TAMIU Needs Help Pinpointing Rainfall

If you tend to agree that everyone complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it, you should consider joining Texas A&M International University's Dr. Ken Tobin and host a weather station.

Dr. Tobin is the director of the Center for Earth and Environmental Studies (CEES) at TAMIU, which recently received a $268,000 grant from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

"The purpose of the grant is to establish an earth science program at TAMIU as well as quantify precipitation variability in the region. To accomplish the second goal we have small weather stations that can record temperature, humidity, and rainfall. CEES is looking for land owners in Webb County who would be willing to host a station," explained Tobin.

He said the stations would be supplied to landowners for free, and the landowner would not have to install or monitor the stations, just occasionally check for damage and allow CEES personnel and students access. In addition, CEES would need a site assess agreement with each landowner that will host a weather station.

"Participants don't need to own a lot of land to have a station; they just need a fence post," said Tobin "and while we're mostly looking for sites outside of town, we could set up a few in town."

Additionally, he explained that CEES has assess to both National Weather Service and Texas Weather Modification Association weather radar systems and will be establishing a new service starting this summer that will pin-point rainfall at a 0.4 square mile resolution.

"This information, provided via the internet, will be of particular use to ranchers and landowners of large plots where rainfall can vary greatly over the span of a few miles. Initially this will be a free service but eventually there will be a nominal fee charged to cover expenses to service subscribers," said Tobin.

If you are interested in subscribing to this service or hosting a weather station, please contact Dr. Tobin at (956) 326-2317 or e-mail ktobin@tamiu.edu.

University office hours for the Spring semester are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu