SGP/SONDE - Data missing from sounding

It appears that the collection of the raw data file was interupted by the
SDS.  The following message appears in the raw file
(sonde-hills10003161901.rawraw):

  12  0     4.8    4384    589.3  -11.0  87  -12.7  274  12.8 110001110110

#Collection process shut down by SIGTERM

Another raw file (sonde-hills10003162145.raw) follows with:

~LL?
  73 30     4.7   22154     37.9  -63.4   1  -93.3  250  13.2 110001110110

I don't understand the cause of this problem, but am confident that it
is not instrument related.  These files were merged on ingest.

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

SGP/SONDE - Data missing from sounding

It appears that the SDS interupted collection of the data from this
sounding.  There is a large gap and the message

  13  0     4.0    4116    610.8   -8.1  78  -11.3  277   8.6 010010100101
#Collection process shut down by SIGTERM
  74 38     4.6   19907     54.8  -62.6   1  -92.7  ///  //// 011110100101

appears in the ingested data file.  This is the same type of thing that
happened at B1 at the same time.  See DQR D000319.1

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lat(lat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• base time(base_time)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Direction(deg)

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Sounding Data Suspect

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeB4

Subject:   Sounding data suspect

Date Submitted:  8/12/94
Submitted By:    Barry Lesht          _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement:
	What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):raw, a0, a1, et seq.

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/BF4 (Vici)
 
    Period of time in question
 	Begin Date   8/ 7/94   Time   05:30    (GMT)
 	End Date     8/ 7/94   Time   07:15    (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      _X_  All data fields affected
 _X_  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:  

The temperature, RH, and (likely) pressure data for this sounding look 
incorrect.  The temperature after launch is much too high, the RH drops 
almost immediately to near zero, and the reported height of the sounding 
is much greater than would be expected.  Most likely cause is operator
error (using the wrong calibration tape).

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:  

Anything that uses sounding data.  Even the winds are probably reported 
at the wrong altitudes (pressure problem).



Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

There is no way to fix the data.  The sounding should be deleted or
flagged as bad.


Data Processing Notes                Date

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Reprocess: Sounding 950506:0230 done in research mode

DQR No:                               Platform:

Subject: B4 Sounding 950506:0230 Done in Research Mode

Date Submitted:  5/12/95
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement:  SGPSONDEB4
	What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):  ALL

    What location was the data collected at:   SGP/B4 (Vici)
 
    Period of time in question
 	Begin Date   5/06/95   Time   02:30    (GMT)
 	End Date     5/06/95   Time   04:15    (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      _X_  All data fields affected
 ___  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 _X_  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:   This sounding was done in RESEARCH mode for
                          both thermodynamic as well as wind data.  The
                          normal mode is to for RESEARCH winds only.  As
                          a result, both the ascending and descending
                          flights of the sonde are included in the data
                          file and none of the data are smoothed or
                          filtered.  

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:  I think that
                          some of the radiation codes that use the sonde
                          data as input don't handle the descending samples
                          well.  I'm not sure which ones may be affected.


Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)  Users should be notified and,
if (and only if) requested, the sounding could be reprocessed either using
the software developed at the EC or the digi-CORA.


Data Processing Notes                Date

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Reprocess: Sounding done in research mode

DQR No:                               Platform:

Subject: B1 Sounding 950717:2330 Done in Research Mode

Date Submitted:  7/22/95
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement:  SGPSONDEB1
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):  ALL

    What location was the data collected at:   SGP/B1 (Hillsboro)
 
    Period of time in question
    Begin Date   7/17/95   Time   23:30    (GMT)
    End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      _X_  All data fields affected
 ___  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 _X_  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:   This sounding was done in RESEARCH mode for
                          both thermodynamic as well as wind data.  The
                          normal mode is to for RESEARCH winds only.  As
                          a result, both the ascending and descending
                          flights of the sonde are included in the data
                          file and none of the data are smoothed or
                          filtered.  

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:  I think that
                          some of the radiation codes that use the sonde
                          data as input don't handle the descending samples
                          well.  I'm not sure which ones may be affected.


Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)  Users should be notified and,
if (and only if) requested, the sounding could be reprocessed either using
the software developed at the EC or the digi-CORA.


Data Processing Notes                Date

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

Reprocess: Sounding done in research mode

DQR No:                               Platform:

Subject: B1 Sounding 950718:0530 Done in Research Mode

Date Submitted:  7/22/95
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement:  SGPSONDEB1
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):  ALL

    What location was the data collected at:   SGP/B1 (Hillsboro)
 
    Period of time in question
    Begin Date   7/18/95   Time   05:30    (GMT)
    End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      _X_  All data fields affected
 ___  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 _X_  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:   This sounding was done in RESEARCH mode for
                          both thermodynamic as well as wind data.  The
                          normal mode is to for RESEARCH winds only.  As
                          a result, both the ascending and descending
                          flights of the sonde are included in the data
                          file and none of the data are smoothed or
                          filtered.  

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:  I think that
                          some of the radiation codes that use the sonde
                          data as input don't handle the descending samples
                          well.  I'm not sure which ones may be affected.


Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)  Users should be notified and,
if (and only if) requested, the sounding could be reprocessed either using
the software developed at the EC or the digi-CORA.


Data Processing Notes                Date

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

Reprocess: Sounding done in research mode

DQR No:                               Platform:

Subject: B1 Sounding 950718:2330 Done in Research Mode

Date Submitted:  7/23/95
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement:  SGPSONDEB1
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):  ALL

    What location was the data collected at:   SGP/B1 (Hillsboro)
 
    Period of time in question
    Begin Date   7/18/95   Time   23:30    (GMT)
    End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      _X_  All data fields affected
 ___  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 _X_  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:   This sounding was done in RESEARCH mode for
                          both thermodynamic as well as wind data.  The
                          normal mode is to for RESEARCH winds only.  As
                          a result, both the ascending and descending
                          flights of the sonde are included in the data
                          file and none of the data are smoothed or
                          filtered.  

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:  I think that
                          some of the radiation codes that use the sonde
                          data as input don't handle the descending samples
                          well.  I'm not sure which ones may be affected.


Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)  Users should be notified and,
if (and only if) requested, the sounding could be reprocessed either using
the software developed at the EC or the digi-CORA.


Data Processing Notes                Date

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

Reprocess: Sounding 950721:2030 Winds in Normal (not Research) mode

DQR No:                               Platform:

Subject: B6 Sounding 950721:2030 Winds in Normal (not Research) Mode

Date Submitted:  7/28/95
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement:  SGPSONDEB6
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):  ALL

    What location was the data collected at:   SGP/B6 (Purcell)
 
    Period of time in question
      Begin Date   7/21/95   Time   20:30    (GMT)
      End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      _X_  All data fields affected
 ___  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 _X_  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:   This sounding was done in NORMAL (as opposed
                          to RESEARCH mode for winds as well as for the
                          thermodynamic variables.  The "normal" mode 
                          is to use RESEARCH processing for the winds.
                          The wind data included in this data file will
                          have been subjected to the Vaisala processing
                          algorithms and will appear somewhat smoother
                          than our typical sounding.
 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:  The horizontal
                          convergence and tendency algorithms we use
                          include their own wind smoothing algorithms.
                          These may be affected by using this data set.
                          I'm not sure which specific ones are involved,
                          we should check with Marty Leach and/or John
                          Yio.

Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)  Users should be notified and,
if (and only if) requested, the sounding could be reprocessed either using
the software developed at the EC or the digi-CORA.


Data Processing Notes                Date

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lat(lat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• base time(base_time)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Direction(deg)

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Reprocess: Sounding 950723:0228 Winds in Normal (not Research) mode

DQR No:                               Platform:

Subject: B6 Sounding 950723:0228 Winds in Normal (not Research) Mode

Date Submitted:  7/28/95
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement:  SGPSONDEB6
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):  ALL

    What location was the data collected at:   SGP/B6 (Purcell)
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date   7/23/95   Time   02:28    (GMT)
        End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      _X_  All data fields affected
 ___  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 _X_  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:   This sounding was done in NORMAL (as opposed
                          to RESEARCH mode for winds as well as for the
                          thermodynamic variables.  The "normal" mode 
                          is to use RESEARCH processing for the winds.
                          The wind data included in this data file will
                          have been subjected to the Vaisala processing
                          algorithms and will appear somewhat smoother
                          than our typical sounding.
 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:  The horizontal
                          convergence and tendency algorithms we use
                          include their own wind smoothing algorithms.
                          These may be affected by using this data set.
                          I'm not sure which specific ones are involved,
                          we should check with Marty Leach and/or John
                          Yio.

Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)  Users should be notified and,
if (and only if) requested, the sounding could be reprocessed either using
the software developed at the EC or the digi-CORA.


Data Processing Notes                Date

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

SGP/SONDE/B1 - Reprocess: sonde RESEARCH mode altitudes biased low

DQR DESCRIPTION:
DQR No:                               Platform: BBSS

Subject: Sonde RESEARCH mode altitudes biased low

Date Submitted: 8/15/95
Submitted By:   Barry Lesht           _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement:
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc): All

    What location was the data collected at: CF, all BFs
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date   4/ 7/94   Time     :      (GMT)
        End Date      /  /     Time     :      (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      ___  All data fields affected
 _X_  incorrect                         _X_  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
Discussion of Problem:  I have discovered a problem with the RESEARCH mode
(for PTU) Vaisala processing that results in a negative bias in the calculation
of sonde altitude.  This bias results from neglecting the sensed relative
humidity when calculating air density when integrating the hydrostatic
equation.  In essence, the Vaisala RESEARCH mode (PTU) processing assumes
a dry atmosphere when calculating sonde altitude.  The magnitude of the bias
is cumulative with height and will depend on the vertical distribution of 
moisture, but I have found that it can be as much as 20 meters at the 
tropopause (the RESEARCH-mode sounding altitudes will be smaller than 
altitudes calculated by using sensed RH).  This problem applies to all 
soundings done in "WXPR" mode, where X is either R or N.  In particular, 
all soundings done during the April 1994 (RCS) IOP (4/7/94 to 5/21/94) 
are affected as well as those occasional inadvertent WXPR soundings.
Note that the only variable affected is "alt."

In response to my queries, Vaisala explained that the dry-air calculation was
selected to increase the processing speed in RESEARCH mode.  They consider
the problem to be a minor one.  Vaisala claims that altitudes in NORMAL
(or NOMINAL) processing are calculated by including the sensed RH.  My
simulation experiments have not yet progressed to the point where I can
confirm this independently.  

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:  Unknown.


Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Users of the data should be informed of the problem.  I have developed software
that will reproduce the standard output stream with correct altitudes from
the raw binary data and can provide it to interested users.  Boundary facility
soundings can also be reprocessed through the digi-CORA systems if need be.


Data Processing Notes                Date

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

SGP/SONDE/B4 - Reprocess: sonde RESEARCH mode altitudes biased low

DQR DESCRIPTION:
DQR No:                               Platform: BBSS

Subject: Sonde RESEARCH mode altitudes biased low

Date Submitted: 8/15/95
Submitted By:   Barry Lesht           _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement:
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc): All

    What location was the data collected at: CF, all BFs
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date   4/ 7/94   Time     :      (GMT)
        End Date      /  /     Time     :      (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      ___  All data fields affected
 _X_  incorrect                         _X_  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
Discussion of Problem:  I have discovered a problem with the RESEARCH mode
(for PTU) Vaisala processing that results in a negative bias in the calculation
of sonde altitude.  This bias results from neglecting the sensed relative
humidity when calculating air density when integrating the hydrostatic
equation.  In essence, the Vaisala RESEARCH mode (PTU) processing assumes
a dry atmosphere when calculating sonde altitude.  The magnitude of the bias
is cumulative with height and will depend on the vertical distribution of 
moisture, but I have found that it can be as much as 20 meters at the 
tropopause (the RESEARCH-mode sounding altitudes will be smaller than 
altitudes calculated by using sensed RH).  This problem applies to all 
soundings done in "WXPR" mode, where X is either R or N.  In particular, 
all soundings done during the April 1994 (RCS) IOP (4/7/94 to 5/21/94) 
are affected as well as those occasional inadvertent WXPR soundings.
Note that the only variable affected is "alt."

In response to my queries, Vaisala explained that the dry-air calculation was
selected to increase the processing speed in RESEARCH mode.  They consider
the problem to be a minor one.  Vaisala claims that altitudes in NORMAL
(or NOMINAL) processing are calculated by including the sensed RH.  My
simulation experiments have not yet progressed to the point where I can
confirm this independently.  

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:  Unknown.


Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Users of the data should be informed of the problem.  I have developed software
that will reproduce the standard output stream with correct altitudes from
the raw binary data and can provide it to interested users.  Boundary facility
soundings can also be reprocessed through the digi-CORA systems if need be.


Data Processing Notes                Date

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

Apparent Interference Signal in Sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sondeB6

Subject: Apparent Interference Signal in Sounding

Date Submitted:   October 22, 1995
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement:
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):  All

    What location was the data collected at:     BF6- Purcell
 
    Period of time in question
       Begin Date   7/28/95   Time   11:38:00 (GMT)
       End Date     7/28/95   Time   11:40:16 (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      _X_  All data fields affected
 _X_  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:   This sounding (which terminated after only 
    nine minutes and sixteen seconds of flight) was apparently affected
    by the signal of another radiosonde.  A sudden step-change in 
    temperature occurs at seven minutes into the flight.  This could
    be accounted for by the ground station locking onto another sonde
    and essentially reporting the foreign sonde's data with our sonde's
    calibration coefficients.  The effect is most dramatic in temperture,
    however, rh and pressure should be similarly affected.  The data
    below the level of the step-change are probably okay.

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:


Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

    Flag


Data Processing Notes                Date

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

signal interruption

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeB1

Subject: Signal Interuption BF1 Sounding 02/01/96:1730

Date Submitted:  2/20/96
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnB1/all
	What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at: Morris - CF
 
    Period of time in question
 	Begin Date  02/01/96   Time   17:45:50 (GMT)
 	End Date    02/01/96   Time   17:46:56 (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      _X_  All data fields affected
 _X_  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

The normal data in this sounding were interupted mid-flight, possibly as
a result of interference from another sonde.  Because this interuption did
not cause 'missing' data but rather incorrect data to be inserted into the
output file, the normal qc flags WERE triggered and users who normally check
the flags should have no trouble.  Other users should be alerted.
 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:

None

Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Flag data.

Data Processing Notes                Date




----- End Included Message -----

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

SGP/SONDE/B5 - incorrect factory RH calib-radiosondes

Ongoing investigation of differences between preciptiable water vapor
measured by the microwave radiometer and precipitable water vapor estimated
by integrating the radiosonde-measured profile of water vapor density, along
with isolated periods of anomalous behavior in the AERI/LBLRTM QME results
led to the suggestion that the calibration of some radiosondes may be suspect.
One group of radiosondes, calibrated in November 1994, seemed particularly
irregular.  I met with the manufacturer on February 7 to show them my
results and discuss this issue with them.  The manufacturer agreed that
the data were suggestive of a calibration problem and offered to review
their calibration records for the period in question.

The initial results of the manufacture's investigation were sent to me
on February 27.  The manufacturer found that radiosondes assembled
between 10/26/94 and 11/22/94 were incorrectly calibrated.  The incorrect
calibration affected only the relative humidity measurement; the nature
of the calibration error is non-linear, with the radiosondes meeting
the specified +/- 2% RH accuracy at both 20%RH (+45 degC) and 0%RH (room
temperature).  The error in calibration occurs at high RH and low temperature
(approximate saturation at -30 degC) and can be as large as 10%RH with
the radiosonde reading high.  The direction of this error agrees with
the observation of negative integrated residuals in the AERI ch 1 region
made by Tony Clough and the tendency toward greater than 'normal' differences
in PWV when compared to the MWR when these sondes were used.

The cause of the calibration error was the addition of new, high RH,
quality control check (-30 degC) into the manufacturing stream that
required a change in the calibration software.  The new software mistakenly
loaded an incorrect parameter file that caused the calibration to be
off at high RH - this was not noticed at the time because the radiosondes
passed the regular production QC checks and the failure to agree at the
new QC value was thought to result from a problem with the new reference
standard.  Troubleshooting the entire calibration system in an effort
to incorporate the new QC check was conducted along with normal production,
and took about a month to complete.  The troubleshooting including adjustment
of the calibration software, at which time the correct parameter file
happened to be reloaded, and after which the radiosondes met the desired
specification at the high RH value.

