Urban areas exhibit highly variable microclimates, making reliable surface meteorological observations both essential and difficult to obtain. This project will develop a comprehensive database of surface observations in the Washington–Baltimore metropolitan area to support NOAA/ARL’s UrbanNet research program. The database will compile and standardize data from regional mesonets, federal and local weather stations, and other observational networks in the region, serving as an ancillary resource for the UrbanNet project.
The project will examine the temporal and spatial variability of measurements across times of day, seasons, and differences between urban and natural environments. These ground-based datasets provide detailed information on temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation and other meteorological variables, which are essential for studying urban–rural gradients, urban heat islands, air quality, severe weather events and its impacts. Through integrating and standardizing these datasets, the project will provide a robust resource to advance the UrbanNet project, enabling high-resolution analysis, sensor intercomparisons, and support for numerical modeling of urban meteorology.