This resource provides instructions on how to log atmosphere data using a Davis weather station. A weather station is setup to measure and record atmospheric measurements at 15-minute intervals and can be transferred to the GLOBE program via email. Students can view data for their school that are continuous and show variations within a day. The data collected includes wind speed and direction and pressure thereby supporting a more complete study of meteorology using GLOBE. Students pursue a more extensive set of research investigations. Educational levels: Middle school, High school

The GLOBE Program, UCAR (University Corporation for Atmospheric Research)

English

Digital Library for Earth System Education

GLOBE® 2005  Davis Weather Station Protocol - 1 Atmosphere
Learning A
ctivities
A
ppendix
W
elcom
e
Introduction
Protocols
Davis Weather Station  
Protocol
Purpose
To log atmosphere data using a Davis weather 
station 
Overview
A weather station is setup to measure and re-
cord atmospheric measurements at 15 minute 
intervals. These measurements are transferred 
to your school’s computer and then submitted 
to GLOBE via email data entry. 
Student Outcomes
Students can view data for their school that 
are continuous and show variations within a 
day. The data collected includes wind speed 
and direction and pressure thereby supporting 
a more complete study of meteorology using 
GLOBE. Students pursue a more extensive set 
of research investigations.
Science Concepts
Earth and Space Science
Weather can be described by 
quantitative measurements.
Weather changes from day to day and 
season to season.
Weather varies on local, regional, and 
global spatial scales.
Geography
The temperature of variability of a location 
affects the characterization of Earth’s 
physical geographic system.
Scientific Inquiry Abilities
Scientific inquiry abilities are gained through 
analyzing the data collected with the weather 
station. Refer to the Looking at Your Data 
sections of the protocols that correspond to 
the measurements taken with your weather 
station for guidance on performing this data 
analysis. Consult the Scientific Inquiry Abilities 
listed in the gray boxes for these protocols to 
learn about the inquiry abilities that will be 
gained.
Time
2 hours for site definition and set-up
15 minutes to use spreadsheet data entry  
to prepare and submit data to GLOBE peri-
odically
Level
Middle and Secondary
Frequency
Data reporting approximately once every 
week
Materials and Tools
Weather station with data logger
Computer capable of running weather 
station software
Calibration thermometer
Rain gauge
Preparation
Set up the weather station.
Prerequisites
None
GLOBE® 2005 Davis Weather Station Protocol - 2 Atmosphere
Automated Weather 
Stations
Using automated weather stations that record 
data can allow students to take environmental 
measurements at much shorter time intervals than 
collecting data by hand. The large volume of data 
that can be collected at uniform time intervals 
allows for the study of weather phenomena that 
can change quickly (such as wind) and so cannot 
be monitored through measurements taken with 
longer sampling periods.
The weather stations used in this protocol are 
manufactured by Davis Instruments (http://
davisnet.com). These weather stations have a 
display screen that shows current weather read-
ings, such as temperature, humidity, barometric 
pressure, wind speed and direction and rainfall, 
measured by sensors attached to the station 
either through cables, or wirelessly. The type 
of measurements taken depends on the model 
of weather station and the types of sensors 
purchased. 
Besides displaying current readings on the dis-
play screen, the weather station also records data 
over a long period of time using a data logger. 
This data logger is sold in a kit that also includes 
software that lets you download the data onto 
your computer and visualize it, and is required 
for this protocol. 
Once the data are downloaded from the weather 
station to your computer you can export them to 
a text file, ingest them to a spreadsheet program, 
and manipulate them to conform to the format 
required for GLOBE email data entry. Software is 
available for some models to export text files in 
GLOBE’s email data entry format. 
The following atmospheric data can be taken 
with this protocol and reported to GLOBE: 
average wind speed and direction over the 15-
minute sampling interval, maximum wind speed 
and direction over the sampling interval, wind 
run integrated over the 15-minute period, tem-
perature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, 
rain rate and total rainfall. Cloud, Snow, Precipi-
tation pH, Aerosol, and Ozone measurements 
must still be done following the appropriate 
other protocols. 
Measurement Logistics
1. Review background in the Atmosphere 
Chapter.
2. Setup the weather station console and 
connect to your computer according to 
manufacturer’s directions. 
3. Install your atmospheric weather sensors 
according to the Weather Station 
Atmospheric Sensors Installation Field 
Guide.
4. Define your measurement site as an 
atmosphere site with Davis Weather 
Station selected for thermometer type 
5. Log readings at 15-minute intervals and 
transfer data to your computer according 
to the directions included with your 
software.
6. When you are ready to report the data 
to GLOBE (recommended once a week) 
export the data stored in your computer 
to a text file in the format for GLOBE 
