Do you want to know the real-time weather conditions at Lake Wendouree with just the click of a button?
The Lake Wendouree weather station, also known as the Digital Living Lab, is now providing atmospheric and water-related data, including tracking lightning strikes within a 20 kilometre radius, atmospheric pressure and vapour pressure.
The weather station shows the current temperature, wind speed and wind direction as well as rainfall, humidity, solar radiation, air quality and the lake’s water level.
The station’s data, available via the Lake Wendouree Dashboard on the City of Ballarat website (ballarat.vic.gov.au), provides a current snapshot of weather conditions at the lake.
While the City of Ballarat is not an official source of weather information, the weather observations at Lake Wendouree are designed to provide accurate and timely information to the community.
The information is regularly used by yacht, rowing, canoe and kayak clubs, as well as people planning fishing trips, school events and other activities.
For the past 10 years, recycled water has been added to Lake Wendouree, from November to March, to counteract evaporation and ensure the lake is deep enough to support on-water activities in lower rainfall months.
Before the weather station was installed, working out exactly when to add the water involved the manual recording of lake levels from a depth gauge and referring to historical records.
Now, sensors deliver real-time information about conditions on the lake continuously.
The data can help predict growth rates of the lake’s aquatic plants, which results in better planning for weed cutting, and a greater understanding of the lake’s ecology.
The weather station’s sensors now deliver real-time information about conditions on the lake, enabling monitoring of water levels to forecast evaporation trends.
There is also a camera that provides a visual snapshot of the lake on the City of Ballarat’s website every 10 minutes.
City of Ballarat Councillor Daniel Moloney said the weather station and webcam helps keep the community informed about Ballarat’s most renowned piece of open space.
“Lake Wendouree has been a community destination for a long time,” he said.
“Using smart technology, the weather station and webcam provide the community with an insight into the lake wherever they are.
“This information also helps event organisers prepare for their upcoming water-based events, including the Masters Regatta in late April and weekly yachting events which are held on Lake Wendouree until late May.”
The water quality at Lake Wendouree is also tested monthly at a range of locations to monitor the health of the waterway, with independent testing assessing a range of factors, including blue-green algae, turbidity (water clarity) and macro-invertebrate (aquatic organisms).
The latest tests continue to show healthy habitat and water conditions at Lake Wendouree.
