Northridge : CSUN Weather Post Back in Operation

A weather station operated by Cal State Northridge since the 1960s but damaged during the Northridge earthquake is up and running once again.

The intricate collection of sensors that measure temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure and rainfall has been out of commission since the January, 1994, temblor rattled its perch atop the campus’ Sierra Tower.

“We had to replace every sensor we had,” said Tim Boyle, weather observer for the university’s geography department. “All the sensors and wires had been ripped apart by the shaking.”

The new equipment, purchased with $13,000 from the geography and social science departments, includes an ultraviolet radiation sensor--one of only a handful statewide. Before now, area meteorologists relied on UV sensors from as far away as San Francisco or Salt Lake City to estimate how long it would take for someone to be sunburned, Boyle said.

“This is the only [UV] sensor in Southern California,” Boyle said. Meteorologists previously “were taking their best guess, using the satellite images and estimating as best they could.”

The new weather station was installed last month at the university’s Prairie Street information booth.

Anyone interested in hearing what information the weather station has collected can call (818) 717-5628. Current temperature, humidity and wind readings are electronically updated every three seconds, and high and low temperatures for the day are tallied after 5 p.m.

Judging by the inquiries the weather station’s caretakers have received over the years, the service is a popular one.

Attorneys have requested rainfall and wind-speed figures for certain dates, to be used in traffic accident cases.

Meteorology students have obtained weather data for class projects.

A woman planning a surprise birthday party for her husband called to ask if it traditionally rained on a certain date in April. (The day followed its historical custom of staying dry, much to Boyle’s relief.)