In January, Michael Siemann, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maryland and researcher/developer for the Earth Networks – WeatherBug e5 home energy efficiency program, travelled to Nepal to install a new WeatherBug weather station in the remote village of Mohare Danda (28.371502°, 83.679299° 3300m, 10827ft). Along with local Nepali porters and yaks, Michael shared the load of the tools, components, and solar power equipment on the multi-day journey to Mohare Danda.
The station will be the first real observation point for weather in that region. Weather and lightning data reported from the station will aid pilots flying small turboprop aircraft to remote villages and general mountain sightseeing flights that are notorious for weather-related crashes due to the dramatic and extreme variability in the weather.
The station will be maintained by Dr. Mahabir Pun, director of Nepal Wireless, which brings internet to remote mountain villages and schools. Dr. Pun recently established Mohare Danda as a premiere, environmentally friendly trekking (tour hiking) route where everything is owned and operated by the local villages, not outside commercial entities, in an effort to improve the lives of the people and schools in the Himalayan mountain range.
The WeatherBug station, which was donated by Earth Networks, will be live soon and data will be available on http://www.weatherbug.com. Michael’s trip was arranged through his advisor, Professor Jungho Kim, and also served as an assessment trip for UMD Engineers without Borders (EWB).
Read more about Michael’s incredible adventure in Mohare Danda Nepal to set up our most remote weather station.