PYE/TSI/M1 - Misalignment

The TSI was not aligned with true north.

• region.zenith.count
• region.horizon.count.thin
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• region.horizon.count.opaque
• region.zenith.count.thin
• region.sun.count.thin
• count.unknown
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• region.horizon.count
• count.sky
• count.thin
• count.sub.horz
• region.sun.count
• region.sun.count.opaque
• count.opaque
• count.box
• region.zenith.count.opaque
• count.mask
• count.sub.proczen

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

TWP/TSI/C2 - camera failure

The TSI camera was producing either poor or no images during this time. The problem was 
corrected by disconnecting and reconnecting the cable terminations to the camera both 
inside the main enclosure and in the camera housing.

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• count.sky
• region.horizon.count.thin
• sun.strength
• region.sun.count
• region.horizon.count.opaque
• region.zenith.count
• region.zenith.count.opaque
• count.thin
• Sunshine Meter(sunny)
• region.horizon.count
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• region.sun.count.thin
• region.sun.count.opaque
• count.mask
• count.sub.proczen
• count.opaque
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• count.unknown
• region.zenith.count.thin
• count.box
• count.sub.horz

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

PYE/TSI/M1 - water in lens

The lower half of the TSI images were blurry due to water in the camera lens and/or 
filter. The problem was corrected when both were cleaned.

• sun.strength
• region.zenith.count
• region.horizon.count.thin
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• region.horizon.count.opaque
• region.zenith.count.thin
• region.sun.count.thin
• count.unknown
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• region.horizon.count
• count.sky
• count.thin
• count.sub.horz
• region.sun.count
• region.sun.count.opaque
• count.opaque
• count.box
• region.zenith.count.opaque
• count.mask
• count.sub.proczen

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• AVHRR satellite images for Darwin from BOM (RAW)(raw)

TWP/TSI/C2 - Camera failure

The operation of the camera was itermittant. It produced very poor "hazy" images, blank 
white images, or no images when the camera failed to respond. Several attempts were made to 
correct the problem, involving checking the power and ethernet connections and wire and 
cleaning the lens and filter. The camera was replaced by a spare.

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• sun.strength
• region.zenith.count
• region.zenith.count.opaque
• count.thin
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• region.sun.count.thin
• region.sun.count.opaque
• count.sub.proczen
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• count.box
• region.zenith.count.thin
• count.sub.horz
• count.sky
• region.horizon.count.thin
• region.sun.count
• region.horizon.count.opaque
• Sunshine Meter(sunny)
• region.horizon.count
• count.mask
• count.opaque
• count.unknown

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

TWP/TSI/C1 - obstruction in lens

The TSI at Manus has been able to remain dry and produces an image but the percentage of 
cloud cover is determined to be 100% even on cloud free days. Moisture in the camera lens 
and neutral density filter was corrupting the sky images. The lens and filter were 
cleaned, the moisure seals checked, the camera housing sealed, and desiccant added to both the 
camera housing and main electronics enclosure. On 3/23/2006, the lens was replaced and 
the sky images were significantly improved.

• AVHRR satellite images for Darwin from BOM (RAW)(raw)

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• Sunshine Meter(sunny)
• region.horizon.count
• count.opaque
• count.box
• region.sun.count
• sun.strength
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• count.mask
• region.zenith.count.opaque
• count.unknown
• count.sub.horz
• count.thin
• region.sun.count.opaque
• region.horizon.count.opaque
• region.zenith.count.thin
• count.sky
• count.sub.proczen
• region.zenith.count
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• region.horizon.count.thin
• region.sun.count.thin

TWP/TSI/C3 - Instrument failure

The TSI failed due to a lightning strike. Several parts were replaced, modified, or 
bypassed and the system was restarted.

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• count.sub.proczen
• region.zenith.count
• count.sub.horz
• count.unknown
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• sun.strength
• Sunshine Meter(sunny)
• region.sun.count
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• lat
• region.horizon.count
• region.sun.count.opaque
• count.thin
• region.zenith.count.thin
• region.horizon.count.opaque
• time_offset
• alt
• solar.altitude
• count.box
• lon
• region.zenith.count.opaque
• count.opaque
• count.sky
• region.horizon.count.thin
• solar.azimuth
• base_time
• count.mask
• region.sun.count.thin

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

NIM/TSI/M1 - Reprocess: incorrect daily movies

Due to file management problems on the operating computer, the daily movie files are 
either missing, incomplete, or contain images from other days.

