Let's Talk About the Weather

With Marc Korevaar, Scientist, and Sajad Badalkhani, Technical Support & Services, both OTT HydroMet

Dirty PV modules generate less energy than clean ones. This phenomenon called “soiling” sums up to losses of several billion dollars every year. Cleaning increases efficiency, but comes at a cost, too. So, finding the right cleaning schedule and method is key to a higher profitability.

In this episode of OTT CAST, we discuss the different sources of soiling and how it is impacting solar energy generation. Marc Korevaar, scientist, and Sajad Badalkhani, Technical Support & Services Manager, present solutions to measure the degree and take actions based on solid data.

Tune in and learn about: 

• Impact of soiling on solar energy generation, leading to losses of several billions of dollars every year
• Different kinds of soiling, from sand to dust to leaves to pollen and bird droppings
• The measurement principle of the Kipp & Zonen soiling monitoring system DustIQ

Further reading

• OTT HydroMet Blog: Firmware Update Improves Response and Handling of DustIQ
• PV Magazine: Soiling – a multi-billion dollar issue

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CONTACT
https://get.otthydrometinsights.com/podcast-contact-us/  

With Daryl Ritchison, Director of the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN)

In Episode 20 of OTT Cast, we welcome Daryl Ritchison to share his expertise on mesoscale monitoring. 

With over 30 years of experience in the field of Meteorology in both forecasting and environmental monitoring, Daryl Ritchison is often consulted for his expertise in the field. As the leader of the pioneering North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN) National Mesonet Program, Daryl provides insight into the development of the Mesonet Program and how increasing spatial resolution of monitoring networks can support a variety of stakeholders and provide a significant return on investment for a community.

Tune in to join our new host Julie Dauer and learn about: 

• The intricate relationship between precipitation, snow water equivalent (SWE), and soil moisture, and how these factors impact critical aspects of our lives such as flooding and crop yield.
• The National Mesonet Program: how the NWS leverages the data and the program’s ability to cultivate a synergetic community dynamic 
• How the OTT Pluvio² has vastly improved the accuracy of his network by providing comprehensive data on all types of precipitation

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CONTACT
https://get.otthydrometinsights.com/podcast-contact-us/  

With Victor Cassella and Sasha Ivans, Meteorologists at OTT HydroMet

As a developer and manufacturer of hydrological and meteorological monitoring solutions, at OTT HydroMet we know a thing or two about collecting and evaluating atmospheric data. That’s why Victor Cassella and Sasha Ivans, two of our experienced meteorologists at OTT HydroMet, strongly supported this year’s AMS Annual Meeting’s incorporated statement: “Full, open, and timely access to data is critical to the advancement of atmospheric and related sciences”.

But where does this data come from? Even the smartest algorithms need real data to evaluate and turn into forecasts or analyses. Victor and Sasha talk about various industries and scientific disciplines and how their expectations and requirements are changing facing climate change.

Tune in and learn about: 

• Different regions are differently impacted by climate change – exemplified by the contrast between the west and the east of the USA
• Industries and applications affected by climate change, ranging from traditional weather observation to agriculture to renewable energy production
• Tailored weather monitoring stations for every application

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CONTACT
https://get.otthydrometinsights.com/podcast-contact-us/  

With Jay Wilson, Director for Business Development & Sustainability at OTT HydroMet

The World Meteorological Organization has launched an ambitious initiative: Within 5 years, every person on this planet must be protected by early warning systems. While the mission sounds clear and it is backed by the United Nations, the path to achieving it is challenging.

In this episode, Jay Wilson explains the differences between monitoring networks in various regions of the world and the consequences of data gaps in developing countries. Jay has gained valuable experience in her time working for the WMO, on many international trips, and in countless discussions with weather professionals around the world as the Director for Business Development & Sustainability at OTT HydroMet.

Jay has a lot to tell – tune in and learn about: 

• The observation gap and its impact on societies in developing countries
• EWS4ALL – the WMO’s initiative to create early warning systems for all within 5 years
• How to sustainably invest in environmental monitoring systems

FURTHER LISTENING

Climate change is impacting the way we monitor and analyze environmental processes. The need for both meteorological and hydrological data is growing. Learn more in episode 10 of our podcast. 

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CONTACT
https://get.otthydrometinsights.com/podcast-contact-us/  

With Laura Goodfellow and Frank Zokoll, Transportation Weather Monitoring Experts

Railway traffic is the backbone of both business and individual transport. Keeping the flow safe and on time is a challenge, especially due to the fact that railways are prone to inclement weather.

Strong winds, snowfall, floods, heat, freezing switches, and platforms … rail network operators have a lot to consider to ensure safe train traffic. Many of these meteorological phenomena occur in unique areas, thus knowledge of hyper-local conditions along the rails can be extremely helpful.

Key to knowing the actual situation along the rails are reliable, low-maintenance, and densely spread weather monitoring stations. The Lufft WS series of modular, compact weather sensors offers a robust and versatile basis for a broad range of monitoring applications.

In this episode of our podcast, we discuss ways to keep the flow safe and on time even under adverse atmospheric conditions. Tune in and learn about: 

• Essential atmospheric parameters for rail traffic weather monitoring
• Various monitoring applications 
• Powerful combinations of compact weather stations and additional sensors, such as snow height sensors or rail temperature probes

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CONTACT
Contact us: https://get.otthydrometinsights.com/podcast-contact-us/ 

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FURTHER READING
Weather monitoring plays a key role to ensure safe and timely rail transport. Download the brochure on Rail Weather Monitoring: https://info.otthydromet.com/weather-monitoring-railway.html

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CONTACT
https://get.otthydrometinsights.com/podcast-contact-us/  

With Brandon Ankney and Steven Marks, Road Weather Experts

Keeping roads and highways safe is critically important. In addition to autumn’s and winter’s perils, the increase of weather fluctuations and extreme weather events throughout the year pose further challenges to road decision-makers. 

