Technical overview of the TexMesonet- a network of networks for improved water management and prediction in Texas

Abstract Accurate, timely, and accessible meteorological and soil moisture measurements are essential for a number of applications including weather forecasting, agricultural decision making, and flood and drought prediction. Such data are becoming increasingly available globally, but the large number of networks and various data reporting formats often make utilization of such data difficult. The TexMesonet is a “network of networks” developed within the state of Texas to collect, process, and make public data collected from more than 1,700 monitoring stations throughout the state. This paper describes the TexMesonet, with special attention paid to monitoring sites installed and managed by the Texas Water Development Board. It also provides a case study exemplifying how these data may be used and gives recommendations for future data applications.