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

SGP/TSI/C1 - Birds obstructing view

Birds were frequently in the the field-of-view and soiling the mirror, affecting the 
visible sky image and resulting processed cloud fraction image. Bird deterant spikes were 
installed on top of the camera housing and arm on 5/16 which prevented their perching on the 
camera so that the impact on the sky image was reduced. But birds were still present 
around the edges of the mirror until additional spikes were installed on top of the four 
corners of the enclosure on 6/14.

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

TWP/TSI/C3 - controller board failure

The mirror control board failed and was replaced with a spare. Several images were 
collected in the iterim that should be ignored. These images include periods when the sun was 
not masked by the shadowband, the camera lens was covered by red tape to protect the CCD 
from direct exposure to the sun and, the instrument was inside the shop for repair and 
testing.

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• count.sub.proczen
• region.zenith.count
• count.sub.horz
• count.unknown
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• sun.strength
• Sunshine Meter(sunny)
• region.sun.count
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• lat
• region.horizon.count
• region.sun.count.opaque
• count.thin
• region.zenith.count.thin
• region.horizon.count.opaque
• time_offset
• alt
• solar.altitude
• count.box
• lon
• region.zenith.count.opaque
• count.opaque
• count.sky
• region.horizon.count.thin
• solar.azimuth
• base_time
• count.mask
• region.sun.count.thin

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

TWP/TSI/C1 - Shadowband continuosly rotating

The mirror was continuously spinning during different periods of the day, usually in the 
afternoon, causing the shadowband to not properly block the sun. This problem was 
corrected by removing the real-time-clock integrated circuit DSI306, or EEPROM U10, from the 
control board and reloading the position and time parameters.

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• AVHRR satellite images for Darwin from BOM (RAW)(raw)

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• count.sub.horz
• count.thin
• region.horizon.count
• count.box
• count.opaque
• region.horizon.count.opaque
• region.sun.count.opaque
• region.sun.count
• region.zenith.count.thin
• count.sky
• region.zenith.count
• count.sub.proczen
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• sun.strength
• region.horizon.count.thin
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• region.zenith.count.opaque
• region.sun.count.thin
• count.mask
• count.unknown

TWP/TSI/C1 - solar shadowband inoperative

The mirror/shadowband was not turning and there was no communication with the control 
board. The shadowband was stuck in the position of 0 degrees from 8/29 to 9/20/2006.

On 10/12/2006, the mirror was replaced, the real-time clock chip was removed and heat 
sinks were added to the control board, and the Ethernet hub and serial adaptor were replaced. 
On 1/8/2007, the slip clutch assembly, timing pulley, and timing belt were replaced 
(which were damaged when the mirror was replaced). These actions did not correct the problem. 
The instrument was swapped with the unit from Darwin so that the control board could be 
repaired and tested in Darwin.

Several images were collected in the iterim that should be ignored. These images include 
periods when the sun was not masked by the shadowband or the camera lens was covered by 
tape to protect the CCD from direct
exposure to the sun. There are also extended periods of missing data when the instrument 
was shutdown, waiting for parts.

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• Sunshine Meter(sunny)
• region.horizon.count
• count.opaque
• count.box
• region.sun.count
• solar.azimuth
• lon
• sun.strength
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• region.zenith.count.opaque
• count.mask
• time
• count.unknown
• count.sub.horz
• count.thin
• alt
• lat
• base_time
• region.horizon.count.opaque
• region.sun.count.opaque
• region.zenith.count.thin
• time_offset
• count.sky
• count.sub.proczen
• region.zenith.count
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• solar.altitude
• region.horizon.count.thin
• region.sun.count.thin

NIM/TSI/M1 - Shadowband Misalignment

From installation, the shadowband was positioned south at solar noon until the vernal 
equinox when it began to migrate counter-clockwise until reaching east 37 days later on 4/26 
(about 9 days before mid-spring). The shadowband at solar noon continued to migrate until 
reaching its most northerly position (~15 deg) on the summer solstice (if everything was 
perfectly aligned, it probably would have been pointed north on this day). It then began 
to migrate clockwise and reached east again 56 days later on 8/16 (about 14 days after 
mid-summer). As expected, the shadowband reached its most southerly position on the 
autumnal equinox but was about 10 deg off of being due south. 