According to the manufacturer, approximately 1900 radiosondes were calibrated
during the period in question.  Sondes from this period were used at all
CART facilities.  At least 1178 soundings involving these sondes were
included in the QME results I looked at (some QME results were discarded
because of problems with either the MWR data or the sounding data).  The
distribution of these 1178 by facility is:

Facility   Number of Sondes          First Used         Last Used
           (based on QME)
   CF            316               1/20/95 (11:30)    9/22/95 (11:30)
   B1            143               2/21/95 (17:30)    9/29/95 ( 8:30)
   B4            313               4/ 6/95 (17:30)   11/ 7/95 (17:28)
   B5            153               4/14/95 (17:30)   12/14/95 (17:30)
   B6            253               3/22/95 (17:30)   10/19/95 (17:30)

The sondes can be recognized by decoding the serial_number metadata word
in the sounding netCDF file.  The serial number of the sondes in question
is a  number (8 or 9 digit) of the form DDMMYTTPP where DD is the day of
the month (leading zero missing in the netCDF data), MM is the month +80
(e.g. 91 for November), Y is the last digit of the year (4 for 1994),
TT is the calibration tray ID, and PP is the position of the sonde in
the calibration tray.  The sondes in question will therefore have serial
numbers coded between 26904TTPP and 22914TTPP.

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

SGP/SONDE/B1 - incorrect factory RH calib-radiosondes

Ongoing investigation of differences between preciptiable water vapor
measured by the microwave radiometer and precipitable water vapor estimated
by integrating the radiosonde-measured profile of water vapor density, along
with isolated periods of anomalous behavior in the AERI/LBLRTM QME results
led to the suggestion that the calibration of some radiosondes may be suspect.
One group of radiosondes, calibrated in November 1994, seemed particularly
irregular.  I met with the manufacturer on February 7 to show them my
results and discuss this issue with them.  The manufacturer agreed that
the data were suggestive of a calibration problem and offered to review
their calibration records for the period in question.

The initial results of the manufacture's investigation were sent to me
on February 27.  The manufacturer found that radiosondes assembled
between 10/26/94 and 11/22/94 were incorrectly calibrated.  The incorrect
calibration affected only the relative humidity measurement; the nature
of the calibration error is non-linear, with the radiosondes meeting
the specified +/- 2% RH accuracy at both 20%RH (+45 degC) and 0%RH (room
temperature).  The error in calibration occurs at high RH and low temperature
(approximate saturation at -30 degC) and can be as large as 10%RH with
the radiosonde reading high.  The direction of this error agrees with
the observation of negative integrated residuals in the AERI ch 1 region
made by Tony Clough and the tendency toward greater than 'normal' differences
in PWV when compared to the MWR when these sondes were used.

The cause of the calibration error was the addition of new, high RH,
quality control check (-30 degC) into the manufacturing stream that
required a change in the calibration software.  The new software mistakenly
loaded an incorrect parameter file that caused the calibration to be
off at high RH - this was not noticed at the time because the radiosondes
passed the regular production QC checks and the failure to agree at the
new QC value was thought to result from a problem with the new reference
standard.  Troubleshooting the entire calibration system in an effort
to incorporate the new QC check was conducted along with normal production,
and took about a month to complete.  The troubleshooting including adjustment
of the calibration software, at which time the correct parameter file
happened to be reloaded, and after which the radiosondes met the desired
specification at the high RH value.

According to the manufacturer, approximately 1900 radiosondes were calibrated
during the period in question.  Sondes from this period were used at all
CART facilities.  At least 1178 soundings involving these sondes were
included in the QME results I looked at (some QME results were discarded
because of problems with either the MWR data or the sounding data).  The
distribution of these 1178 by facility is:

Facility   Number of Sondes          First Used         Last Used
           (based on QME)
   CF            316               1/20/95 (11:30)    9/22/95 (11:30)
   B1            143               2/21/95 (17:30)    9/29/95 ( 8:30)
   B4            313               4/ 6/95 (17:30)   11/ 7/95 (17:28)
   B5            153               4/14/95 (17:30)   12/14/95 (17:30)
   B6            253               3/22/95 (17:30)   10/19/95 (17:30)

The sondes can be recognized by decoding the serial_number metadata word
in the sounding netCDF file.  The serial number of the sondes in question
is a  number (8 or 9 digit) of the form DDMMYTTPP where DD is the day of
the month (leading zero missing in the netCDF data), MM is the month +80
(e.g. 91 for November), Y is the last digit of the year (4 for 1994),
TT is the calibration tray ID, and PP is the position of the sonde in
the calibration tray.  The sondes in question will therefore have serial
numbers coded between 26904TTPP and 22914TTPP.

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

SGP/SONDE/B6 - incorrect factory RH calib-radiosondes

Ongoing investigation of differences between preciptiable water vapor
measured by the microwave radiometer and precipitable water vapor estimated
by integrating the radiosonde-measured profile of water vapor density, along
with isolated periods of anomalous behavior in the AERI/LBLRTM QME results
led to the suggestion that the calibration of some radiosondes may be suspect.
One group of radiosondes, calibrated in November 1994, seemed particularly
irregular.  I met with the manufacturer on February 7 to show them my
results and discuss this issue with them.  The manufacturer agreed that
the data were suggestive of a calibration problem and offered to review
their calibration records for the period in question.

The initial results of the manufacture's investigation were sent to me
on February 27.  The manufacturer found that radiosondes assembled
between 10/26/94 and 11/22/94 were incorrectly calibrated.  The incorrect
calibration affected only the relative humidity measurement; the nature
of the calibration error is non-linear, with the radiosondes meeting
the specified +/- 2% RH accuracy at both 20%RH (+45 degC) and 0%RH (room
temperature).  The error in calibration occurs at high RH and low temperature
(approximate saturation at -30 degC) and can be as large as 10%RH with
the radiosonde reading high.  The direction of this error agrees with
the observation of negative integrated residuals in the AERI ch 1 region
made by Tony Clough and the tendency toward greater than 'normal' differences
in PWV when compared to the MWR when these sondes were used.

The cause of the calibration error was the addition of new, high RH,
quality control check (-30 degC) into the manufacturing stream that
required a change in the calibration software.  The new software mistakenly
loaded an incorrect parameter file that caused the calibration to be
off at high RH - this was not noticed at the time because the radiosondes
passed the regular production QC checks and the failure to agree at the
new QC value was thought to result from a problem with the new reference
standard.  Troubleshooting the entire calibration system in an effort
to incorporate the new QC check was conducted along with normal production,
and took about a month to complete.  The troubleshooting including adjustment
of the calibration software, at which time the correct parameter file
happened to be reloaded, and after which the radiosondes met the desired
specification at the high RH value.

According to the manufacturer, approximately 1900 radiosondes were calibrated
during the period in question.  Sondes from this period were used at all
CART facilities.  At least 1178 soundings involving these sondes were
included in the QME results I looked at (some QME results were discarded
because of problems with either the MWR data or the sounding data).  The
distribution of these 1178 by facility is:

Facility   Number of Sondes          First Used         Last Used
           (based on QME)
   CF            316               1/20/95 (11:30)    9/22/95 (11:30)
   B1            143               2/21/95 (17:30)    9/29/95 ( 8:30)
   B4            313               4/ 6/95 (17:30)   11/ 7/95 (17:28)
   B5            153               4/14/95 (17:30)   12/14/95 (17:30)
   B6            253               3/22/95 (17:30)   10/19/95 (17:30)

The sondes can be recognized by decoding the serial_number metadata word
in the sounding netCDF file.  The serial number of the sondes in question
is a  number (8 or 9 digit) of the form DDMMYTTPP where DD is the day of
the month (leading zero missing in the netCDF data), MM is the month +80
(e.g. 91 for November), Y is the last digit of the year (4 for 1994),
TT is the calibration tray ID, and PP is the position of the sonde in
the calibration tray.  The sondes in question will therefore have serial
numbers coded between 26904TTPP and 22914TTPP.

