TWP/C2/Sonde Missing Data

There were no sondes launced during this period because there was
no helium on site and the hydrogen generator was not working.  The
hydrogen generator was repaired and launches resumed.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• lat
• base_time
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• wstat
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• alt
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• asc
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• lon
• time_offset
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)

• lon
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• wstat
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• alt
• asc
• base_time
• time_offset
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lat
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

TWP/SONDE/C2 - Missing Winds

About half of the soundings in November-December exhibited drop-outs
in the winds.  These dropouts were typically over a depth of 1-2 km.
Sometimes the dropout occurred at the surface, sometimes at the top of
the sounding and sometimes in the middle.  These gaps occurred on:

19981126
19981129
19981206
19981209
19981210
19981211
19981212
19981221
19981222

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)

TWP/C2/Balloon Soundings: Missing Flights

No sondes were launched during this period for reasons unknown.

• lat
• base_time
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• wstat
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• alt
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• asc
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• lon
• time_offset
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)

• lon
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• wstat
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• alt
• asc
• base_time
• time_offset
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lat
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

TWP/C1 - Incorrect elevation reported in Manus Data

(From Bill Clements) We have been using 6m MSL as the station
elevation of Momote (Manus).  This was based on information
posted near the station barometer in the Momote Weather Service
Office.  It turns out that the official WMO station elevation
for Momote is 4m MSL and the upper air elevation is 5m MSL.

All Manus instruments except the sonde station are at 4m MSL.
The sonde launching station is at 5m MSL.

• alt

TWP/C1/Balloon Soundings Maximum Altitude

Only surface data included in this data file.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• lat
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• asc
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• base_time
• alt
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• time_offset
• wstat

• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• wstat
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• time_offset
• alt
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time
• lat
• asc
• lon

TWP/C1/Balloon Soundings Maximum Altitude

Only surface data included in this data file.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• lat
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• asc
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• base_time
• alt
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• time_offset
• wstat

• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• wstat
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• time_offset
• alt
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time
• lat
• asc
• lon

TWP/C1/Balloon Soundings Maximum Altitude

Only surface data included in this data file.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• lat
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• asc
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• base_time
• alt
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• time_offset
• wstat

• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• wstat
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• time_offset
• alt
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time
• lat
• asc
• lon

TWP/C1/Balloon Soundings Maximum Altitude

Only surface data included in this data file.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• lat
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• asc
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• base_time
• alt
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• time_offset
• wstat

• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• wstat
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• time_offset
• alt
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time
• lat
• asc
• lon

TWP/C1/Balloon Soundings Maximum Altitude

This sonde only reached a height of 0.3 km.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• lat
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• asc
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• base_time
• alt
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• time_offset
• wstat

• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• wstat
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• time_offset
• alt
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time
• lat
• asc
• lon

TWP/C1 - Generator Problem

On November 18 the generator was turned off due to a fault in the oil
pressure sensor. It had been having trouble for at least a day prior
to the manual shut-down. ADaM, the MPL, and the WSI were also shut
down to prevent an unscheduled power cycle. As a result, there is a block 
of missing data from November 20-27 for all of the instruments except 
those connected to the Zeno loggers (SKYRAD, GNDRAD, SMET).

• Wind Direction(deg)
• asc
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• lon
• base_time
• wstat
• lat
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• time_offset
• alt

• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• wstat
• asc
• lon
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• base_time
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• time_offset
• alt
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lat

• laser_temperature
• lon
• Backscatter(backscatter)
• measurement_parameters
• base_time
• Vertical visibility(vertical_visibility)
• alt_highest_signal
• alt
• lat
• Second lowest cloud base height(second_cbh)
• Lowest cloud base height detected.(first_cbh)
• receiver_sensitivity
• Third cloud base height(third_cbh)
• range
• detection_status
• time_offset
• background_light
• sum_backscatter
• status_flag
• window_contamination
• tilt_angle
• laser_pulse_energy
• filename
• status_string

• laser_pulse_energy
• Second lowest cloud base height(second_cbh)
• time_offset
• receiver_sensitivity
• Vertical visibility(vertical_visibility)
• filename
• measurement_parameters
• status_string
• background_light
• sum_backscatter
• lon
• status_flag
• detection_status
• range
• laser_temperature
• Third cloud base height(third_cbh)
• Lowest cloud base height detected.(first_cbh)
• alt
• alt_highest_signal
• tilt_angle
• Backscatter(backscatter)
• window_contamination
• lat
• base_time

• logger_volt
• lon
• alt
• diffuse_hemisp_broadband
• base_time
• cosine_solar_zenith_angle
• lat
• Direct Normal Broadband Irradiance(direct_norm_broadband)
• time_offset
• callang_flags
• hemisp_narrowband
• diffuse_hemisp_narrowband
• total_hemisp_broadband
• mfrsr_temp
• Direct Normal Irradiance, NIMFR(direct_norm_narrowband)

• lat
• dif6
• dif5
• dif7
• dif2
• dif1
• dif4
• dif3
• supply_voltage
• base_time
• detector_temp
• alt
• time_offset
• tot3
• tot4
• lon
• tot1
• tot2
• tot7
• tot5
• tot6
• dirn4
• dirn3
• dirn2
• dirn1
• dirn7
• dirn6
• dirn5

SGP/SONDE/B1 - Incorrect surface temperature

The operator entered 8.1 degC as the surface temperature for this sounding instead of -8.1 
degC.  This is the only value affected.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

SGP/SONDE/B1 - Bad sounding data (incorrect calibration?)