With the apparent alignment problem, I don't understand why the shadowband was mostly 
blocking the sun. When I started noticing this offset in May, I chose to leave it alone 
because I felt that adjusting the shadowband to where I thought it should be would cause it to 
not block the sun at either sunrise or sunset. 

The alignment was corrected on 9/29 (6 days after the day of the autumnal equinox).

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

TWP/TSI/C2 - hazy image

Condensation in the camera lens and/or filter caused the sky images to be "hazy". The 
desiccant in the main enclosure was changed and the neutral density filter was cleaned.

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• sun.strength
• solar.altitude
• region.zenith.count
• region.zenith.count.opaque
• count.thin
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• region.sun.count.thin
• lat
• region.sun.count.opaque
• count.sub.proczen
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• alt
• region.zenith.count.thin
• count.box
• count.sub.horz
• count.sky
• lon
• region.horizon.count.thin
• region.sun.count
• time_offset
• region.horizon.count.opaque
• Sunshine Meter(sunny)
• region.horizon.count
• count.mask
• count.opaque
• count.unknown
• base_time
• solar.azimuth

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

TWP/TSI/C1 - hazy image

When the TSI from Darwin was installed (so the instrument from Manus could be returned to 
Darwin for repair) moisture in the camera lens and filter caused the sky image to be very 
"hazy". The U10 chip was removed from the control board, desiccant was installed inside 
the enclosure, additional small desiccant bags were installed inside the camera housing, 
the camera housing was sealed with silicon to prevent moisture ingress, and the camera 
lens filter was cleaned and the focus adjusted.

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• count.sub.horz
• count.thin
• region.horizon.count
• count.box
• count.opaque
• region.horizon.count.opaque
• region.sun.count.opaque
• region.sun.count
• region.zenith.count.thin
• count.sky
• region.zenith.count
• count.sub.proczen
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• sun.strength
• region.horizon.count.thin
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• region.zenith.count.opaque
• region.sun.count.thin
• count.mask
• count.unknown

TWP/TSI/C2 - Mirror continuously rotating

The mirror began to continuously spin. Diagnostics were performed on the encoder, control 
board, and Ethernet adaptor. The instrument was removed on 1/2/2008 and shipped to Darwin 
for repair. The encoder and control board were replaced and the instrument was 
reinstalled.

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• region.horizon.count.thin
• region.sun.count
• region.zenith.count
• region.horizon.count.opaque
• region.zenith.count.opaque
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• region.horizon.count
• region.sun.count.thin
• region.sun.count.opaque
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• region.zenith.count.thin

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

FKB/TSI/M1 - Reprocess: Missing time annotation

The time annotation in the MPeg movie is missing.

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

SGP/TSI/C1 - Missing data

Data are missing and unrecoverable.

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• region.horizon.count.opaque
• solar.altitude
• count.mask
• region.zenith.count.thin
• count.unknown
• region.zenith.count
• count.sub.proczen
• lat
• region.zenith.count.opaque
• count.sky
• count.opaque
• region.sun.count.opaque
• region.sun.count.thin
• lon
• solar.azimuth
• region.horizon.count
• region.horizon.count.thin
• count.sub.horz
• alt
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• count.thin
• base_time
• Sunshine Meter(sunny)
• region.sun.count
• count.box
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• sun.strength
• time_offset

SGP/TSI/C1 - Contamination of mirror

A persistent bird was landing on and polluting the mirror, multiple times throughout the 
day. Spikes were placed on the corners and top of the instrument (an affective deterrent 
in the past) but this bird had the agility to perch on the top-center of the mirror.

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• count.sky
• count.opaque
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• region.zenith.count.thin
• region.zenith.count
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• count.thin
• region.zenith.count.opaque

TWP/TSI/C1 - Missing data

Data are missing and unrecoverable.

