Earth Networks teams on another climate-related big data project

Weather technology data expert Earth Networks is investing in another relationship and technology monitoring network -- this one will focus on gathering atmospheric data from the planetary boundary layer. That's just a fancy way of saying that there will now be technology in place to help gather weather statistics and other information that we previously had to guess about.

Under a deal with Radiometrics, Earth Networks will deploy 10 thermodynamic profiling radiometers in the state of California. That technology will keep tabs on temperature, humidity and liquid profiles in the boundary layer, addressing a gap that hasn't been addressed by other atmospheric measurement efforts, according to the companies.

Why would anyone want to do this? In the press materials discussing the new relationship, Earth Networks CEO Bob Marshall said the new monitoring technology complements its existing software and sensor networks, which track weather, lightning and other climate data. The new network will capture information that could be used by renewable energy service companies to help them optimize solar or wind technologies. It might also be used for aviation, air quality monitoring or water management activities. As we all know, forecasting events with a high degree of accuracy remains a strange science, at best.

Said Radiometrics CEO Mike Exner:

"The partnership will enable the availability of continuous boundary layer data. What is more, the data will be available from any number of measurement sites, both as stand-alone data or combined with other meteorological data into powerful forecasting and modeling tools. Our partnership will revolutionize how continuous thermodynamic measurements are used for weather forecasting."

It's another example of how Earth Networks is trying to tackle the big data opportunity related to predicting extraordinary weather and climate events.

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