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

SGP/SONDE/B4 - incorrect factory RH calib-radiosondes

Ongoing investigation of differences between preciptiable water vapor
measured by the microwave radiometer and precipitable water vapor estimated
by integrating the radiosonde-measured profile of water vapor density, along
with isolated periods of anomalous behavior in the AERI/LBLRTM QME results
led to the suggestion that the calibration of some radiosondes may be suspect.
One group of radiosondes, calibrated in November 1994, seemed particularly
irregular.  I met with the manufacturer on February 7 to show them my
results and discuss this issue with them.  The manufacturer agreed that
the data were suggestive of a calibration problem and offered to review
their calibration records for the period in question.

The initial results of the manufacture's investigation were sent to me
on February 27.  The manufacturer found that radiosondes assembled
between 10/26/94 and 11/22/94 were incorrectly calibrated.  The incorrect
calibration affected only the relative humidity measurement; the nature
of the calibration error is non-linear, with the radiosondes meeting
the specified +/- 2% RH accuracy at both 20%RH (+45 degC) and 0%RH (room
temperature).  The error in calibration occurs at high RH and low temperature
(approximate saturation at -30 degC) and can be as large as 10%RH with
the radiosonde reading high.  The direction of this error agrees with
the observation of negative integrated residuals in the AERI ch 1 region
made by Tony Clough and the tendency toward greater than 'normal' differences
in PWV when compared to the MWR when these sondes were used.

The cause of the calibration error was the addition of new, high RH,
quality control check (-30 degC) into the manufacturing stream that
required a change in the calibration software.  The new software mistakenly
loaded an incorrect parameter file that caused the calibration to be
off at high RH - this was not noticed at the time because the radiosondes
passed the regular production QC checks and the failure to agree at the
new QC value was thought to result from a problem with the new reference
standard.  Troubleshooting the entire calibration system in an effort
to incorporate the new QC check was conducted along with normal production,
and took about a month to complete.  The troubleshooting including adjustment
of the calibration software, at which time the correct parameter file
happened to be reloaded, and after which the radiosondes met the desired
specification at the high RH value.

According to the manufacturer, approximately 1900 radiosondes were calibrated
during the period in question.  Sondes from this period were used at all
CART facilities.  At least 1178 soundings involving these sondes were
included in the QME results I looked at (some QME results were discarded
because of problems with either the MWR data or the sounding data).  The
distribution of these 1178 by facility is:

Facility   Number of Sondes          First Used         Last Used
           (based on QME)
   CF            316               1/20/95 (11:30)    9/22/95 (11:30)
   B1            143               2/21/95 (17:30)    9/29/95 ( 8:30)
   B4            313               4/ 6/95 (17:30)   11/ 7/95 (17:28)
   B5            153               4/14/95 (17:30)   12/14/95 (17:30)
   B6            253               3/22/95 (17:30)   10/19/95 (17:30)

The sondes can be recognized by decoding the serial_number metadata word
in the sounding netCDF file.  The serial number of the sondes in question
is a  number (8 or 9 digit) of the form DDMMYTTPP where DD is the day of
the month (leading zero missing in the netCDF data), MM is the month +80
(e.g. 91 for November), Y is the last digit of the year (4 for 1994),
TT is the calibration tray ID, and PP is the position of the sonde in
the calibration tray.  The sondes in question will therefore have serial
numbers coded between 26904TTPP and 22914TTPP.

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

bad pressure sensor

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeB4

Subject: Bad pressure sensor 07/19/96 05:37

Date Submitted:  7/22/96
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnB4/all
	What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  B4 (Vici)
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  07/19/96   Time   05:37    (GMT)
        End Date    07/19/96   Time   07:25    (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      ___  All data fields affected
 _X_  incorrect                         _X_  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

It appears that the pressure sensor on this sonde 'jumped' immediately after
launch from the surface value of 941.8 hPa to 914.0 hPa.  This could result
from mechanical shock during launch.  In any event, the pressure values
throughout the sounding are incorrect, as will be the altitude, and
ascent rate values.  
 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:

None

Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Flag data.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeB5

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding BF5 08/02/96:2330

Date Submitted:  8/5/96
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnB5/all
	What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  BF5 Morris
 
    Period of time in question
 	Begin Date  08/02/96   Time   23:30    (GMT)
 	End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      ___  All data fields affected
 _X_  incorrect                         _X_  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 997.5
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 986.9 hPa. The surface
pressure at 20:30 was 988.3 and at 02:30 was 986.4.  It appears that the
operator mistakenly entered the 997.5 rather than 987.5.

Note that this will affect the altitude calculation throughout the sounding.
 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:

None

Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Flag data.

Data Processing Notes                Date




----- End Included Message -----

• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lat(lat)
• base time(base_time)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• V-component(v_wind)

• base time(base_time)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lon(lon)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

Questionable surface pressure sounding

Subject: DQR B1 sounding 960805:0530
Content-Length: 1852

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeB1

Subject: Questionable surface pressure sounding BF1 08/05/96:0530

Date Submitted:  8/5/96
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnB1/all
	What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  BF1 Hillsboro
 
    Period of time in question
 	Begin Date  08/05/96   Time   05:30    (GMT)
 	End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 _X_  questionable                      ___  All data fields affected
 ___  incorrect                         _X_  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 967.1
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 954.4 hPa. The surface
pressure at 02:30 was 950.3 but at 23:30 (8/4) it was 962.5 (sonde 960.7).
It appears that the either the operator mistakenly entered the 967.1 rather 
than 957.1 and/or that the pressure sensor may have jumped after launch.
In any event, the difference between the surface sample and the first sonde
sample exceeds our criterion for flagging.


Note that this will affect the altitude calculation throughout the sounding.
 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:

None

Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Flag data.

Data Processing Notes                Date




----- End Included Message -----

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

Questionable surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeB1

Subject: Questionable surface pressure sounding BF1 08/06/96:17:30

Date Submitted:  8/9/96
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnB1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  BF1 Hillsboro
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  08/06/96   Time   17:30    (GMT)
        End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 _X_  questionable                      ___  All data fields affected
 ___  incorrect                         _X_  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 967.8
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 956.5 hPa. I cannot
tell if the operator entered the surface pressure incorrectly or if the
sonde pressure sensor jumped after launch. In any event, the difference 
between the surface sample and the first sonde sample exceeds our 
criterion for flagging.

Note that this will affect the altitude calculation throughout the sounding.
 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:

None

Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Flag data.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

Incorrect surface pressure

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeB5

Subject: Incorrect surface pressure: sounding B5 03/17/97:1730

Date Submitted:  3/18/97
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other - Site Ops
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnB5.A1/all 
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  B5
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  03/17/97   Time 17:30      (GMT)
        End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ____  questionable                      ___  All data fields affected
 _X__  incorrect                         _X_  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

It appears that the site operator made a keyboard mistake when entering the
surface pressure for the subject sounding.  The pressure was entered as 999.6
and the first pressure value reported by the radiosonde was 989.3 hPa.  The
operators meteorological observaation log shows a sea-level pressure of 992.3
hPa at 1700.

The incorrect pressure value will affect the altitude values reported during
the sounding and the ascent rate values during the first 30 seconds of the
sounding.
 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:

None

Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Flag data.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lat(lat)
• base time(base_time)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• V-component(v_wind)

Reprocess: Incorrect surface wind speed units

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeB6

Subject: Incorrect surface wind speed units (3/17/97-3/24/97)

Date Submitted:  3/31/97
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other - Site Ops
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnB6 - all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  B6 (Purcell BF)
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  03/17/97   Time 17:30      (GMT)
        End Date    03/24/97   Time 17:30      (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      ___  All data fields affected
 _X_  incorrect                         _X_  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

The BF operator noticed that the weather measure set used to provide the
surface values for the soundings was incorrectly set to output wind speed
in knots rather than m/s from 3/17 to (and including) 3/24.  As a result, 
the value of the surface wind speed in the subject soundings is approximately
twice the correct value (conversion of knots to meters/sec).  

Because the surface wind speed is not used in any subsequent calculation
by the system, this should be a very low impact problem.  

Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:

None

Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Flag data.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Incorrect surface temperature

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeB4

Subject: Incorrect surface pressure: sounding B4 04/03/97:2332

Date Submitted:  4/07/97
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other - Site Ops
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnB4/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  B4 
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  04/03/97   Time 23:32      (GMT)
        End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ____  questionable                      ___  All data fields affected
 _X__  incorrect                         _X_  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

It appears that the site operator made a keyboard mistake when entering the
surface temperature for the subject sounding.  The temperature was entered 
as 26.0 degC and the first temperature value reported by the radiosonde was 
14.3 degC.  The operators' meteorological observation log shows that the
surface temperature was 14.2 degC at 2300.
 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:

None

Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Flag data.

• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Reprocess: Jump in pressure value

DQR No:                               Platform:  sgpsondeB6

Subject:        Jump in pressure value B6 sounding 970404.1733

Date Submitted: 4/9/97
Submitted By:   Barry Lesht           _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnb6/ (alt, asc, press)
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc): all

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/BF6
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  4/04/97    Time   17:33    (GMT)
        End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      _X_  All data fields affected
 _X_  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

The first pressure value reported by the radiosonde (t = 2 sec) is
879.2.  The surface pressure value was 962.1 hPa.  Either the pressure
sensor was jarred during launch or the system mis-identified the actual
launch start time.  Further clarification requires analysis of the raw
data which will take some time.  The altitude values for this sounding
will be incorrect.  The ascent rate values during the first 30 seconds
also will be wrong.  Because the system will reject samples with out
of bound ascent rates (i.e., during the first 30 seconds), the temperature
and rh values also will be incorrect (result of interpolation).  Relative
height values after 30 seconds should be okay.

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:


Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Flag data.

Data Processing Notes                Date

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Reprocess: Jump in pressure value

DQR No:                               Platform:  sgpsondeB5

Subject:        Jump in pressure value B5 sounding 970405.2030

Date Submitted: 4/10/97
Submitted By:   Barry Lesht           _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnb5/ (alt, asc, press)
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc): all

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/BF5
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  4/5/97     Time   20:30    (GMT)
        End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      _X_  All data fields affected
 _X_  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

The first pressure value reported by the radiosonde (t = 2 sec) is
967.3.  The surface pressure value was 973.5 hPa.  This difference
is slightly greater than the expected (normal) change and may mean that
either the pressure sensor was jarred during launch or the system 
mis-identified the actual launch start time.  Further clarification requires 
analysis of the raw data which will take some time.  The altitude values 
for this sounding will be incorrect.  The ascent rate values during the 
first 30 seconds also will be wrong.  Because the system will reject 
samples with out of bound ascent rates (i.e., during the first 30 seconds), 
the temperature and rh values also will be incorrect (result of 
interpolation).  Relative height values after 30 seconds should be okay.

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:


Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Flag data.

Data Processing Notes                Date

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lat(lat)
• base time(base_time)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• V-component(v_wind)

Reprocess: Incorrect surface wind speed

DQR No:                               Platform:  sgpsondeB4

Subject:        Incorrect surface wind speed B4 970403:2030

Date Submitted: 4/10/97
Submitted By:   Barry Lesht           _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnb4
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc): all

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/BF4
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  4/03/97    Time   20:30    (GMT)
        End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      _X_  All data fields affected
 _X_  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

The surface wind speed was entered by the operator as 103 m/s.  This is
clearly a typo and was flagged by the automatic QC check.  The surface
speed at 2000 was 0.9 and at 2100 was 0.0.  It is likely the operator
intended to enter either 1.3 or 0.3 m/s.

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:


Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Flag data.

• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Jump in pressure value

DQR No:                               Platform:  sgpsondeB6

Subject:        Jump in pressure value B6 sounding 970418.1731

Date Submitted: 4/22/97
Submitted By:   Barry Lesht           _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnb6/ (alt, asc, press)
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc): all

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/BF6
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  4/18/97    Time   17:31    (GMT)
        End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      _X_  All data fields affected
 _X_  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

The first pressure value reported by the radiosonde (t = 2 sec) is
913.4.  The surface pressure value was 973.9 hPa.  This difference
is substantially greater than the expected (normal) change and may mean that
either the pressure sensor was jarred during launch or the system 
mis-identified the actual launch start time.  Further clarification requires 
analysis of the raw data which will take some time.  The altitude values 
for this sounding will be incorrect.  The ascent rate values during the 
first 30 seconds also will be wrong.  Because the system will reject 
samples with out of bound ascent rates (i.e., during the first 30 seconds), 
the temperature and rh values also will be incorrect (result of 
interpolation).  Relative height values after 30 seconds should be okay.

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:


Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Flag data.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Jump in pressure value

DQR No:                               Platform:  sgpsondeB4

Subject:        Jump in pressure value B4 sounding 970420.2030

Date Submitted: 4/24/97
Submitted By:   Barry Lesht           _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnb4/ (alt, asc, press)
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc): all

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/BF4
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  4/20/97    Time   20:30    (GMT)
        End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      _X_  All data fields affected
 _X_  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

The first pressure value reported by the radiosonde (t = 2 sec) is
925.7.  The surface pressure value was 933.7 hPa.  This difference
is somewhat greater than the expected (normal) change and may mean that
either the pressure sensor was jarred during launch or the system 
mis-identified the actual launch start time.  Further clarification requires 
analysis of the raw data which will take some time.  The altitude values 
for this sounding will be incorrect.  The ascent rate values during the 
first 30 seconds also will be wrong.  Because the system will reject 
samples with out of bound ascent rates (i.e., during the first 30 seconds), 
the temperature and rh values also will be incorrect (result of 
interpolation).  Relative height values after 30 seconds should be okay.

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:


Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Flag data.

• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Jump in pressure value

DQR No:                               Platform:  sgpsondeB6

Subject:        Jump in pressure value B6 sounding 970412.0832

Date Submitted: 4/30/97
Submitted By:   Barry Lesht           _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnb6/ (alt, asc, press)
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc): all

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/BF6
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  4/12/97    Time   08:32    (GMT)
        End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      _X_  All data fields affected
 _X_  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

This is a sounding that was just reprocessed because the original data
was not sent to the SDS due to a communication problem.

The first pressure value reported by the radiosonde (t = 2 sec) is
904.3.  The surface pressure value was 978.9 hPa.  This difference
is substantially greater than the expected (normal) change and may mean that
either the pressure sensor was jarred during launch or the system 
mis-identified the actual launch start time.  Further clarification requires 
analysis of the raw data which will take some time.  The altitude values 
for this sounding will be incorrect.  The ascent rate values during the 
first 30 seconds also will be wrong.  Because the system will reject 
samples with out of bound ascent rates (i.e., during the first 30 seconds), 
the temperature and rh values also will be incorrect (result of 
interpolation).  Relative height values after 30 seconds should be okay.

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:


Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Flag data.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Corrupted and missing data

DQR No:                               Platform:  sgpsondeB5

Subject:        Corrupted and missing data B5 sounding 970506.1731

Date Submitted: 5/07/97
Submitted By:   Barry Lesht           _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnb5/ (all)
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc): all

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/BF5
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  5/06/97    Time  18:14:30     (GMT)
        End Date    5/06/97    Time  18:15:12     (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      _X_  All data fields affected
 _X_  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

An apparent communication problem between the digi-CORA and the SDS led
to inclusion of one corrupt data scan (at 43 minutes, 30 seconds into
the sounding) and no data between valid scans at 43 min, 28 sec and
44 min, 16 sec.  The corrupt data was interpreted by the ingest as
valid data and it is included in the netCDF file.  Note, however, that
the QC flags for this scan are set correctly, indicating that the data
in the netCDF file violated the mentor QC criteria.
 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:


Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Reprocess sounding at BF5 pending decision of PRB.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lat(lat)
• base time(base_time)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• V-component(v_wind)

Jump in pressure value B4 sounding

DQR No:                               Platform:  sgpsondeB4

Subject:        Jump in pressure value B4 sounding 970616:1730

Date Submitted: 6/22/97
Submitted By:   Barry Lesht           _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnb4/ (alt, asc, press)
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc): all

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/BF4
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  6/16/97    Time   17:30    (GMT)
        End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 _X_  questionable                      _X_  All data fields affected
 ___  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

The first pressure value reported by the radiosonde (t = 2 sec) is
931.4.  The surface pressure value was 936.9 hPa.  This difference
is slightly greater than the expected (normal) change and may mean that
either the pressure sensor was jarred during launch or the system 
mis-identified the actual launch start time.  Further clarification requires 
analysis of the raw data which will take some time.  The altitude values 
for this sounding may be incorrect.  The ascent rate values during the 
first 30 seconds also will be wrong.  Because the system will reject 
samples with out of bound ascent rates (i.e., during the first 30 seconds), 
the temperature and rh values also will be incorrect (result of 
interpolation).  Relative height values after 30 seconds should be okay.