I'm not sure what happened here but the temperature data for this sounding
clearly are wrong.  Along with the missing humidity data and the problems
the operator reported with his previous sounding it looks as if all the data
in this file are bad.  It may be that the sensor was damaged at launch (it
was very windy).

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• alt
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• asc
• lon
• wstat
• time_offset
• base_time
• lat
• Wind Direction(deg)

• time_offset
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• wstat
• lat
• alt
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• lon
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• base_time
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• asc
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad temp (other?) data in 12/3/01:2328 sounding

It looks as though the temperature sensor was damaged on launch.  The
recorded temp goes from 16.4 at the surface to -42.6 at 2 seconds into the
flight.  The temperature never exceeds -42 though the RH and pressure look
reasonable, but probably should be considered questionable.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad temperature in CF sounding 12/22/01:0527

The temperature data in this sounding look bad after the first value.  The
temperature series is 11.4, 2.6, -14.3, -32.4 in the first 6 seconds of
flight.  I don't know why this occurred, but it obviously is incorrect.
The pressure and RH data look reasonable.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad temperature data CF sounding 12/28/01:2326

The temperature data in this sounding are bad from approximately 16 seconds
into the flight.  The temperature series is 9.9, 10.8, 11.3, 1.5, 11.6, 11.6,
11.6, -32.2 and remains below -30 degC.  I don't know why this occurred, but
it clearly is incorrect.  The pressure data looks OK as does the RH, though
the RH data are missing (probably sensor failure) above roughly 3.5 km.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad temperature in SGP/CF sounding 20020108:0528

Temperature values in this sounding went from 3.5 degC at the surface to
-33.3 degC at the next sample.  It appears that all the remaining
temperature values have an approximate -35 degC offset.  The pressure
and RH values appear reasonable.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - CF sounding 20020522:1130 bad temperature/RH

It appears that the sonde sensor boom was damaged upon launch.  The result
is that no RH data are reported and the reported temperature is something on
the order of 60 degC too low.

• alt
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• asc

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• alt
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• asc

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad T/RH data in CF sounding 20020523:1129

It appears that the sensor boom was damaged shortly after launch.  The
temperature reading jumps -60 degC and the RH goes to 0.

• alt
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• asc

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• alt
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• asc

SGP/SONDE/C1 - CF sounding 20020609:0229 bad temp/rh/etc

The temperature and RH for this sounding look bad, either because of
interference from another sonde or because the temperature sensor was
broken on launch.  The sounding terminated early in any event.

• alt
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• asc

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• alt
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• asc

TWP/C2  Installation

The Nauru ARCS was installed during the period September-November
1998.  Data were being collected by the end of October, but for the
first several weeks of November, the site was undergoing considerable
change, so data from that period should be used with caution.  The
official site dedication occured on November 20.  Most on-site
activity ended following the dedication so we will consider November
20 to be the beginning of the Nauru operations.  The last members of
the installation team left Nauru on November 24.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• lat
• base_time
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• wstat
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• alt
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• asc
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• lon
• time_offset
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)

• lon
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• wstat
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• alt
• asc
• base_time
• time_offset
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lat
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

TWP/C1 - Incorrect elevation reported in Manus Data

(From Bill Clements) We have been using 6m MSL as the station
elevation of Momote (Manus).  This was based on information
posted near the station barometer in the Momote Weather Service
Office.  It turns out that the official WMO station elevation
for Momote is 4m MSL and the upper air elevation is 5m MSL.

All Manus instruments except the sonde station are at 4m MSL.
The sonde launching station is at 5m MSL.

• alt

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Incorrect Surface Pressure

It appears that the operator made a typographical error when entering the
surface pressure.  The file has 987.0 hPa and it probably should be 978.0
which would be consistent with the first sample provided by the radiosonde
(977.3 hPa), the surface pressures recorded for the adjacent soundings, and
the THWAPS pressure.

Because the sounding altitude is calculated assuming the surface pressure
is correct, the altitude values for the entire flight and the ascent rate 
values for the first 30 seconds of the sounding will be incorrect.

• alt
• asc

• alt
• asc

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad Temperature Sensor

It appears that the temperature sensor broke shortly after launch.  As a
result, the temperature and dewpoint values are incorrect.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Temperature sensor failure

Temperature sensor broke at launch.  All temperature-related variables
are incorrect.

