Nearly all of the Earth’s biological activity occurs in the lowest part of the atmosphere. Since the meteorological conditions in this layer affect the chemical and biological processes taking place on the earth’s surface, monitoring these conditions is important for environmental research. It is a major ecosystem driver, affecting all other ecosystem indicators in the SFAN conceptual model. Though our ability to “manage” weather and climate is limited (if not non-existent), it is an essential indicator for the long-term monitoring plan because its affects are short-term and long-term. An understanding of long-term climate trends and weather cycles is critical to understanding ecosystem processes and function.

Measurements of temperature and precipitation will provide information on the primary driver of an ecosystem that in turn affects all other components being monitored within the program. Measurements of wind speed, humidity, dew point, fog drip, barometric pressure, and soil temperature are standard measurements that provide information on the localized climate.

Weather data are useful for a variety of research projects including vegetation studies, avian monitoring, fire ecology, as well as management issues such as building specifications, aviation, and safety. Data will also be linked to analysis of virtually all other vital signs monitored by the San Francisco Bay Area Network