Download Observation Systems

Assorted Observation
Systems
Meteorology 415
Fall 2011
Probing the Atmosphere

Surface
• Automated Surface
Observing System
(ASOS)
- Temp, Moisture,
Pressure, Wind,
Solar Radiation,
Cloud Height,
Precipitation,
Visibility
Probing the Atmosphere
Network of Surface
Hourly Observations:
- FAA (1,000)
- FHWA (100’s)
- USDA (100’s)
- DOD
(100’s)
- USFS (100’s)
- EPA
(100’s)

Probing the Atmosphere
Network of Mesoscale
Observations:
- State DOT (1000)
- AG Nets (1000)
- Private (AWS) (7000)
- Utilities (100’s)

Probing the Atmosphere
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-
-
Cooperative
Climate
Network
(10,000)
daily precip
most snow
some temp
few river
gauges
Probing the Atmosphere

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Cooperative
Climate
Network
Backbone of
the nation’s
climate
records
Probing the Atmosphere

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-
Historical
Climate
Network
(1,000
subset)
Basis of US
Climate
Trends
Probing the Atmosphere

Vertical Profile
• Radiosonde
Network (100)
Probing the Atmosphere

Vertical Profile
• Atmospheric
Sounding
• Twice a day
• Temperature
• Dewpoint
• Winds
- Area equal to
energy
Probing the Atmosphere

Vertical Profile
• Profiler Network
(dozens)
Probing the Atmosphere

Vertical Profile
• Profiler CrossSection
• Every 6 minutes
• Winds
• Density (T,M)
Probing the Atmosphere

Vertical Profile
• Suomi-Net (100)

Real-Time
Integrated Water
Content of the
Atmosphere based
on GPS attenuation
Probing the Atmosphere

Vertical Profile
• Suomi-Net

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A time series of
precipitable water
vapor
Related to surface
flux of out-going long
wave radiation
Used as a calibration
for other estimates of
water content
Probing the Atmosphere

Cross-Sections
• ACARS – Aircraft
Communications
Addressing and
Reporting System
(4,000 daily)
Probing the Atmosphere

Cross-Sections
• ACARS


Winds and
Temperatures along
the flight path
Important reports of
Turbulence, both in
cloud and clear air
Probing the Atmosphere

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Horizontal – surface observing
systems; hourly, daily
Vertical – weather balloons, Doppler
radar, GPS
Cross-Section – Aircraft sensors
References
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http://acweb.fsl.noaa.gov/ruc_acars/
http://www.profiler.noaa.gov/npn/
http://www.weather.gov/om/coop/
http://www.ua.nws.noaa.gov/nws_u
pper.htm
http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/htm
l/mesonet/meso_mtn.pdf