Realizing this SaveTheHills (STH) had installed a DAVIS Vantage Pro 2 AWS, at our staunch member Mr SachinTamang's home at Sudhapa Tol, Kurseong. The equipment gifted to us by a group of UK scientists in 2016, worked well but went way beyond economic repair (remember STH is group of volunteers and funds are ALWAYS scarce 😊?).
WHY DAVIS AWS instead of much cheaper options now available?
Simply because it is a world class equipment which STH has used for almost 10 years and now we have a small network of DAVIS AWS in the Darjeeling- Sikkim region over which we can monitor real time weather information of the region (see map below).
Over the years, STH also has developed technical experience of the equipment and system to trouble shoot much of the minor problems locally and avoid costly travel expenses of bringing in company engineers from Delhi.
In this regard, Sikkim has a humungous number of DAVIS Vantage Vue and some Vantage Pro models the outputs of which are not available to the public. I wonder why?
Also please recollect that from a few months ago, IMD has made their AWS data pass-word protected for each state - I fail to understand why weather data must now be locked up like military secrets!
The HImalayas are extremely prone to violent, extreme weather , the frequency of which are only increasing. In this scenario, I request the IMD to rethink their policy of locking up weather data behind passwords rather than making them available to the public and researchers.
Re- Installation of DAVIS Vantage Vue AWS at Kurseong on 06Aug2025: funding source.
This would not have been possible without the direct intervention of Ms Jyotsna Sitling (IFS), of Kalimpong who has known about our work for many years.
Early this year, I was delighted to receive her call and informing me that she would donate some funds to STH.
I suggested that perhaps an AWS at Kurseong?? if it fitted her budget??? (Cost of the equipment can be checked with the distributor in Delhi or from me privately).
Despite the stiff cost, she gave me the go ahead straight away. We re-installed the DAVIS AWS at Kurseong again 0n 06Aug2025
Kurseong on 06Aug2025
1. Download and install the DAVIS WeatherLink app ( from Google Playstore). You may have to sign up after download.
2. Search for the AWS in our region using keywords like
'STH AWS' , 'Kalimpong' , 'BSA AWS', 'Todey', 'Pedong' , 'STH Kurseong NEW' , 'Darjeeling'
3. Once you get the appropriate station add it your list by clicking on the green drop down menu.
DAVIS (Weatherlink) has a worldwide network so you can check the realtime weather data of any of the stations (which are online) anywhere in the world.
DEEP GRATITUDE
STH wishes to express our deep gratitude to Dr Jyotsna Sitling (IFS) for donating the AWS equipment.
My personal thanks to Sachin bhai of Sudhapa Tol, Kurseong for allowing us to use his premises for the STH Kurseong AWS for many years now.
Thanks to Rohan who is our self taught trouble shooting agent.
APOLOGIES
I would like to apologize to all our readers for the silence in this blog since Apr2025. It was because I had severe health issues which kept me away from work and from this region for a prolonged period. I am still in the process of recouping as such my posts may be irregular.
STH wishes to express our deep gratitude to Dr Jyotsna Sitling (IFS) for donating the AWS equipment.
My personal thanks to Sachin bhai of Sudhapa Tol, Kurseong for allowing us to use his premises for the STH Kurseong AWS for many years now.
Thanks to Rohan who is our self taught trouble shooting agent.
APOLOGIES
I would like to apologize to all our readers for the silence in this blog since Apr2025. It was because I had severe health issues which kept me away from work and from this region for a prolonged period. I am still in the process of recouping as such my posts may be irregular.
Praful Rao
SaveTheHills
savethehills@gmail.com
9475033744
No comments:
Post a Comment