Meteorological stations
Two meteorological stations were established in the Cathedral Peak research area by the Department of Forestry. A lower station (1368 m a.s.l.) near the current management offices and the Mike’s pass station on top of the little berg (1860m a.s.l.). The Mike’s Pass station began recording in 1948 and was maintained until 1993 by the Department of Forestry, later the CSIR. The lower station and Mike’s pass station began recording weather data again in August 2012. SAEON staff worked together with experts from University of KwaZulu Natal, Center for water Resources Research, Dr Alistar Cluclow, and Cobus Pretorius to re-establish this historic meterological station. A large part of all the data associated work has been compiling historical records. The historical records have to be traced then “translated” from antiquated digital formats and hard copies and secured in SAEON database systems. This process is lengthily as records have to be meticulously checked and vetted before being published. The SAEON Fynbos node with it’s corresponding Jonker’s Hoek observation platform has been assisting the collation of the historic Cathedral Peak data.