• Water vapor, total integrated from radiosonde(integ_vap_sonde)
• integ_vap_sonde_direct

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad Temperature Sensor

It appears that the temperature sensor broke upon launch and therefore the reported 
temperature is approximately 40 degC too low.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

• Water vapor, total integrated from radiosonde(integ_vap_sonde)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad Temperature Sensor

It appears that the temperature sensor broke shortly after launch. Temperatures are offset 
by approxmiately (but not constantly) 40 degC.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

• Water vapor, total integrated from radiosonde(integ_vap_sonde)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

Bad temperature sensor

It appears that the temperture sensor broke a few seconds into flight.  This results in an 
unreasonably low temperature for the rest of the flight.  For some reason, the rh values 
also go missing shortly after launch.  Only the wind and pressure data are reliable.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• alt

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• asc
• alt
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• asc
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• alt

SGP/SONDE/B4 - Soundings contaminated by interference

These five soundings, done in succession on 11/07/2002 as part of the SCM/IOP are 
contaminated by interference.  I can't tell whether the problem has to do with improper tuning of 
the radiosondes, inadequate frequency separation among radiosondes launched from 
different locations, or some other operator problem.  I suspect that there is an operator 
component to the difficulty because the surface pressure is given as an unreasonably low 896.6 
hPa on the 1730 sounding and 886.1 hPa on the 2331 sounding.  This may indicate that the 
ground station was locked another station's radiosonde rather than on the B4 radiosonde.

• lon
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• lat
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• alt

• lon
• lat
• alt
• Wind Direction(deg)
• asc
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• model_tmr31
• model_tbsky23
• model_tmr23
• Water vapor, total integrated from radiosonde(integ_vap_sonde)
• max_height_sonde
• model_tbsky31

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• asc
• lon
• alt
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lat
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)

SGP/SONDE/B4 - Possible interference in B4 sounding 20021110.1729

There is a strange inversion aloft in the subject sounding.  The
temperature goes from -56.3 degC to -51.5 degC in less than two
minutes (approximately .72 km).  This is somewhat below the estimated
tropopause height.  I suspect this may be an interference problem,
but note that both the recorded pressure and RH values are reasonably
continuous.  More accurate assessment would require analysis of the
absolutely raw binary data; something that would require effort beyond
the limits of my IM funding.

• lon
• wstat
• lat
• alt
• time_offset
• Wind Direction(deg)
• asc
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• base_time

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• wstat
• time_offset
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• base_time
• asc
• lon
• alt
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• lat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Questionable RH: CF sounding 11/13/2002:2044

The RH data in this sounding is erratic between 2km and 10 km, oscillating between 
reasonable values (~40%RH) and zero.  I certainly doubt that this is a real, heretofore 
unreported, atmospheric phenomenon so I have to conclude that something is probably wrong with 
the sensor.  I have not seen this behavior before.  One would have to look at the 
absolutely raw RH data to explore further.

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/SONDE/B4 - B4 sounding contaminated by interference

Much of this sounding is contaminated, apparently by interference from another sonde 
signal.  It is still no clear why this seems to happen more frequently at B4 than the other 
sites, especially since the wind seems to have been from the west and B4 should be the most 
upwind station.

• lon
• wstat
• lat
• alt
• time_offset
• Wind Direction(deg)
• asc
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• base_time

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• wstat
• time_offset
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• base_time
• asc
• lon
• alt
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• lat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Contaminated by interference

These three soundings are contaminated by interference from another radiosonde.  It is not 
clear why; this doesn't usually happen at the CF where the operators are very 
experienced and frequency separation is not usually a problem.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• asc
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• lon
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• base_time
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• time_offset
• lat
• alt
• wstat
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• lon
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• wstat
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• asc
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• alt
• lat
• base_time
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• time_offset
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)

SGP/SONDE/B1 - Temperature sensor failed

It appears that the temperature sensor on this sonde broke shortly after launch with the 
effect that the temperatures read approximately 30 degC too low.  Other measurements that 
do not rely on the temperature, for example pressure and wind velocity, should be OK.

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Interference CF sounding 20021120:0225

Like several soundings on 11/19, this sounding was affected by interference from another 
radiosonde.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• asc
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• lon
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• base_time
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• time_offset
• lat
• alt
• wstat
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• lon
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• wstat
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• asc
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• alt
• lat
• base_time
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• time_offset
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Questionable RH CF sounding 0211211:1130

The RH samples in this sounding oscillate between reasonable values (60-80%) and zero.  
This may be a problem with the RH sensor or the software that alternates between the heated 
and non-heated RH elements.  In either case, the reported values are questionable.  More 
investigation of the raw binary data would be required to diagnose further.

