Questions about temperature stations

[Nooj]

So I know that the increase in average global temperature is exactly that, the mean figure that has been compiled by thousands of temperature stations across the globe. But who exactly runs/upkeeps/maintains these 'stations'? Where could I find one? What do they look like?

 

[AV1611VET]

But who exactly runs/upkeeps/maintains these 'stations'?

Hollywood runs one of them ---

 

[icarusforde]

Normally they are maintained by US meterological agencies, or other weather peeps. There is more than one type - land and sea. Sea ones look like bouys and just float where they are, anchored into place. Land based ones are normally just buildings that look like garden sheds plonked in the middle of a field.