>> Peter Levett

Through the cooperation of Victoria VeloTech and Fernwood NRG, data from the weather station on the roof above the Cornerstone Cafe is now available online as part of the Vancouver Island School-Based Weather Station Network. Fernwood NRG is the fourth weather station in Fernwood to connect to the network, joining stations at Victoria High School, Central Middle School, and George Jay Elementary School.

The weather station network is a collection of about 160 stations located mostly on Vancouver Island schools. The instruments measure temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, rain, incoming solar power, and UV index. The network was created in 2002 by Ed Wiebe, research associate, and Andrew Weaver, professor, in the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences at UVic. Partnering with Vancouver Island school districts and other interested groups, the School-Based Weather Station Network promotes interest in science education through observations of weather, something many people are curious about.

Now in its twelfth year, the project continues to evolve. Recently, ten stations were installed in Campbell river, and an iPad and iPhone app was introduced last year to provide up-to-date weather observations on the go — something anyone, not just educators, can appreciate.

For more information on the project, and for the smartphone app available on the App Store, visit www.islandweather.ca.