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

TWP/SONDE/C2  - Broken Temperature Sensor

The temperature sensors on these radiosondes broke at launch.  All
the temperature-related data are incorrect.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

TWP/SONDE/C1  - Broken Temperature Sensor

The temperature sensor on these radiosondes broke after launch.
All the temperature related data are incorrect.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

TWP/Sonde/C1 - Bad RH Values

The RH values from the surface to approximately 11.5 km oscillate between reasonable 
values and zero.  This is apparently caused by a failure in the RH sensor heating process.  
Although the oscillation stops when the heating stops (at temperatures below ~ -45degC) I 
think the values must be viewed as suspect.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH Data

The RH values during the first 15 minutes of this sounding oscillate between reasonable 
values and near-zero values.  The oscillation is irregular and seems to be related to 
failure of the RH sensor heating process.  I have informed Vaisala of the problem and provided 
raw data files to them for analysis.

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Broken temperature sensor SGP/CF sounding

The radiosonde temperature sensor apparently broke during launch.  This results in bad 
temperature, dew point, and rh data.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad temperature/RH

The temperature sensor broke shortly after launch.  All temperature and RH-related data 
are incorrect.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/Sonde/C1 - Bad temperature, RH

These three soundings all show the effects of a temperature sensor broken at launch.  The 
temperature, RH, dew-point values all are incorrect.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/Sonde/C1 - Bad RH in sounding

The RH sensor heating circuit was out of synch from about 400 sec after launch until the 
circuit was turned off whent he sounding temperature reached approximately 233 degK (-40 
degC) about 1500 sec after launch.  During this time period the reported RH oscillates 
between reasonable values and near-zero values.

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/Sonde/C1 - Sondes launched an hour early

It looks like someone forgot to set his/her clock ahead.  The sounding that should have 
been done at 23:30 UTC on 4/6 was done at 22:38 and the following sounding, which should 
have been done at 0530 on 4/7 was done at 04:31.  The subsequent soundings all are done at 
the correct times.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• asc
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• lon
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• base_time
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• time_offset
• lat
• alt
• wstat
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• lon
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• wstat
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• asc
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• alt
• lat
• base_time
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• time_offset
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)

SGP/Sonde/C1 - Incorrect surface temperature on CF sounding

It appears that the operator entered an incorrect value for surface temperature.  Rather 
than 43.2 degC in the file, the value is most likely 19. degC (thwaps reading 19.4, first 
sonde reading aloft 18.6).

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

SGP/Sonde/C1 - Failed Sonde Launches due to Antenna problems

These sonde launches where unsuccessful due to problems
with the antenna configuration resulting in signal loss
before the launch.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• lat
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• alt
• time_offset
• lon
• base_time

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• asc
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• lon
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• base_time
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• time_offset
• lat
• alt
• wstat
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• lon
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• wstat
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• asc
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• alt
• lat
• base_time
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• time_offset
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)

TWP/SONDE/C2 - Bad RH Data (AIRS Validation Sonde)

The RH sensor heating circuit failed on this sonde.  This results in
oscillation of reported RH between reasonable values and values near zero.
This was an AIRS validation sounding.

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Broken Temperature Sensor

The temperature sensor broke shortly after launch as a result all variables that are 
affected by temperature are incorrect.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Broken temperature sensor

The temperature sensor on this radiosonde broke after launch.  All temperature-related 
variables (dp, tdry, rh) are incorrect.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

TWP/SONDE/C1 - Questionable RH

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit failed during this portion of the sounding 
(approximately between 5km and 10km).  The RH oscillates rapidly between low (~5 %RH) and 
not so low (~50 %RH) and the oscillation seems to stop when the temperature is below ~35 
degC.  According to Vaisala these are symptoms of failure in the ASIC (application 
specific integrated circuit) that controls the heating.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

TWP/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH

The RH sensor heating circuit failed on this radiosonde.  The RH-related values obtained 
between 0 and 10000 meters oscillate between near-zero and reasonable ambient values.  
Above 10000 the RH values are likely correct.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Broken temperature sensors

The temperature sensors broke at launch on both of these soundings.  All of the 
temperature-related data (tdry, rh, dp) are incorrect.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

NSA/SONDE/C1 - Broken temperature sensor

It appears that the temperature sensor on this radiosonde broke after launch.  There is a 
sudden drop of 12 degC in 2 seconds and the remaining tdry values seem to be about 30 
degC low.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

TWP/SONDE/C1 - Broken temperature sensor

The temperature sensor on this radiosonde broke after launch.  All the temperature-related 
data are incorrect.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

TWP/SONDE/C2  - Failure of RH sensor

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit failed during this sounding.  The RH 
oscillates rapidly between low (~0 %RH) and not so low (ambient %RH) and the oscillation seems 
to stop when the temperature is below ~35 degC.  According to Vaisala these are symptoms 
of failure in the ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) that controls the heating.

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Broken temperature sensor

The temperature sensor broke at launch on this sounding.  All of the temperature-related 
data (tdry, rh, dp) are incorrect.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Incorrect surface RH value.

The surface RH value, reported as 0%RH should be 52%.  This resulted from a typographical 
error by the operator when entering the surface data.

