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Fire Tower Station

View of the Fire Tower monitoring station

Measuring air speed and direction at the top of the Fire Tower.

Record Type: Station

Activation Date: Jan. 1, 2005

Archived Data: Sensor Data - Fire Tower Station

Description: The Fire Tower in Black Rock Forest was built in the 1930’s. Like other fire towers built in that time, it was made with a lightening rod and metal straight down to the ground so that a lookout could safely stand at the top level during an electric storm and record on a map where lightening had struck so that they could investigate later for damage.

Today, it still stands 80 feet tall and houses an environmental monitoring station which monitors wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, and air temperature and relative humidity. The top of the fire tower has a tremendous view of the forest and its ponds and landmarks.

Keyword: Environmental Monitoring Stations, Forest Ecology, Long-Term