email reporting following the Logging 
and Reporting Weather Station Data Lab 
Guide
7. Paste the text in this file into the body of 
an email and send it to GLOBE following 
email data entry instructions available 
in the “Data Entry” section of the GLOBE 
Web site.
8. Engage students in looking at the data.
9. Every year recalibrate your weather 
station. 
GLOBE® 2005  Davis Weather Station Protocol - 3 Atmosphere
Learning A
ctivities
A
ppendix
W
elcom
e
Introduction
Protocols
Teacher Support
The instructions given in this protocol are specific 
to one brand of weather station. However, they 
may be adapted to other equipment that meets 
the same specifications. If you have questions or 
require assistance with adapting these instruc-
tions to other instruments, contact your Country 
Coordinator or in the US, the GLOBE Help Desk. 
The essential elements of this protocol, which 
must remain the same regardless of the equip-
ment model, are the placement of the station, the 
precision and accuracy of the sensors, and the 
sampling interval. 
When purchased, your Davis weather station is 
certified to be calibrated for one full year. After 
that there are two options for recalibration. The 
first option is to send it back to the manufacturer 
to be recalibrated for a fee (see your distributor 
for details). The second option is to recalibrate 
using the GLOBE Recalibration Procedures out-
lined in this protocol. Either option is acceptable, 
but one of the two must be completed so that 
your instrument continues to take accurate 
readings.
Before starting students on the installation of 
your weather station, review the material pro-
vided in the Site Selection and Setup Protocol 
for information on important considerations in 
selecting an area to take atmospheric measure-
ments. 
Data Recording
The GLOBE database requires weather station 
data logged at 15-minute intervals, so make sure 
that the sampling interval in your weather station 
is set to 15 minutes. Also, the read-out should 
happen on the quarter-hour (e.g., 10:00, 10:15, 
10:30, 10:45, etc.) Ensure that measurements are 
being displayed and reported in the appropriate 
units (i.e., millimeters for rain, degrees Celsius 
for temperatures, percent for relative humidity, 
meters/second for wind speed, and kilometers 
for wind run). 
The time associated with each data point re-
ported to GLOBE needs to be in Universal Time 
(UT). If you choose to have your weather station 
set to local time you will need to make sure that 
you adjust the times reported to GLOBE. 
Due to the quantity of data, weather station data 
is reported to GLOBE only via email data entry. 
Software provided by Davis may allow data to 
be exported directly into the correct GLOBE 
email data entry format (see Frequently Asked 
Questions for information on the availability of 
this software), using the “Export Records (GLOBE 
Format)” option from the Browse menu option in 
the export data pull-down menu. This software 
can automatically adjust the times to UT. If you 
have an older version of the software that does 
not have this option, export your data to a text 
file, import the text file into your spreadsheet 
program, manipulate the columns to match the 
requirements for email data entry, and cut and 
paste the resulting values into an email data 
entry message.
GLOBE Recalibration Procedures
The GLOBE recalibration procedures outlined 
in this protocol involve determining a correction 
offset for the tipping bucket and performing a 
check of the temperature sensor. The offset for 
tipping bucket is equivalent to the difference in 
the readings taken by the weather station and 
readings taken by a rain gauge, which serves as 
a calibration instrument of known accuracy. This 
correction offset helps account for drift in the read-
ings taken by the tipping bucket that can occur 
over time. Once reported to GLOBE, this offset 
will be applied automatically to all subsequent data 
you report and the adjusted values are displayed 
on the GLOBE Web site. Do not report offsets to 
GLOBE and then apply them to the data yourself 
before submitting the data to GLOBE as this will 
cause the offsets to be applied twice! 
For some of the measurements taken by the 
weather station, such as wind, there are no 
measurement protocols in GLOBE to use for 
calibration so there are no current methods 
available for their calibration. 
GLOBE® 2005 Davis Weather Station Protocol - 4 Atmosphere
The complete GLOBE weather station calibration 
consists of the following: 
• Check the temperature sensor following 
the Weather Station Temperature Sensor 
Recalibration Field Guide.
• Calibrate the tipping bucket rain gauge 
following the Weather Station Tipping 
Bucket Rain Gauge Recalibration Field 
Guide.
Helpful Hints 
• During set-up, be sure to choose the 
right value for the volume of your tipping 
bucket or all rain data will be in error.
Questions for Further Investigations
Are the patterns of weather variables over a day 
the same every day? What causes this?
Which season has the greatest range of tem-
peratures? Why? 
What are the latitudes and elevations of other 
GLOBE schools with annual precipitation and 
temperature patterns similar to yours?
Is your local environment affected more by aver-
age temperature or temperature extremes?
How do changes in wind speed and direction and 
pressure relate to changes in temperature and rela-
tive humidity and to the occurrence of rain?
 