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Broken temperature sensor

The temperature sensor broke at launch on this sounding.  All of the temperature-related 
data (tdry, rh, dp) are incorrect.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - A few bad temperature values at the beginning of the sounding

I've never seen this before.  The temperature reported by the radiosonde dropped over 30 
degC just after launch (usually a symptom of a broken temperature sensor), but then 
recovered after 14 seconds of bad readings.  The temperatures from 2 seconds through 14 seconds 
after launch are incorrect, the remainder of the sounding looks fine.  I have sent the 
data files to Vaisala for their consideration.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

TWP/SONDE/C2 - Strange problem with data -

This is very strange.  The data has what appears to be a pressure jump at launch (from 
1007.2 to 956.5 hPa) but the sounding temperature and RH data clearly look to be 
interpolated between the surface and tropopause.  By examining the absolutely raw data, I found that 
the system assigned an elapsed time of 408 seconds (since system start up) to the launch 
point, but there is no raw data between 410 and 532 seconds.  The raw pressure value at 
410 seconds is 1007.6 hPa and that at 532 seconds is 40.9 hPa!  Unless this sounding was 
done by using a rocket-powered balloon (maybe even then), it would be impossible for the 
sonde to get to 40.9 hPa in 2 minutes.  Because the apparent gap is only two minutes, the 
system was able to interpolate but is not sophisticated enough to understand that the 
limits of the interpolation are unreasonable.

I can't imagine what went wrong - I've not seen anything like this before.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• lon
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• asc
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• time_offset
• base_time
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• alt
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• lat
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Broken temperature sensor

The temperature sensor broke at launch on this sounding.  All of the temperature-related 
data (tdry, rh, dp) are incorrect.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

TWP/SONDE/C2 - RH sensor bad

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuits failed during these
soundings.  The RH oscillates rapidly between low (~0 %RH) and not
so low (ambient %RH) and the oscillation seems to stop when the
temperature is below ~35 degC.  According to Vaisala these are
symptoms of failure in the ASIC (application specific integrated
circuit) that controls the heating.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH Data

The RH values during the first half of this sounding oscillate between reasonable values 
and near-zero values.  The oscillation is irregular and seems to be related to failure of 
the RH sensor heating process.

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

TWP/SONDE/C2 - Broken temperature sensors

The temperature sensors on these radiosondes broke after launch.  All
temperature-related data are incorrect.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

TWP/SONDE/C2  - Questionable rH data

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit failed during this sounding.  The RH 
oscillates rapidly between low (~0 %RH) and not so low (ambient %RH) and the oscillation seems 
to stop when the temperature is below ~35 degC.  According to Vaisala these are symptoms 
of failure in the ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) that controls the heating.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH Data

The RH values during the first part of this sounding oscillate between reasonable values 
and near-zero values.  The oscillation seems to be related to failure of the RH sensor 
heating process.

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Surface pressure incorrect

I think the operator inadvdertently transposed to digits when entering the surface 
pressure value.  The value entered is 987.0 hPa but the value shown in the raw data file at 
launch is 978.0.  As a result, the absolute altitudes in this sounding will be slightly 
incorrect as will be the ascent rate during the first 30 seconds of flight.

• alt
• asc

TWP/SONDE/C2  - Bad RH sensor

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit failed during this sounding.  The RH 
oscillates rapidly between low (~0 %RH) and not so low (ambient %RH) and the oscillation seems 
to stop when the temperature is below ~35 degC.  According to Vaisala these are symptoms 
of failure in the ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) that controls the heating.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Broken temperature sensor

The temperature sensor broke at launch on this sounding.  All of the temperature-related 
data (tdry, rh, dp) are incorrect.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

TWP/SONDE/C1 - Broken temperature sensor

The temperature sensor on these radiosondes broke after launch
All the temperature-related data are incorrect.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

TWP/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH sensors

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit failed during this portion of the sounding 
(approximately between 0km and 12km).  The RH oscillates rapidly in a 20% range and the 
oscillation seems to stop when the temperature is below ~45 degC.  These are symptoms of 
failure in the ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) that controls the heating.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Broken temperature sensor

The temperature sensor broke shortly after launch on this sounding.  All of the 
temperature-related data (tdry, rh, dp) are incorrect.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Temperature sensor broke high into the sounding

The temperature sensor on this radiosonde appeared to break 56 minutes and 22 seconds into 
the sounding at an altitude of 16570 m.  All the data below this point are good; only 
the data above this point to the end of the sounding (88 minutes and 14 seconds) are bad.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

TWP/SONDE/C2 - Bad RH values aloft

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit on this sonde failed about 24 minutes into 
the flight.  The RH values look reasonable, though somewhat noisy, from the surface to 
approximately 6.9 km (439 hPa) at which point they begin to oscillate between 0 and 100 %.  
This behavior stops when the sonde reaches approximately 11.5km (232 hPa) when the air 
temperature drops below -40 degC.  The oscillation stops at that point, though the RH 
remains higher than might be expected even under supersaturated conditions.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

