FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Global Science & Technology has won a nearly $9.7 million contract to continue work that expands the National Mesonet Program for the National Weather Service.

The National Mesonet Program is a network of existing, surface-based observation networks across the United States. They supply the weather service with data it then uses to help improve forecasting and warnings of severe weather.

The Fairmont division of Maryland-based GST has been working on the program for three years.

Its newest one-year assignment focuses on emerging technologies that detect temperature, wind and moisture in the lower atmosphere.

Researchers say increased sampling will improve the data sets that are used in predictive weather modeling.

GST also has offices in Arlington, Va., Asheville, N.C., and Boulder, Colo.