Weather Stations

What a weather station measures

An automatic weather station records a fixed set of atmospheric and environmental parameters at regular intervals and outputs the data digitally. Common parameters across the Zata IoT range include air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, solar radiation and visibility. Some purpose-built stations add site-specific parameters: road surface temperature and ice state on road weather stations, solar irradiance and compass heading on PV plant stations, and lightning or seismic detection on selected compact sensor modules.

How the sensors work

Each parameter is measured by a dedicated sensing element, and the readings are combined into a single data stream. Temperature and humidity are typically measured with digital MEMS sensors. Wind speed and direction are measured either by mechanical cup-and-vane assemblies or, on higher-end models such as the ZPVS and ZTLS stations, by ultrasonic sensors with no moving parts, which reduces maintenance in cold or dusty environments. Rainfall is measured by piezoelectric tipping-bucket or weighing sensors. Pressure is measured with a sealed barometric sensor. Solar radiation is measured with a thermopile-based pyranometer. Visibility sensors use near-infrared laser forward or backward scattering to estimate the extinction coefficient. Data is stored on board (over 5 years of storage on most Zata IoT stations) and transmitted over RS485, RS232, WiFi, Bluetooth or LTE/4G, using the Modbus protocol on compact sensor modules.

Compact sensor modules vs full weather stations

The range splits into two groups. Weather sensors, such as the ZWS-series compact stations, individual anemometers, rain gauges and radiation sensors, are single- or multi-parameter modules designed to be integrated into a larger system or used as a standalone mini weather station. Weather stations, such as the ZTS road weather station, ZPVS solar station, ZTLS transmission-line station and ZMT military station, are complete site-specific systems built around these sensor modules, with housings, mounting hardware and communication options matched to the application. For example, the ZTS road weather station integrates the ZWS600 compact weather sensor with a ZVS visibility sensor and a ZRS road status sensor in one system.

Key specs to compare

Buyers should compare four things before selecting a model. First, the measurement range and accuracy for each parameter, for example ±0.2°C to ±0.3°C for temperature and ±0.3 hPa for pressure across the Zata IoT range. Second, the operating temperature range, which extends to -50°C on several models, relevant for UK winter and offshore or upland sites. Third, the ingress protection (IP) rating: most Zata IoT stations use IP65 or IP55 for the general enclosure with IP67 for temperature/humidity sensors and IP68 for pressure sensors, protecting against dust and heavy rain. Fourth, the communication interfaces available, since RS485 and RS232 suit wired industrial installations while WiFi, Bluetooth and LTE/4G suit remote or mobile sites.

Typical applications by industry

Road weather stations such as the ZTS are installed on expressways, urban roads, bridges, tunnels and mountain roads to monitor surface temperature and ice risk. Solar PV weather stations such as the ZPVS support solar resource assessment and photovoltaic conversion efficiency analysis at power plants. Transmission line weather stations such as the ZTLS provide micro-meteorological monitoring for power grid disaster prevention on high-voltage and ultra-high-voltage lines. Military and mobile stations such as the ZMT support field meteorological observation and ballistic monitoring, with a carbon tripod that installs in under 2 minutes. Ceilometers such as the ZCL3 support airport and marine meteorological observation by measuring cloud height and boundary layer height. Agricultural weather sensors support soil, leaf wetness and radiation monitoring for crop and disease management.

How to choose between models

Start from the site, not the parameter list. If the installation is a road or bridge, the ZTS road weather station is built for that use case and already integrates visibility and road-surface sensing. If the site is a solar farm, the ZPVS adds a pyranometer and compass heading to the standard parameter set. If the requirement is a lightweight, quickly deployed station for field or mobile use, the ZMT weighs under 3kg excluding its case and installs in under 2 minutes. If only one or two parameters need monitoring, for example rainfall or wind, a standalone sensor from the ZWS-series or the anemometer and rain gauge ranges is usually more cost-effective than a full station. Power supply and communication also matter: solar-powered, low-power designs such as the ZTLS (under 30mA at DC12V, with a sleep mode under 10mA) suit remote sites without mains power.

Buying through MetSensor UK

MetSensor UK is the UK reseller of the Zata IoT weather station and weather sensor range, not the manufacturer. We supply the equipment on a quote basis, matched to the site and communication requirements, with UK-based pre-sales and after-sales support. Contact us with the application (road, solar, transmission line, agricultural, or general monitoring) and we will confirm the correct model and configuration before quoting.