The Unlikely Origins and Impact of the Oklahoma Mesonet Long-Term Terrestrial Observatory.

In the early 1980s, a small group of researchers at Oklahoma State University were discussing how to upgrade their weather instruments at agricultural research sites across the state. Separately, a few researchers at the University of Oklahoma were planning a rain gauge network around Tulsa for flood warnings. When these two groups joined forces, the result was the creation of what has unexpectedly become one of the world’s most significant long-term terrestrial observatories, the Oklahoma Mesonet. This presentation will review the social and scientific impact of the Oklahoma Mesonet during its >20-yr history. Special emphasis will be place on current Mesonet-based research for understanding and predicting processes in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. Keys to the success of the Oklahoma Mesonet will be addressed with consideration of the lessons for other long-term terrestrial observatories.