploy this equipment, which features a wind speed sensor designed by Mount Washington’s technology team. The equipment will monitor weather conditions on the mountain.
Keith Garrett, the director of the observatory’s technology, noted that the unit was initially designed for a one-year autonomous operation on Mount Everest. After a successful year at Camp Four, it was refurbished and sent to Argentina. The device, shaped like a small cylinder, is engineered to endure icy and windy environments while retaining energy efficiency.
Garrett emphasized the challenge of minimizing the components necessary for effective deployment in remote areas without reliable power sources. The Mount Washington environment served as ideal training for the expedition, with leaders practicing setup techniques in extreme conditions. Garrett remarked on Mount Washington’s extreme weather characteristics, which are unparalleled in many other global locations.
The newly installed equipment will enhance weather forecasting and contribute invaluable data for scientists studying the water cycle in the central Andes, overseen by Project Wayra. This area has experienced significant drought conditions since 2010, and expedition leader Baker Perry highlighted the project’s importance in understanding water resource availability amidst diminishing glacier storage and snowpack.
The Aconcagua station will operate in conjunction with a network of other weather stations throughout the Argentinian Andes, providing a collaborative framework to address pressing climatological challenges in the region.
In summary, the installation of advanced weather equipment from Mount Washington Observatory on Mount Aconcagua marks a significant development in environmental monitoring. This effort aims to bolster research regarding the water cycle in the Andes amid persistent drought conditions, benefiting both researchers and policymakers. Collaborative data from this and other stations will aid in addressing crucial water resource issues.
Original Source: www.nhpr.org
