Kentucky Weather Observation Points

National Partnership The Kentucky Climate Center, housed in the Department of Geography and Geology, is the State Climate Office for Kentucky recognized by the American Association of State Climatologists. As a member of the National Climate Services Partnership, the Kentucky Climate Center is a partner with the National Climatic Data Center, the Midwestern Regional Climate Center, and the National Weather Service. Community Outreach The Kentucky Mesonet provides outreach to local communities, enhancing quality of life for people throughout the commonwealth. Outreach starts by working with local officials and stakeholders to identify sites that meet scientific criteria and provide added community benefits. Mesonet data are easily accessible and can be used to improve local forecasts and severe weather warnings, aid emergency response efforts, enhance agricultural productivity, assist local utility providers, and support business and industry. Education and Research Data from the Kentucky Mesonet will be available in every K-12 classroom throughout the commonwealth to support science and math education. The data is currently being used in advanced research in atmospheric science, hydrology, water resources, agriculture, decision making and could be used in many other fields. Moreover, Faculty and students in Kentucky's eight public universities are charter members of the Kentucky Mesonet Consortium. Cyberinfrastructure The Kentucky Mesonet is part of a larger effort at Western Kentucky University to build a cyberinfrastructure for environmental monitoring and decision support, thereby strengthening Kentucky's economic competitiveness through advanced science and technology

国家合作伙伴计划
设于地理与地质系的肯塔基气候中心（Kentucky Climate Center），是经美国州气候学家协会（American Association of State Climatologists）认证的肯塔基州官方气候办公室。作为国家气候服务合作伙伴计划（National Climate Services Partnership）成员单位，该中心与美国国家气候数据中心（National Climatic Data Center）、中西部区域气候中心以及美国国家气象局（National Weather Service）建立了正式合作关系。

社区服务与推广
肯塔基地面观测网络（Kentucky Mesonet）面向全州社区开展推广服务，旨在提升肯塔基州全体民众的生活品质。推广工作首先会同地方官员与利益相关方，遴选符合科学规范且能为社区带来额外效益的观测站点。该网络的观测数据易于获取，可用于优化本地天气预报与强天气预警、辅助应急响应作业、提升农业生产效能、协助地方公用事业运营商，并为工商企业发展提供支撑。

教育与科研
肯塔基地面观测网络的数据将向全州所有K-12阶段课堂开放，用于支撑科学与数学学科的教学实践。目前，此类数据已应用于大气科学、水文学、水资源管理、农业科学、决策科学等领域的前沿研究，同时也可在诸多其他学科领域发挥应用价值。此外，肯塔基州八所公立大学的教职员工与学生均为肯塔基地面观测网络联盟（Kentucky Mesonet Consortium）的创始成员。

数字基础设施建设
肯塔基地面观测网络隶属于西肯塔基大学一项更大规模的环境监测与决策支持网络基础设施（cyberinfrastructure）建设项目，旨在通过先进科学技术强化肯塔基州的经济竞争力。