TWP/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH sensor

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit failed during this portion of the sounding 
(approximately between the surface and 11km).  The RH oscillates rapidly between low (~0 
%RH) and high (~80 %RH) and the oscillation seems to stop when the temperature is below 
~40 degC.  According to Vaisala these are symptoms of failure in the ASIC (application 
specific integrated circuit) that controls the heating.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

TWP/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH at beginning of sounding

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit failed during this portion of the sounding 
(approximately between 0km and 11km).  The RH oscillates rapidly between low (~15 %RH) and 
not so low (~50 %RH) and the oscillation seems to stop when the temperature is below ~40 
degC.  According to Vaisala these are symptoms of failure in the ASIC (application 
specific integrated circuit) that controls the heating.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

TWP/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH at beginning of sounding

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit failed during this portion of the sounding 
(approximately between 0km and 11km).  The RH oscillates rapidly between low (~0 %RH) and 
not so low (~80 %RH) and the oscillation seems to stop when the temperature is below ~40 
degC.  According to Vaisala these are symptoms of failure in the ASIC (application 
specific integrated circuit) that controls the heating.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

TWP/SONDE/C1  - Bad RH in short interval aloft

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit on this sonde failed about 31 minutes into 
the flight.  The RH values look reasonable from the surface to approximately 8.25 km at 
which point they begin to oscillate between 0 and 40%.  This behavior stops when the sonde 
reaches approximately 11.0km when the air temperature drops below -40 degC.  The 
oscillation stops at that point, though the RH remains higher than might be expected even under 
supersaturated conditions.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

TWP/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH at beginning of sounding

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit failed during this portion of the sounding 
(approximately between 0km and 11km).  The RH oscillates rapidly between low (~2 %RH) and 
not so low (~90 %RH) and the oscillation seems to stop when the temperature is below ~40 
degC.  According to Vaisala these are symptoms of failure in the ASIC (application 
specific integrated circuit) that controls the heating.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

TWP/SONDE/C2  - RH sensor failure near surface

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit failed during this sounding.  The RH 
oscillates rapidly between low (~0 %RH) and not so low (ambient %RH) and the oscillation seems 
to stop when the temperature is below ~35 degC.  According to Vaisala these are symptoms 
of failure in the ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) that controls the heating.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

TWP/SONDE/C2 - Operator used wrong calibration tape

It appears as though the opperator used the wrong calibration tape for this sounding.  The 
primary symptom is a jump in temperature from a surface value of 30.1 degC to the first 
value aloft of 61.0 degC.  Secondly, the recorded serial number for this sounding is 
Z1430179 which is the same serial number recorded for the previous sounding.

This problem points to three failures of procedure (I have notified TWP site ops by 
e-mail).  The first failure is using the wrong tape. The second failure is not checking the 
radiosonde values before launch which relates to the third failure of not entering the 
radiosonde values as the surface values of the sounding.

• lon
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• asc
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• time_offset
• base_time
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• alt
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• lat
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

NSA/SONDE/C1 - This is a test sounding done using an RS80H radiosonde

This was a sounding done using an RS80H radiosonde to test a special operational 
procedure.  There is nothing wrong with the data, though users should be aware that the sounding 
was not done using the current ARM standard RS90 radiosonde.

• Wind Direction(deg)
• alt
• wstat
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• lat
• time_offset
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• asc
• base_time
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)

TWP/SONDE/C2  - RH sensor failure below 9km

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit failed during this sounding.  The RH 
oscillates rapidly between low (~0 %RH) and not so low (ambient %RH) and the oscillation seems 
to stop when the temperature is below ~35 degC.  According to Vaisala these are symptoms 
of failure in the ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) that controls the heating.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

TWP/SONDE/C2 - Bad RH values aloft

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit on these sondes failed after launch but 
resume proper operation when the ambient temperature dropped below ~40 degC.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Incorrect surface temperature

The operator entered a the surface temperature incorrectly on this sounding.  The sonde 
data file shows the temperature as 33.5 degC but the operations log shows it as 3.5 degC.  
The first temperature recorded by the sonde after launch is 3.7 degC, consistent with the 
typical early morning inversion.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

TWP/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH at beginning of sounding

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit failed during this portion of the sounding 
(approximately between 0km and 11km).  The RH oscillates rapidly between low (~1 %RH) and 
high (~80 %RH).  According to Vaisala these are symptoms of failure in the ASIC 
(application specific integrated circuit) that controls the heating.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Scheduled Soundings Missed

The following scheduled sonde launches were missed due to computer 
system failures:

20040116.2330
20040117.0530
20040117.1130
20040117.1730
20040118.0530
20040121.0530

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• lon
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• base_time
• asc
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• time_offset
• lat
• alt
• wstat
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)

NSA/SONDE/C1 - Test sounding using RS80H

This is a test sounding done using an old RS80H radiosonde rather than the production RS90 
version.  Although the sonde functioned normally, the RH data may be subject to a dry 
bias caused by the age of the sensor and possible contamination.

