Earth Networks to Expand Canadian Weather Monitoring and Lightning Network [Manufacturing Close – Up]

Earth Networks, the operator of a weather, lightning and climate observation network, the WeatherFarm Program and owner of WeatherBug, said it plans to double the size of its weather monitoring network in Canada by deploying more than 1,000 additional weather stations within the next three years.

In a release on Nov. 16, Earth Networks said it operates the largest weather network in Canada with over 850 weather stations situated largely throughout the Prairie Provinces that report data every few seconds. Earth Networks said it plans to expand throughout Eastern and Atlantic Canada and the Pacific Coast through its continued support from the agricultural community, new industry partnerships, and interest from other sectors.

Earth Networks is also deploying additional lightning sensors in Canada. The sensors will be part of the Earth Networks Total Lightning Network, a worldwide network for the detection of in- cloud (IC) and cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning with over 500 sensors deployed globally. In-cloud lightning often serves as a precursor to heavy rain, large hail, dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, tornadoes and downburst winds. When lightning rates exceed a "severe" threshold and there is an increased threat of severe weather, Earth Networks issues alerts that can provide significant advanced notice of potentially dangerous conditions.

Earth Networks has been active in Canada since 2007. Currently, Earth Networks provides weather information to agriculture, municipal, provincial and energy industry customers in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Weather data is also available to the general public through the WeatherBug site at http:// weather.ca.weatherbug.com.

Earth Networks' real-time weather data is available at no cost to farmers through the website WeatherFarm (www.weatherfarm.com), which has more than 12,000 users.

"We are transitioning to the era where the integration of multiple weather networks is required to increase our knowledge," says Paul Bullock, Professor of Agrometeorology, University of Manitoba, Department of Soil Science. "Properly deployed weather networks that provide quality data can be used collaboratively to great advantage. Additional resources and weather intelligence from Earth Networks are valuable to Canadian agricultural interests, and bring the potential to benefit other sectors as well."

<p>"As the owner and operator of the largest weather network worldwide, Earth Networks announced our plans to continue the WeatherFarm program and more than double the size of our network in Canada as part of our global expansion," says Jim Anderson, vice president of international network and business development, Earth Networks. "Together, our networks for monitoring weather and lightning - as well as our new network for monitoring greenhouse gases - will create a "network of networks" providing extensive atmospheric intelligence to many impacted industries and the general public. This expansion will be beneficial to Canadian farmers, and will also be of interest to a variety of professionals within other industries - such as crop insurance, emergency management, electric utilities implementing smart grid solutions, provincial and municipal governments, aviation and transportation - that are in constant need of improved weather intelligence, forecasts and alerts."

Earth Networks is headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with offices in Mountain View, Calif.; New York, NY; Milan, Italy, and a local presence in 50 countries worldwide.

More information:

www.earthnetworks.com

www.weatherfarm.com

http://weather.ca.weatherbug.com

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