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:


Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Flag data.

• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Jump in pressure value B6 sounding

DQR No:                               Platform:  sgpsondeB6

Subject:        Jump in pressure value B6 sounding 970619:0530

Date Submitted: 6/24/97
Submitted By:   Barry Lesht           _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnb6/ (alt, asc, press)
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc): all

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/BF6
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  6/19/97    Time   05:30    (GMT)
        End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 _X_  questionable                      ___  All data fields affected
 ___  incorrect                         _X_  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

The first pressure value reported by the radiosonde (t = 2 sec) is
970.4.  The surface pressure value was 975.1 hPa.  This difference
is greater than the expected (normal) change and may mean that
either the pressure sensor was jarred during launch or the system 
mis-identified the actual launch start time.  Further clarification requires 
analysis of the raw data which will take some time.  The altitude values 
for this sounding may be incorrect.  The ascent rate values during the 
first 30 seconds also will be wrong.  Because the system will reject 
samples with out of bound ascent rates (i.e., during the first 30 seconds), 
the temperature and rh values also will be incorrect (result of 
interpolation).  Relative height values after 30 seconds should be okay.

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:


Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Flag data.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Jump in pressure value B6

DQR No:                               Platform:  sgpsondeB6

Subject:        Jump in pressure value B6 sounding 970619:1130

Date Submitted: 6/24/97
Submitted By:   Barry Lesht           _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnb6/ (alt, asc, press)
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc): all

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/BF6
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  6/19/97    Time   11:30    (GMT)
        End Date               Time            (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 _X_  questionable                      ___  All data fields affected
 ___  incorrect                         _X_  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:

The first pressure value reported by the radiosonde (t = 2 sec) is
968.0.  The surface pressure value was 974.5 hPa.  This difference
is greater than the expected (normal) change and may mean that
either the pressure sensor was jarred during launch or the system 
mis-identified the actual launch start time.  Further clarification requires 
analysis of the raw data which will take some time.  The altitude values 
for this sounding may be incorrect.  The ascent rate values during the 
first 30 seconds also will be wrong.  Because the system will reject 
samples with out of bound ascent rates (i.e., during the first 30 seconds), 
the temperature and rh values also will be incorrect (result of 
interpolation).  Relative height values after 30 seconds should be okay.

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:


Suggested Corrections of the Problem: (e.g. change calibration factor and
recompute, flag data with this comment, etc.)

Flag data.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Last sample incorrect b6 sounding 970712:1130

It appears that a communications glitch resulted in the last sample line
of the raw data provided by the instrument being corrupted.  As a result,
the ingest translated the corrupted data as real information.  The last
valid sample is the one collected at 104 min 48 seconds into the sounding.

Because this was the last sample in the file, I do not recommend that
we reprocess these data.

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lat(lat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• base time(base_time)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Direction(deg)

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

qc flags set incorrectly at 11:52:44

This should be an 'inverse' data quality report.  Because of the problem
with the ingest of this file caused by the communication glitch (see
earlier DQR and PIF submitted today) the qc_delta flags for variabels
tdry and asc were set incorrectly.  All data for this sounding from
11:30 to one sample from the end are correct and the only qc flags that
should be set are at the first and last samples of the file.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

possible telemetry interference/interpolated data

It appears that this sonde lost signal briefly a little after an hour
into the flight at 18:36:42 (altitude approx 17 km.  Signal was recovered,
but it is possible that the signal was from a different sonde - temp and
RH data appear to be interpolated in the interval from 17 to 20 km.  I
would treat all data above 17 km (after 18:36:42) as questionable.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lat(lat)
• base time(base_time)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• V-component(v_wind)

Pressure jump at launch

The first pressure value returned by the radiosonde after launch (985.2)
is somewhat lower than would be expected based on the entered surface
pressure (990.0).  It is likely that either the pressure sensor was
jarred at launch or that the system mis-identified the launch time.
Altitude and absolute pressure values will be affected and ascent rate
values during the first 30 sec of flight will be incorrect.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lat(lat)
• base time(base_time)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• V-component(v_wind)

Missing/Questionable data 970715:0530 sounding

DATA QUALITY REPORT(DQR)

                              DQR No: D970718.1

o  Date Submitted: Fri Jul 18 16:29:46 GMT 1997


o  Submitted By:   Barry Lesht
        Organization:   ANL
           Telephone:   (630) 252-4208
               Email:   bmlesht@anl.gov

o  Subject of DQR: sgpsondewrpnB6.9707150604.9707150705.all - Missing/Questionable data 
970715:0530 sounding

o  Data should be labeled: questionable, missing

o  Description: 
   This file has two problems.  The first is possible interference and
incorrect data from 34:32 into the flight (06:04:32 or 9673 m) to
38:48 (06:08:48 or 10718 m).  I would treat these data a questionable.
There is a gap in the data, possibly due to SDS communication problems
from 38:48 to 95:42 (07:05:42 or 25112 m) in which all data are missing.

o  Suggested Corrections: 
   Reprocess file from raw data (companion PIF will be submitted).
   Flag data.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump after launch

First pressure value returned by the sonde after launch was 966.8, somewhat
lower than would be expected given the surface pressure reading of 971.3.
This resulted in an apparent ascent rate that is greater than the QC flag
trigger.  Ascent rates during the first 30 s of flight are likely incorrect.
Absolute altitudes also are likely incorrect.  Relative pressure differences
after launch should be okay.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The first pressure value reported by the sonde after launch (966.1) is
lower than the surface pressure value (972.1) by a greater difference than
normally would be expected.  This may indicate that the sonde was jarred
on launch, that the system mis-identified actual launch time, or that the
operator entered and incorrect value (typo or read too early).  The
altitude values for this sounding will be wrong as will the ascent rates
during the first 30 seconds.  If the ascent rates were such that the
sample acceptance criteria  were violated, the pressure, temperature,
and RH values in the first part of the profile may be the result of
interpolation.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde (958.8)
and the surface pressure (969.3) is considerable greater than would be
expected.  The altitude values for this sounding will be incorrect, as will
be the ascent rate values during the first 30 seconds.  Values of P, T, and
RH during the first 30 seconds will most likely be values interpolated betwen
the surface and the 30 second sample.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure reported by the sonde after
launch (930.0) and that reported at the surface (935.7) is larger than
would be expected.  The altitude values for this sounding will be incorrect,
as will be the ascent rates for the first 30 seconds.  Some of the P, T, and
RH samples (most likely those nearest the ground) will be interpolated
values.

• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde
after launch (992.7) and the surface value entered by the operator (997.5)
is somewhat greater than would normally be expected.  This may indicate
jarring of the pressure sensor at launch or misidentification of the
start time by the system.  The altitude values in the file will be incorrect
as well be the ascent rate values during the first 30 seconds of the
sounding.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lat(lat)
• base time(base_time)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• V-component(v_wind)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between first pressure value reported by the radiosonde 
after launch (954.4) and the surface value entered by the operator (961.7)
is greater than expected , indicating that either ths sonde was jarred on 
launch or that the system mis-identified start time.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• base time(base_time)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the radiosonde
aloft (957.9) and the surface value entered by the operator (962.6) is
greater than would be expected normally.  This may indicate that the sonde
was jarred at launch or that the system mis-identified the launch start
time.  The altitude values for this sounding will be incorrect as will be
the ascent rates in the first 30 seconds.  If the reported ascent rates
exceed 12 m/s, the thermodynamic data will be interpolated rather than
sampled.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde after
launch (968.5) and the surface value entered by the opertor (973.5) is
greater than would normally be expected.  This may indicate that either the
sonde was jarred at launch or that the system mis-identified launch start
time.  The altitude values for this sounding will be in error and the
ascent rate values in the first 30 seconds also will be wrong.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump after launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde
after launch (968.5) and the surface value entered by the operator (973.8)
is greater than would normally be expected.