 
GLOBE® 2005 Davis Weather Station Protocol - 5 Atmosphere
Weather Station Atmospheric 
Sensors Installation
Field Guide
Task
Install the atmospheric sensors for your weather station.
What You Need
❑  The sensors that you are going to install ❑  Manufacturer’s instructions
❑  The tools necessary to make the installation ❑  Compass 
❑  GLOBE site definition sheet 
Note: Actual installation may vary significantly depending on which sensors you are using and the 
location where you are installing them.
In the Field
1. Scout for a location(s) for the placement of your instrument shelter. If you are using an 
anemometer (to measure wind) that can be mounted separately from the rest of the sensor 
suite, consider mounting it in a different location. If the anemometer is attached to the rest of 
the sensors, then preferably mount them in a location most appropriate for the thermometer 
(step 4). If you are using wireless sensors, make sure that they are mounted close enough to 
your station console to allow for proper communication.
2. If possible, mount your sensor suite so that the temperature sensor is at a height of 1.5 
meters above the ground (or 60 cm above average maximum snow depth), preferably in a 
flat open area with a natural surface (grassy in most places). Try to avoid having buildings 
within 10 meters. 
3. If possible, mount the anemometer where it is above the height of nearby trees and 
buildings. If you mount it on top of a building, try to keep it at least 1.2 meters above the 
roofline.
4. Report your site definition data to the GLOBE Web site as an atmosphere site with Davis 
Weather Station selected for thermometer type. 
GLOBE® 2005 Davis Weather Station Protocol - 6 Atmosphere
Logging and Reporting Weather 
Station Data 
Lab Guide
Task
Log and report data collected with your weather station.
What You Need
❑ A setup and operating weather station ❑ A suitable computer with email access 
In the Field
1. Set your weather station to log data at 15 minute intervals on the quarter hour (e.g., 15:15). 
2. Download your weather station data to your computer following the instructions for 
your weather station. Note: some weather stations can be set-up to transfer these data 
automatically. 
3. Export a text file of your data. Save this file on your computer. (If your software has the 
ability to export a text file in the GLOBE email data entry format, skip to step 5). 
4. Use spreadsheet or other software to edit the exported file into the
 GLOBE email data entry format. Save this spreadsheet file on your computer.
5. Copy and paste your data in GLOBE email data entry format into the body of a
 GLOBE email data entry message.
GLOBE® 2005 Davis Weather Station Protocol - 7 Atmosphere
Weather Station Temperature 
Sensor Recalibration
Field Guide
Task
Compare the temperatures recorded by your weather station with readings from a calibration 
thermometer.
What You Need
❑ Calibration thermometer that has ❑ Weather Station Calibration Data Sheet   
 been checked following the  
 instructions in the Thermometer  
 Calibration Lab Guide 
In the Field
1. Hang the calibration thermometer in the shade within 30 cm of the temperature sensor of 
your weather station.
2. Wait three minutes and then read the temperature from the calibration thermometer as 
well as the temperature from your weather station. Wait one more minute to see if the 
calibration thermometer reading is changing. If it is, continue until it stops changing. 
If the digital display for your weather station is located well away from the calibration 
thermometer, this may require two students cooperating. Record these readings on your 
