Instrumentation

Research-grade observing systems that support forecasting labs, student training, and atmospheric science field campaigns.

Field and Laboratory Systems

Our program is equipped with a robust suite of meteorological instruments that support both research and education. At the center of our observing capabilities is a fully functional weather tower built with Campbell Scientific instrumentation that samples surface variables every 5 seconds to provide high-resolution atmospheric data.

We also maintain multiple electric field mills deployed across the United States, including sites in Wallops Island, Virginia; Barrow, Alaska; and Grand Forks, North Dakota, to support studies in atmospheric electricity and lightning. Airborne field mills are used in specialized observing missions to obtain higher-rate measurements of the global electric circuit in both storm and fair-weather conditions.

Additional systems include a vertically pointing Micro Rain Radar (MRR-Pro), two optical disdrometers, and a NASA-provided tipping bucket rain gauge. Together, these instruments provide rich datasets for hands-on student learning and innovative weather research.

Use the tabs to explore each instrument, view photos, and access live or archived data where available.

TAMU-CC Weather Tower

Our campus weather tower provides continuous surface observations including temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, precipitation, and atmospheric pressure. Built with Campbell Scientific instrumentation, the tower has been collecting high-resolution data since 2016 with a sampling interval of every 5 seconds.

Data from the tower supports forecasting labs, student projects, and ongoing research.

Electric Field Mills

We operate two types of electric field mills, the CS110 and E100 aircraft field mills, to measure atmospheric electric fields. With more than 10 sensors in total, our network includes fixed deployments in Corpus Christi, Texas; Wallops Island, Virginia; Barrow, Alaska; and Grand Forks, North Dakota, along with rotating deployments across the United States and polar regions.

These instruments play a key role in lightning research, fair-weather electric field studies, and investigations into the global electric circuit.

MRR Pro Radar

The Micro Rain Radar, MRR-Pro, is a vertically pointing radar located on campus at Science Lab 1. Operating at K-band (24 GHz), the MRR observes precipitation at varying altitudes and profiles key vertical precipitation properties including radar reflectivity, Doppler velocity, and derived rain rate.

Disdrometers

Our program operates two optical disdrometers that use a laser to measure the size and fall velocity of individual raindrops as they pass through the sensing area. These instruments provide detailed drop size distribution data including drop count, diameter, and velocity.

One disdrometer is paired with a NASA-provided tipping bucket rain gauge, allowing direct comparison between optical and volume-based precipitation measurements. The sensors can detect raindrops as small as 0.2 mm in diameter, making them valuable for high-resolution rainfall studies.

NASA Rain Gauge

The NASA tipping bucket rain gauge records accumulated rainfall by counting bucket tips, with each tip representing a fixed volume of precipitation. These gauges are part of a NASA initiative that provides qualifying institutions with instrumentation for collecting surface-based atmospheric measurements.

When paired with an optical disdrometer, this setup allows cross-validation between volume-based and drop-based rainfall measurements and strengthens precipitation analysis.