The altitude values for this sounding will be incorrect as will be the
ascent rates for the first 30 seconds.  Some of the thermodynamic data
at the beginning of the soundings (when ascent rates exceed 12 m/s) will
be the result of interpolation between the surface value and the first
value obtained when the ascent rate with in acceptable limits.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Weird surface value problem

For some unknown reason, the surface values of pressure, temperature,
and rh in this file are corrupted.  The correct values are in the raw
data file, which looks normal.  The correct values are 938.2 hPa, 
22.1 degC, and 50% RH instead of 20001 hPa, 501.0 degC and 11501 RH.
Because the raw data looks fine, all the other values in this file
should be correct.

• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Bad pressure absolute pressure values

The BF operator noted that the sonde pressure was reading about 20 hPa low
relative to ambient.  Based on interpolation from the previous and subsequent
soundings, the surface pressure was probably something like 978 hPa.  The
sonde pressure sensor was reading 955.8.  It is possible that the operator
used the wrong calibration tape, but it is more likely that their was
a problem with the pressure sensor (based on the reasonable values of
surface temperature and rh).

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lat(lat)
• base time(base_time)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• V-component(v_wind)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value obtained from the sonde
after launch (971.1) and the value of surface pressure entered by the
operator (976.8) is larger than usual.  I note that soundings done at
0530 and 1130 have surface pressures of 973.2.  It may be a typographic
error by the operator, jarring of the sensor at launch, or mis-identification
of the start time by the system.  In any event, the absolute altitudes
for this sounding will be wrong, and the ascent rates during the first
30 seconds also will be too high.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

B4 - Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value recorded by the sonde
after launch (936.6) and the value for surface pressure recorded by the
operator (944.9) is greater than normally expected.  This may be due to
physical jarring of the sonde at launch, to misidentification of the
launch time by the system, or some other cause.  The altitude values for
this sounding will be incorrect as will be the ascent rate values during
the first 30 seconds of the flight.

• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Incorrect radiosonde serial numbers

Radiosondes manufactured at Vaisala's Woburn, MA factory during the first
of January 1998 have incorrect serial numbers.  Instead of being numbered
8012XXXXX these sondes are numbered 7012XXXXX.  Vaisala has been informed
of this, has confirmed the problem, and has corrected their numbering for
all subsequent sondes.  163 incorrectly numbered sondes were shipped to ARM
on 1/9/98.  Some have been used at the CF since 1/19/98:1430.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base time(base_time)

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• lat(lat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lat(lat)

• Wind Direction(deg)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)

• lat(lat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lon(lon)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lon(lon)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)

• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• base time(base_time)

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lon(lon)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lat(lat)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)

• Wind Direction(deg)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• lat(lat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)

Incorrect surface temperature and humidity

The operator entered inside temperature (24.1 degC) and RH (15) instead
of outside (approx -5.6 degC, 89RH).  This will affect the first few
points of the sounding.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

Incorrect surface temperature and humidity

The operator entered inside temperature (24.4 degC) and relative humidity
(15) instead of outside (approx -4.0 degC, 82).  This will affect the
first few points of the sounding.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

Pressure jump at launch

The first pressure value reported by the sonde after launch (939.1) is
much lower than that reported at the surface (946.1).  This may result
from jarring at launch, failure of the system to detect launch, or
other problem.  The absolute altitude for this sounding and ascent rates
for the first 30 seconds will be incorrect.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The first pressure value reported by the sonde (941.7) is much smaller
than the surface value (949.9) indicating that the sonde was either
jarred on launch, or that the system failed to properly identify the
start time.  The absolute altitude for the sounding and ascent rates
for the first 30 seconds will be incorrect.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The first pressure value reported by the sonde after launch (941.2) is
much smaller than that reported at the surface (949.3).  This suggests
that the sonde was jarred on launch or that the system failed to detect
start properly.  The absolute alititude throughout the sounding and the
ascent rates during the first 30 seconds will be incorrect.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The first pressure value reported by the sonde after launch (943.3) is
much lower than the surface pressure (950.1).  Either the sonde was
jarred at launch or the system failed to identify the start time correctly.
The absolute altitudes for the sounding and the ascent rates for the
first 30 seconds will be incorrect.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The first pressure value reported by the sonde after launch (949.9) is
somewhat lower than the surface pressure (942.8).  This may indicate that
the sonde was jarred at launch or that the system failed to identify
the start time.  The absolute altitude for the sounding and ascent rate
for the first 30 seconds will be incorrect.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde after
launch (964.0) and the surface pressure (971.8) is greater than would
be expected.  The sonde may have been jarred at launch or the system may
not have identified the start time correctly.  The absolute altitude for
the sounding and ascent rates for the first 30 s will be incorrect.

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lat(lat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• base time(base_time)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Direction(deg)

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Telemetry interference

The ground station began tracking a different radiosonde at 18:08:26.
Pressure and temperature data were recorded from this point to the end
of the sounding at 18:12:52 but are incorrect.  No wind or RH data were
recorded after 18:08:26.  The sounding up to this point is okay.

• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lat(lat)
• base time(base_time)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• V-component(v_wind)

• base time(base_time)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lon(lon)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

Incorrect surface temperature and humidity

Incorrect values of surface temperature and relative humidity were
entered by the operator.  These were entered as 25.3 degC and 20% and
should probably have been closer to -0.5 degC and 73%. It appears
that the operator used the inside readings rather than the outside
readings.  This seems to be a recurring problem (similar DQRs follow)
and site ops has been informed so procedures can be reviewed.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

Incorrect surface temperature and humidity

Incorrect values of surface temperature and relative humidity were 
entered by the operator.  These were entered as 22.1 degC and 20, but
should probably be closer to -1.1 degC and 79%. It appears that the
operator used the inside rather than the outside temperature.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

Incorrect surface temperature and humidity

The operator entered incorrect values of surface temperature and relative
humidity.  The values entered are 18.8 degC and 30rather should be
closer to 10.0 degC and 55It appears that the operator entered the
inside rather than the outside values.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

Incorrect surface temperature and humidity

The operator entered values of temperature and relative humidity obtained
inside (21.3 degC, 23) rather than outside (closer to -0.4 degC, 79).
These incorrect values will affect only the first few points of the
sounding.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

Incorrect surface temperature and humidity

The operator entered temperature and relative humidity values obtained from
inside (21.8 degC, 20) rather than outside (closer to -1.8 degC, 78).
The incorrect values will only affect the first few points in the
sounding.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

Incorrect surface temperature and humidity

The operator apparently entered inside temperature and relative humidity
(24.4, 21) rather than outside values (closer to -6.0, 81).  The
incorrect values will affect only the first few points of the sounding.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

Incorrect surface temperature and humidity

The operator entered surface temperature and relative humidity (21.0, 18)
obtained from inside rather than from outside (closer to -6.5, 75).  This
will affect the first few points of the sounding.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

Incorrect surface temperature and humidity

It appears that the operator incorrectly entered inside temperature
(21.1 degC) and RH (23) instead of outside values obtained from the
radiosonde (closer to 0.8 degC and 78) as surface values for this
sounding.  The first few levels of data will be affected.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

Incorrect surface temperature and humidity

It appears that the operators entered the inside temperature (18.6 degC)
and RH (29) rather than the outside values (approx 0.9 degC, 73) when
prompted for the surface met data.  These incorrect values will affect
the first few points of the sounding.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde
after launch (940.3) and the surface value entered by the operator
(945.8) is somewhat larger than expected.  This may indicate that the
sonde was jarred on launch or that the system did not identify the
start time properly.  The absolute altitude for this sounding will be
in error as will be the ascent rates during the first 30 s.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde after
launch (942.1) and the surface pressure (947.1) is somewhat greater than
expected.  This may indicate that the sonde was jarred during launch or
that the system failed to identify the start time properly.  The absolute
altitude during this sounding will be questionable as will be the ascent
rate during the first 30 s.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde after
launch (942.8) and the surface pressure (949.2) is greater than expected.
This may indicate that the sonde was jarred at launch or that the system
failed to identify the start time properly.  The absolute altitudes for
this sounding will be questionable as will be the ascent rate during the
first 30 s.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Interference affects sounding

It appears that the ground station either locked on an incorrect signal
(probably from another radiosonde) or was incorrectly tuned to the sonde
being launched.  As a result, all of the data from this sounding look
strange.  The sounding is itself short (only 228 sec duration) again
indicating a telemetry problem.

