ULM holds ribbon-cutting ceremony for Louisiana State Mesonet

MONROE, La. ( KTVE/KARD ) — On Monday, October 14, 2024, the University of Louisiana Monroe held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first installation of the Louisiana State Mesonet, an interconnected network of instrumented weather monitoring stations. Officials reported that the ceremony was held on the ULM campus at the mesonet site adjacent to University Park on Bon Aire Drive.

Special guest speakers included Louisiana District 5 U.S. Representative Julia Letlow and Brad Bryant, Meteorologist-in-Charge for the National Weather Service in Shreveport, La.

This day really isn’t about me; it’s about the incredible work that has culminated in something that is so incredibly awe-inspiring, and I’m just proud to be a small part of it. I’m so thankful that earmarks like this are back because it’s a way to directly bring those dollars back to the district that you serve, straight into the hands of universities that you believe in that are transforming lives.

Julia Letlow (R-LA), Louisiana District 5 U.S. Representative

According to officials, Dr. Todd Murphy, Associate Director of the ULM School of Science and Associate Professor of Atmospheric Science, has overseen the project since its inception.

We are trying to put these towers where there is a void of data, so the weather service can get better information, so they can issue more timely warnings and watches and provide better data to the public to protect life and property.

Dr. Todd Murphy, Associate Director of the ULM School of Science and Associate Professor of Atmospheric Science

It is such a privilege to have instrumentation like this readily available on campus. As much as we do in the classroom, it helps broaden our knowledge to have this machinery and understand how it works.

Haniston Holloway, Atmospheric Science major

Brad Bryant, Meteorologist-in-Charge for the National Weather Service in Shreveport, mentioned that the strategically placed mesonet sites will provide data essential to the mission of the National Weather Service.

The network will have an impact that goes far beyond just our agency, but it will be a critical tool for emergency managers, transportation officials, and the public, thus an invaluable asset to the communities we serve.

Brad Bryant, Meteorologist-in-Charge for the National Weather Service in Shreveport

I want to thank our Atmospheric Science faculty for their innovative ideas, and their efforts to put this project together. It can truly help save lives across the state of Louisiana. We wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for someone who believes in that mission with us. Congresswoman Letlow, thank you so much for all you do for us and for the 5 ^th district and the state. You are helping us realize our vision. We are great partners, and we are fortunate to have you fighting on our behalf.

ULM President Ron Berry

According to officials, the completed mesonet will initially include 50 weather stations installed in weather data gaps across Louisiana. The network measures temperature, humidity, pressure, solar radiation, wind speed and direction, precipitation, and soil conditions. The mesonet and its data will be used for critical weather and climate monitoring that will affect sectors such as severe and hazardous weather forecasting, homeland security and emergency management, aviation, energy and renewables, agriculture, transportation, and education.

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