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

NSA/SONDE/C1 - Incorrect surface altitude

The value of the station altitude (relative to mean sea level) is
incorrect in all NSA radiosonde files prior to 2/14/2004.  The correct
value is 8 m.  The incorrect value can be different.  Prior to 4/24/2002
(in platform nsaisssonde...) it was given as 12 m.  From 4/24/2002 to
2/13/2004 (in platform nsasondewnpn...) it is almost always given as
27 m (sometimes [rarely] 17 m).

• alt

• alt

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

NSA/SONDE/C1 - Incorrect surface altitude

The value of the station altitude (relative to mean sea level) is
incorrect in all NSA radiosonde files prior to 2/14/2004.  The correct
value is 8 m.  The incorrect value can be different.  Prior to 4/24/2002
(in platform nsaisssonde...) it was given as 12 m.  From 4/24/2002 to
2/13/2004 (in platform nsasondewnpn...) it is almost always given as
27 m (sometimes [rarely] 17 m).

• alt

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

TWP/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH at beginning of sounding

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit failed during this portion of the sounding 
(approximately between 0km and 11km).  The RH oscillates rapidly between low (~5 %RH) and 
not so low (~70 %RH) and the oscillation seems to stop when the temperature is below ~40 
degC.  According to Vaisala these are symptoms of failure in the ASIC (application 
specific integrated circuit) that controls the heating.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Possibly bad pressure sensor or operator data entry error

There is a discrepency between the surface pressure and temperature data entered by the 
operator and that recorded by the THWAPS.  Review of the raw data from the radiosonde shows 
that the pressure was periodically varying by as much as 12 hPa (~988 to 1000)in the 
time period before launch.  The operator entry of 998.2 is at the high end of this range - 
the concurrent THWAPS reading was about 988.4 at the low end.  The operator entered 
temperature 6.2 degC is considerably higher than the THWAPS value of 1.8.  The pre-flight log 
entry for this sounding is missing from the OMIS database.  If not for the extremely 
unstable pressure reading I would have assumed this was an operator error.  It will take some 
more research to figure out what is going on.

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• lon
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• base_time
• asc
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• time_offset
• lat
• alt
• wstat
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)

TWP/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH at beginning of sounding

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit failed during this portion of the sounding 
(approximately between 0km and 12km).  The RH oscillates rapidly between low (~2 %RH) and 
not so low (~80 %RH) and the oscillation seems to stop when the temperature is below ~40 
degC.  According to Vaisala these are symptoms of failure in the ASIC (application 
specific integrated circuit) that controls the heating.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

NSA/SONDE/C1 - Bad temperature

Because of strong winds, the radiosonde hit the ground after launch and the temperature 
sensor broke.  The RH and pressure data also should be considered suspect.

• Wind Direction(deg)
• alt
• wstat
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• lat
• time_offset
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• asc
• base_time
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Surface pressure incorrect

I think the operator inadvdertently entered an incorrect surface pressure value.  The 
value entered is 988.8 hPa but the value shown in the raw data file at launch is 968.8.  As a 
result, the absolute altitudes in this sounding will be slightly incorrect as will be 
the ascent rate during the first 30 seconds of flight.

• alt
• asc

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Surface pressure bad and other data noisy

I was checking this sounding because the surface pressure entered by the operator was 
considerably higher than that recorded by the TWHAPS and SMOS.  I'm not sure why, but the 
pressure data are very noisy while the sonde is on the ground (which accounts for the 
incorrect surface pressure) and the RH data aloft do not look terrible but do not look great 
either.

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• lon
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• base_time
• asc
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• time_offset
• lat
• alt
• wstat
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Surface pressure incorrect

I think the operator inadvdertently typed an 89 instead of a 78 when entering the surface 
pressure value.  The value entered is 989.9 hPa but the value shown in the raw data file 
at launch is 978.9.  As a result, the absolute altitudes in this sounding will be 
slightly incorrect as will be the ascent rate during the first 30 seconds of flight.

• alt
• asc

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Surface pressure incorrect

I think the operator inadvdertently mistyped a digit when entering the surface pressure 
value.  The value entered is 975.6 hPa but the value shown in the raw data file at launch 
is 972.6.  As a result, the absolute altitudes in this sounding will be slightly incorrect 
as will be the ascent rate during the first 30 seconds of flight.

• alt
• asc

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH Data

The RH values below 6 km are incorrect.  The problem relates to a failure of the GC25 
ground check set used before this particular sounding.  The failure seems to have affected 
the sensor calibration with the effect that one of the two sensors was reading artificially 
high.  Because the internal processing software uses the highest of the two sensor 
readings, the bad sensor value is chosen whenever it is not heated.

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad T/RH and surface P.