Ideally, a dense network of road weather monitoring stations reliably provides accurate, hyper-local data from the road. Wherever that is not feasible, be it due to local characteristics or tight budgets, mobile sensing, and streamlined Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) can fill the gaps and ensure availability of essential weather and road surface information.

In this episode, our road weather monitoring experts Brandon Ankney (USA) and Steven Marks (Germany) discuss various ways to monitor road surface conditions and atmospheric properties cost-effectively. Tune in and learn about: 

• Essential atmospheric parameters for road weather monitoring
• Streamlined two-sensors Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS Lite) 
• Retrofitting stations with new technology by utilizing existing infrastructure 

Contact us: https://get.otthydrometinsights.com/podcast-contact-us/ 
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Further reading & listening

• Podcast: Ep.2| Intelligent Road Weather Monitoring
• Brochure: Download our Road Weather Monitoring Guide to discover OTT HydroMet's portfolio for safer roads
• Blog: Retrofitting Caltrans' Road Weather Stations using existing infrastructure

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CONTACT
https://get.otthydrometinsights.com/podcast-contact-us/  

With Robin Guy, Senior Service Engineer

The Scottish Islands are, undoubtedly, a beautiful part of the world. Amid awesome cliffs, green valleys, and wild beaches, the main means of transport are the ferries bringing people and cars from one island to another. To ensure safe ferry traffic, the landing stages are equipped with environmental monitoring instruments for water and weather measurements.

Ferry captains rely on accurate information on water level, wind, and further weather parameters. They pull this data from OTT HydroMet sensors sited at the peer. Robin Guy is installing and maintaining these sensors. In this episode, he tells about his life as a service engineer and how his team contributes to safe ferry traffic and a longer life span of the used technology even in the harshest conditions.

Tune in and learn about: 

• Environmental monitoring for Scottish ferry traffic
• Possibilities and importance of on-site checks and calibration
• The colorful life of a service engineer

Contact us: https://get.otthydrometinsights.com/podcast-contact-us/

Further reading
Blog: Wind gust measurement following WMO standards

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CONTACT
https://get.otthydrometinsights.com/podcast-contact-us/  

With Katja Weber, Hydrology Application Development Manager Europe

One year after the cataclysmal floods in Western Germany and its bordering states, politicians and scientists of various disciplines are discussing measures to mitigate the impact and harm of heavy rain and flood events. 

It’s little wonder these events were subject to many conversations and presentations at IFAT 2022, the World's leading trade fair for environmental technologies with a strong focus on the water infrastructure. A must-show for hydrologists like Katja Weber. In this episode, recorded live at the OTT HydroMet booth, the experienced Hydrology Application Development Manager explains how to set up a hydrological monitoring network from the right choice of location and sensor to sophisticated software.

Tune in and learn about: 

• How the floods in Western Germany could happen
• Downsides of radar forecast and the need for local measurements
• The new Aquarius water monitoring software with sophisticated alert and archive functions

Contact us: https://get.otthydrometinsights.com/podcast-contact-us/ 

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CONTACT
https://get.otthydrometinsights.com/podcast-contact-us/  

With Francois Laurent, Sales Manager France, and Marin Dimitrov, Business Development Manager Eastern Europe

What a show it was! In May 2022, the solar industry has come together in Munich to celebrate its unbroken growth around the globe. In this episode of OTT CAST, we share the learnings and topics that were discussed at the OTT HydroMet booth.

While some regions, such as Eastern Europe are starting to catch up building a solar energy infrastructure, established players are investigating ways to increase efficiency of their systems. Monitoring soiling losses and optimizing PV panel cleaning schemes become increasingly important. The Kipp & Zonen DustIQ soiling monitoring system can be help a lot to understand soiling and mitigate its impact on your plant performance.

Tune in and learn about: 

• The impact of soiling on PV performance and ways to monitor it
• The new Kipp & Zonen SMP12 pyranometer and its most acclaimed features
•  How the solar PV market in Eastern Europe is maturing

Get in touch with our experts and check how you can benefit from their experience.
Contact us: https://get.otthydrometinsights.com/podcast-contact-us/

Further reading

1. The impact of soiling and ways to monitor it:
   https://get.otthydrometinsights.com/kippzonen/dustiq/
2. The new Class A pyranometer Kipp & Zonen SMP12:
   https://info.otthydromet.com/OTT-Hydromet-SMP12-Black-Product-Guide-Squeeze.html

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CONTACT
https://get.otthydrometinsights.com/podcast-contact-us/  

The drought that has gripped much of the U.S. West has been a long-running dry stretch for the last 1200 years, a sign of both environmental and human impact. As 2022 shapes up to extend the ‘megadrought,’ researchers are finding the situation is unlikely to improve in the near future.

In our debut hydrology podcast, guest speakers Cristina Windsor, Business Development Manager for Groundwater & Irrigation at OTT HydroMet and Dave Colvin, Groundwater Team Leader at LRE Water, share their expertise and weigh-in on: 

• Current drought conditions in the U.S. West influenced by climate and public impact
•  The role of groundwater in aquifer storage and recovery
•  Defining drought and shifting the conversation to forward-thinking monitoring methods

Get in touch with our experts and check how you can benefit from their experience.
Contact us: https://get.otthydrometinsights.com/podcast-contact-us/

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CONTACT
https://get.otthydrometinsights.com/podcast-contact-us/