The School of Natural Sciences has recently acquired two cameras to record weather fronts and long-range smoke transport events that can affect air quality in Austin. The GeoVision MDR-1500 camera will record the horizon view to the N/NW of campus, giving us a great view of the downtown skyline but also recording the approach of cold fronts from the north. The GeoVision FER-5303 camera provides a 360-degree field of view, allowing us to observe clouds crossing overhead and coming from any direction.
Working with Pongracz Senney at the Munday Library, the Natural Sciences team will create an online archive of these images, which will be recorded once per minute. Loops of the last 24 hours (in lower resolution) will be available online in addition to the most recent images from both cameras. There will likely be great opportunities to develop creative works from the long-term time series, including “A Year in Austin: 365 days in 365 seconds” which could show the rapid development of downtown high-rise buildings in addition to major weather events.
Originally shared by Gary Morris, Dean of the School of Natural Sciences.