First experience with Agrometeorology

I remember those college days when Agrometeorology course was first introduced to us... I thought that it will be an interesting branch of agricultural science. Then the class started with a brief introduction of Meteorology (deals with physical state of atmosphere), the branches of meteorology, then came the science of Agrometeorology (📢 the interaction of atmosphere with that of agriculture). I was like may be this is not the branch that I was curious about 💡! To my dismay, in the first practical class we were asked to measure the dimension of agrometeorology (agromet) observatory/ after measuring the coordinates (latitude, longitude and altitude) of the observatory. Then I began to think may be in every class its going to be boring. However, to my surprise when the course proceeded it actually fascinated me to the level that I have lost myself in the subject.

Now we will discuss why we were asked to measure the dimension of the observatory📏?

As most of us know, maintaining a standard or standard procedure is important in all aspects, so that it will be a representative of a particular variable. Similarly, to know the standard dimension of agromet observatory, we were initially asked to take measurement of the observatory and draw the same in our record to make us understand that there is a standard dimension around the globe for measuring meteorological and agrometeorological parameters. These dimensions for different instruments should be followed for reliable values and the readings should be taken at standard time around the globe to get the exact weather at the same time over different places on earth, like bird’s eye view 🦅 or synoptic view.

In real world, the observational networks are of greater significance to understand the physical state of the atmosphere around us. The readings we take from these observational networks are the starting point to understand the science of Meteorology through weather, weather forecasting and its innumerable applications in various fields including Agrometeorology.

Some of you might be wondering 🙇‍♀️

Why standard procedure is followed for meteorological observatory
As we discussed earlier, standards are to be followed, so that the readings we take become the representative value for a particular area  
	For instance, if I am having two observatories in the same area one on flat surface and other observatory over elevated structure and in both I have installed wind speed measuring instrument at 2 m height. The reading that we take from both will vary due to the different exposure sites of the instruments.
	Lets take an example of wind speed. Wind speed taken over the flat surface above 2 m height will be lesser than that of elevated structure observatory due to frictional effect. This means the elevated site observatory values are not representing the real wind speed at that required height. Hence, standards shall be followed for reliable values. 

Why weather observations are taken at standard time in all places around the world?
This is because, to understand the weather and to do analysis for further prediction the standard time observation for different locations are needed. So that the observations are comparable and proper weather analysis can be done. This will give the idea of the existing weather over different places of the earth and it will help us to have an insight of future weather (weather forecast). Observations taken at non standard times around the globe cannot be compared for various locations and is insignificant as the weather changes over time and will not help us to understand the existing weather and further forecasts.

To know more about criteria for meteorological observatory, kindly read WMO No. 8. Guide to instruments and methods of observation. Chapter 1. session 1.3 (https://library.wmo.int/doc_num.php?explnum_id=10179)