Metadata

Meteorology

In partnership with Environment Canada, IISD-ELA operates an environmental monitoring station that collects year-round climate data.

Meteorology is an important tool in helping IISD-ELA researchers answer questions about lake processes such as water temperatures and wind-mixing of surface layers. We have a fully operational meteorological sampling station that has been continuously operated since June 26, 1969. The advantage of collecting our own climate data is that we can monitor local weather conditions that directly affect our lakes.

The following parameters are monitored at the meteorological site:

  1. Minimum and maximum daily temperatures (manual measurements)
  2. Daily bright sunshine
  3. Daily total wind
  4. Precipitation
  5. Snow depth (when applicable)
  6. Snow water content

IISD-ELA also has data loggers installed at the meteorological site that automatically record these environmental measurements at regular intervals:

  1. Temperature
  2. Rainfall (using a tipping bucket rain gauge)
  3. Humidity
  4. Wind speed and direction
  5. PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation)
  6. Total Solar Radiation

Click below for current weather conditions at IISD Experimental Lakes Area, measured at our meteorological site and updated every 15 minutes.
Weather Underground PWS IONTARIO1331

Below is a plot showing daily temperatures reported from an automated logger at the IISD-ELA meteorological site.

Daily ELA temperature

See our data request page for more information.

Series of coloured stripes depicting changing weather

These warming stripes depict how the annual air temperature at IISD-ELA has changed over the years. Each stripe represents one year and we have measuring air temperature since 1970.