Apparently multiple failures.  The radiosonde temperature sensor broke on launch causing 
an approximate 35 degC negative offset and as a result, the RH is incorrect.  Furthermore, 
it appears that the pressure sensor was off by approximately 4 hPa, though this would 
not affect the altitude calculation, the absolute pressure is wrong.

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Temperature/RH incorrect

The temperature throughout this sounding is too high and as a result the RH values will be 
incorrect as well.  I'm not sure what is wrong here but the operators noted reasonable 
values (18.1 degC, 87%) in the log before launch.  Review of the raw data, however, shows 
the sonde reporting temperatures nearly 20 degC higher.  I suppose it is possible that 
the operator entered into the log the reference temperature from the GC25 ground check set 
rather than the temperature reported by the sonde - I can't think of any other 
explanation - there is no doubt that the temperature sensor on this sonde was bad.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

TWP/SONDE/C2 - Bad RH sensor

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit failed during this sounding.  The RH 
oscillates rapidly between low (~0 %RH) and not so low (ambient %RH) and the oscillation seems 
to stop when the temperature is below -50 degC.  According to Vaisala these are symptoms 
of failure in the ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) that controls the heating.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH Data

The RH values during this sounding oscillate between reasonable values and near-zero 
values.  The oscillation is due to failure of the RH sensor heating process.

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Sonde RH values incorrect

RH values for all sondes launched during this time were incorrect due to a faulty Ground 
Check set which damaged or conditioned the RH sensor improperly.

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)

TWP/SONDE/C2 - Broken temperature sensor

The temperature sensor on this radiosonde broke after launch.  All the temperature-related 
data are incorrect.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

TWP/SONDE/C2  - Broken temperature sensor

The temperature sensor on this radiosonde broke after launch.  All the temperature-related 
data are incorrect.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Mixed use of RS92-SGP and RS92-KL radiosondes

Because of a manufacturer's production problem, we will be using both RS92-SGP (GPS 
windfinding and RS92-KL (Loran windfinding) radiosondes at the SGP/CF starting February 10, 
2006.  The radiosonde type used for the each sounding may be determined by looking the 
metadata variable "launch_status" in the netCDF data files.

• wstat
• lon
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• lat
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Soundings done as part of dual-sonde flights

The following soundings done during the subject time period were flown in dual-sonde mode 
in which the standard ARM RS92 radiosonde was attached to the same balloon with a NASA 
ATR (atmospheric temperature reference) radiosonde.  The radiosondes were separated by a 6' 
styrofoam bar.  To accommodate the additional weight, we used 1200g balloons rather than 
350g balloons.  Accordingly, we want to alert users that these soundings may reach 
higher altitudes than normal for ARM soundings and that the ascent rate may be somewhat 
higher.  The following soundings are affected:

Sequence  Date    UTC launch time
    1     2/22        0530
    2     2/22        1730
    3     2/22        2330 <---- No data: launch failure    
    4     2/23        0230
    5     2/23        0530
    6     2/23        1730    
    7     2/23        2030
    8     2/23        2330
    9     2/24        2330
   10     2/25        0215
   11     2/25        0509    
   12     2/25        1730
   13     2/25        1930
   14     2/25        2300

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• lon
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• base_time
• asc
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• time_offset
• lat
• alt
• wstat
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - DigiCORAIII failed, replaced with S01/S02 launches

The digiCORA-III failed on Saturday 2004-01-17.  The operators reported that they were 
unable to load the software and conduct normal soundings.	Following procedure, they 
conducted the regular soundings by using the S01/S02 systems as allowed by the AIRS IOP schedule.
The netCDF header fields "input_source" and "facility_id" will mention which of the 
S01/S02 systems was used in these launches.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• alt
• lon
• lat

TWP/SONDE/C2  - Broken temperature sensor

The temperature sensor on this radiosonde broke after launch.  All the temperature-related 
data are incorrect.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

TWP/SONDE/C2  - Broken temperature sensor

The temperature sensor on this radiosonde broke after launch.  All the temperature-related 
data are incorrect.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

TWP/SONDE/C2  - Bad RH in lower 8km

It appears that the RH sensor heating circuit failed during this sounding.  The RH 
oscillates rapidly between low (~0 %RH) and not so low (ambient %RH) and the oscillation seems 
to stop when the temperature is below ~35 degC.  According to Vaisala these are symptoms 
of failure in the ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) that controls the heating.

• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - No Wind/Lat/Lon Data in Sonde Files

The wind finding hardware failed so that no wind or latitude/longitude data was collected 
on the launches for these days.

• wstat
• lon
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• lat
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)

NSA/SONDE/C1 - Noisy/Unstable RH and dew point data

The RH readings during the first 8 minutes of this sounding include three apparently 
incorrect oscillations to near-zero values.  After checking the absolutely raw data, it seems 
as though this period was excessively noisy, resulting in many missing values.  The noise 
abatted and the remaining sounding values are valid.

• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Humidity, relative(rh)