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lat(lat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• base time(base_time)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Direction(deg)

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde after
launch (949.7) and the reported surface pressure (943.7) is somewhat larger
than expected.  As a result, the absolute altitudes for this sounding and
the ascent rates for the first 30 seconds are questionable.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde
after launch (944.9) and that reported for the surface (949.8) is
somewhat larger than would be expected.  The absolute altitude for this
sounding and the ascent rate during the first 30 seconds will be
questionable.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde 
after launch (941.4) and the surface value (946.7) is somewhat greater
than would be expected.  The absolute altitude for this sounding and the
ascent rate during the first 30 seconds will be questionable.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde after
launch (944.9) and the surface pressure (949.8) is larger than expected.
The absolute altitude for the entire sounding and the ascent rate for
the first 30 seconds will be questionable.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch.

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde
after launch (935.7) and the surface pressure (940.7) is somewhat larger
than expected.  The absolute altitude for the entire sounding and the
ascent rate for the first 30 seconds will be questionable.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde
after launch (935.7) and the surface pressure (940.7) is larger than
would be expected.  The absolute altitude for this sounding and the
ascent rate for the first 30 seconds will be questionable.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde
after launch (936.9) and the surface pressure (942.1) is greater than
expected.  The absolute altitude for this sounding and the ascent rate
during the first 30 seconds will likely be incorrect.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde
after launch (938.7) and the surface pressure (943.6) is somewhat 
greater than expected.  The absolute altitude for this sounding as well
as the ascent rate during the first 30 seconds will likely be incorrect.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde
after launch (940.3) and the surface pressure (946.4) is greater than
would be expected.  The absolute altitudes for the sounding and the
ascent rate for the first 30 seconds will likely be incorrect.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde after
launch (942.1) and the surface pressure (947.6) is greater than expected.
The absolute altitude for this sounding and the ascent rate during the
first 30 seconds will likely be incorrect.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde
after launch (943.3) and the surface pressure (948.1) is greater than
would be expected.  The absolute altitude for this soundings and the
ascent rate for the first 30 sec are questionable.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde
after launch (943.3) and the surface pressure (948.6) is greater than
would be expected.  The absolute altitude for this sounding and the
ascent rate for the first 30 seconds will be questionable.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde
after launch (968.0) and the surface pressure is greater than is expected.
The absolute altitude for this sounding and the ascent rate for the
first 30 seconds are questionable.

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lat(lat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• base time(base_time)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Direction(deg)

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported after launch
(940.8) and the surface pressure (946.8) is greater than expected.  The
absolute altitude for this sounding and the ascent rate for the first
30 seconds are questionable.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde
after launch (937.1) and the surface pressure is greater than expected.
The absolute altitude for this sounding and the ascent rate during the
first 30 seconds are questionable.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value reported by the sonde after
launch (935.9) and the surface pressure (941.7) is greater than expected.
The absolute altitudes for this sounding and the ascent rates for the first
30 seconds are questionable.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure reported by the sonde after
launch (945.1) is substantially lower than that reported at the surface
(955.7).  This difference is greater than expected and suggests that either
the sonde was jarred at launch or the system misidentified the actual
start time.  The effect is that the absolute altitudes will be incorrect
for this sounding as will be the ascent rates during the first 30
seconds.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• base time(base_time)

SGP/SONDE - Dry bias in sonde RH

Vaisala has confirmed ARM findings of an apparent dry bias in the
relative humidity measured by RS-80H radiosondes.  The cause of
the dry bias is thought to be contamination of the humidity sensor
by volatile organic substances originating from some plastic parts
of the radiosonde.  The amount of contamination is a function of
the time between the date of sonde manufacture and its use.  All
RS-80H sondes manufactured before week 34 of 1998 will show this
bias.  After week 34 of 1998 Vaisala changed its packaging to
reduce, but not eliminate the contamination problem.

Starting with RS-80 radiosonde manufactured in late June 2000 Vaisala
enclosed the sensor boom in an inert plastic shield, thereby eliminating
the contamination that caused the dry bias.

Starting in May 2001 at the SGP, May 2002 at the TWP, and later 2002
at the NSA, ARM has moved to using RS-90 radiosondes.  These sondes
are not subject to the contaminatino that caused the dry bias.

Vaisala is in the process of developing an algorithm that can be 
used to estimate the correct RH from knowledge of the sonde age.
All of the ARM sounding data have sufficient metadata available
to apply the correction.

Additionally, ARM has funded a Science Team effort (Milosevich) to
develop a 'best' correction algorithm for the RS-80 radiosonde humidity
data.  When completed this algorithm will allow us to reprocess the
accumulated RS-80 data and produce a new data platform with what we
hope will be more accurate data.

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

SGP/SONDE - Operator used wrong calibration tape

The operator used the wrong calibration tape for this sounding.
The temperature and dew point data are obviously incorrect, the
other thermodynamic variables are incorrect as well.  The calibration
tape was for sonde serial number 819351413, the operator log
shows sonde serial number 819351406.

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• lon(lon)
• Flags for input v_wind values(v_wind_flags)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• base time(base_time)
• Flags for input u_wind values(u_wind_flags)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• S-to-N Component of Wind, calculated(v_wind_calc)
• W-to-E Component of wind, calculated(u_wind_calc)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

SGP/SONDE - Incorrect surface pressure

The operator entered the TWHAPS surface pressure 980.4 hPa instead
of the sonde surface pressure 978.2.  As a result, the absolute
altitudes for this sounding will be incorrect as will be the
ascent rates during the first 30 seconds.

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lat(lat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• base time(base_time)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Direction(deg)

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

SGP/SONDE - Operator used wrong calibration tape

It appears that the operator loaded the wrong calibration tape with this
sonde.  All PTU data are incorrect.  Apparently, the operator noticed a
problem and started a new sounding at 0305 (different file).

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• lon(lon)
• Flags for input v_wind values(v_wind_flags)
• lat(lat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• base time(base_time)
• Flags for input u_wind values(u_wind_flags)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• S-to-N Component of Wind, calculated(v_wind_calc)
• W-to-E Component of wind, calculated(u_wind_calc)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

SGP/SONDE - Incorrect surface pressure

The operator entered the THWAPS surface pressure (965.6) rather
than the sonde surface pressure (963.8) into the sounding file.
This will result in inaccurate ascent rates during the first
30 seconds of the sounding and inaccurate absolute altitudes
throughout.

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

SGP/SONDE - Pressure jump at launch/incorrect surface values

There are two problems here.  First, the operator entered the values
of PTU obtained from the THWAPS as the surface values for this sounding
instead of the sonde values.  In doing so, the surface pressure was
entered incorrected (OMIS log shows both sonde and THWAPS at 969.0),
surface value is entered as 969.9.  The second problem is that apparently
the system misidentified the time of release and as a result the ascent
rates are wrong for the first 30 seconds.  The time of release problem
was caused because the operator started a new sonde instead of resetting
the system.  I am assuming that the values of PTU are correct, but I
have no way of knowing the relationship betweeen the time into the
sounding and the actual altitude/pressures.  It seems likely that the
altitudes are OK but that they do not correspond to the actual times
after phyical launch.

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lon(lon)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• U-component(u_wind)
• lat(lat)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

SGP/SONDE Pressure jump at launch

Sonde pressure at launch recorded as 974.9 (THWAPS 975.1); first pressure after launch 
recorded as 969.7.  This difference is slightly larger than would be expected.  It may be 
that the pressure sensor was jarred during launch or the system failed to detect the 
correct time of launch.  In either case, the absolute altitudes for this sounding will be 
incorrect as will be the ascent rates during the first 30 seconds of flight.

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lat(lat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• base time(base_time)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Direction(deg)