Weather Station Calibration Data Sheet.
3. Repeat step 2 four more times, waiting at least one hour between each set of readings. Try 
to space out the five sets of readings over as much of the day as possible. 
4. Report your new calibration data to the GLOBE Web site. 
GLOBE® 2005 Davis Weather Station Protocol - 8 Atmosphere
Weather Station Tipping Bucket 
Rain Gauge Calibration
Field Guide
Task
Record a rain event (of 2 cm or more) with a rain gauge and then compare the rainfall measured with 
this rain gauge to the rainfall recorded by the tipping bucket of your weather station. 
What You Need
❑  A rain gauge that meets GLOBE ❑ Weather Station Calibration Data Sheet 
 specifications 
In the Field
1. Hang the plastic rain gauge in an open area within 15 m of and at the same height as the 
tipping bucket of your weather station. Take caution to ensure that the plastic rain gauge is 
placed so that it will not interfere with, or be affected by, the weather station.
2. Wait for a rain event to occur and then take your reading for rainfall from the rain gauge, 
following the Rainfall Protocol Field Guide. If the rainfall reading is more than 2 cm, record it 
on your Weather Station Calibration Data Sheet and continue.
3. Add all the rainfall values recorded by your weather station for this rain event. Record this sum 
on your Weather Station Calibration Data Sheet. 
4. Repeat this process for two other rain events.
5. Report your calibration data to the GLOBE Web site.
GLOBE® 2005  Davis Weather Station Protocol - 9 Atmosphere
Learning A
ctivities
A
ppendix
W
elcom
e
Introduction
Protocols
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What should I do if there is frozen 
precipitation that my weather station 
registers as rain?
Frozen precipitation and melting snow can cause 
the tipping bucket of your weather station to tip, 
and may therefore register as rainfall on your 
station. The tipping bucket is calibrated exclu-
sively for rainfall so any measurements caused 
by frozen precipitation are erroneous. Please 
report any frozen precipitation in your metadata 
and if possible edit your data record to remove 
any rainfall readings that were caused by frozen 
precipitation before reporting data to GLOBE. 
2. I am using a Davis weather 
station, but my software does not 
include the option to export GLOBE 
data. What can I do?
Davis is making the option to export GLOBE data 
available in updated versions of the software for 
their weather stations. These updated versions 
are available for download from the Davis Web 
site (http://davisnet.com). You can contact Davis 
to see if a version of the software that includes 
the export GLOBE function is available for your 
model weather station.
GLOBE® 2005 Davis Weather Station Protocol - 10 Atmosphere
Atmosphere Investigation
Weather Station Calibration Data Sheet
 
School Name _________________________________ Study Site: ATM-______________________
Air Temperature Sensor Recalibration
 Reading  Date Local time Universal time  Calibration Digital   
 Number (year/month/day) ( hour:min) (hour:min) Thermometer Temperature 
     Reading (˚C) Sensor (˚C) 
 1   
 2   
 3   
 4   
 5   
Rain Gauge Recalibration
 Reading  Date Local time Universal time  Rain Gauge Digital Tipping  
 Number (year/month/day) ( hour:min) (hour:min) Reading* Bucket Total 
      (mm) Reading (mm) 
 1   
 2   
 3   
 4   
 5 
* must be greater than 20 mm for recalibration


Davis Weather Station Protocol

http://www.davisnet.com/weather/ed/globe_protocol.pdf

Davis Weather Station Protocol

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