Weather station models can be classified into three groups: research weather stations, industrial weather stations, and consumer or personal weather station. The level of sophistication, capability, accuracy, ruggedness, and cost varies with each group. Since there is no official organization that sets standards for these classifications, they are only presented here as a general overview. Many weather station manufacturers assign their products with a "grade," based upon their own internal standards. In practice, purchasers of weather station models determine what equipment will be purchased by evaluating systems and products that meet their specific requirements.
RESEARCH GRADE - Typically the most rugged and sophisticated of meteorological weather stations, research grade instruments are capable of collecting and evaluating highly accurate data. These systems usually contain military specification components and undergo extensive testing prior to shipment. This equipment is designed for use in the most severe of environments, where measurement accuracy and reliability are critical to the research program or public safety. Installation sites include airports, high mountains, desert areas, and polar locations. These units are manufactured for use by scientists and other professionals, with costs ranging from around $6,000 to hundreds of thousands per installation.
INDUSTRIAL GRADE - Industrial grade weather instruments are usually geared for a specific application, such as irrigation control, crop management, home and industrial automation, or highway weather conditions. They typically look like industrial equipment. Similar to machinery used in other industrial settings, the control software may be specialized for a network or for a unique application. Industrial weather stations are reliable and rugged, performing consistently with little maintenance. Their costs range from about $3,000 to $6,000 and they're really not intended for personal use.
CONSUMER GRADE - Ranging in price from around $200 to as much as $3,000, consumer grade weather stations are usually cosmetically attractive with easy to use controls. Many even come equipped with radio controlled clocks. Features may include the capability of being interfaced with a computer for data collection and retention, and the ability to generate various weather-related various reports. Amazingly, a relatively low cost personal weather station can often have specifications nearly as good as research or industrial grade systems!
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