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• Sunshine Meter(sunny)
• region.horizon.count
• count.opaque
• count.box
• region.sun.count
• solar.azimuth
• lon
• sun.strength
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• region.zenith.count.opaque
• count.mask
• time
• count.unknown
• count.sub.horz
• count.thin
• alt
• lat
• base_time
• region.horizon.count.opaque
• region.sun.count.opaque
• region.zenith.count.thin
• time_offset
• count.sky
• count.sub.proczen
• region.zenith.count
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• solar.altitude
• region.horizon.count.thin
• region.sun.count.thin

TWP/TSI/C3 - Reprocess: Missing daily movies

The computer began "locking-up" every day at 11:15 UTC when the program that makes the 
daily movies is automatically run. Site Operations had to reboot the computer everyday upon 
arrival at about 21:30.

On 7/28, basic disk maintenance was performed that included error-checking, file purging, 
and defragmentation.

On 7/29, file management was performed, the programs to create the missing daily movies 
was manually run, and the times of scheduled tasks were optimized.

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

GRW/TSI/M1 - Contamination of mirror

A persistent, agile bird was landing on top of and polluting the mirror, multiple times 
throughout the day, affecting the visible and processed images and cloud fraction data.

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• count_sky
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent_thin)
• sun_strength
• count_thin
• count_opaque
• region_zenith_count_thin
• region_zenith_count
• region_zenith_count_opaque
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent_opaque)

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

GRW/TSI/M1 - Reprocess: Incorrect time in filenames

The Windows time zone on the TSI computer was changed on 8/27 from the standard "(GMT) 
Casablanca" to "(GMT-01:00) Azores" with "daylight saving changes" selected so the time 
became GMT+00:00 because DST was in effect. Then on 10/31 (because it was still using the 
pre-2007 DST dates) the time automatically changed to GMT-01:00 because DST ended. So, the 
time used to name the raw image and properties files and to annotate the individual images 
in the daily movie was 1 hour less than GMT.

This situation was discovered on 12/14 and the time zone was returned to "(GMT) 
Casablanca". 

The name of the raw JPG, PNG, properties, and _tsi.properties can be renamed with the 
correct time and the MPG file can be reprocessed to correct the time annotation.

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• time

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

TWP/TSI/C1 - Shadowband misalignment

The shadowband was not effectively blocking the sun, except for around the noon hours when 
the sun was directly over-head. It was later found to be caused by stripped threads on 
the mirror mounting post.

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• count.thin
• count.sky
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• count.opaque
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• count.mask

TWP/TSI/C2 - Shadowband Misalignment

The mirror is continously rotating and communication with the control board has failed. 
Please reassign the IP address to the Lantronix adaptor with either EZWebCon (preferred) 
or arp_lan.

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• sun.strength
• solar.altitude
• region.zenith.count.opaque
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• alt
• count.sub.horz
• count.sky
• lon
• region.horizon.count.thin
• region.sun.count
• time_offset
• region.horizon.count
• base_time
• region.zenith.count
• count.thin
• region.sun.count.thin
• lat
• region.sun.count.opaque
• count.sub.proczen
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• region.zenith.count.thin
• count.box
• region.horizon.count.opaque
• Sunshine Meter(sunny)
• count.mask
• count.opaque
• count.unknown
• solar.azimuth

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• count.sub.horz
• solar.azimuth
• lat
• count.sky
• count.sub.proczen
• region.horizon.count.thin
• count.thin
• base_time
• region.horizon.count.opaque
• count.unknown
• count.box
• region.sun.count
• region.zenith.count.thin
• region.sun.count.thin
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent.thin)
• Sunshine Meter(sunny)
• region.zenith.count.opaque
• count.mask
• region.zenith.count
• alt
• solar.altitude
• region.sun.count.opaque
• region.horizon.count
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent.opaque)
• count.opaque
• lon
• time_offset
• sun.strength

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

PGH/TSI/M1 - Obstruction

The TSI was located in an obstructed view location for the beginning of the deployment.  
Trees and the AMF VANs are within the field of view of the instrument and appears to have 
affected the data processing.  On 7/15/2011 the instrument was moved.

• Cloud decision images, Total Sky Imager, PNG format(png)

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• region_sun_count_opaque
• count_mask
• count_sky
• count_sub_horz
• Sunshine Meter(sunny)
• count_opaque
• region_sun_count
• region_horizon_count_thin
• time_offset
• count_sub_proczen
• time
• count_thin
• region_zenith_count
• lon
• Cloud amount, thin (percent)(percent_thin)
• region_sun_count_thin
• solar_azimuth
• sun_strength
• count_box
• base_time
• region_horizon_count_opaque
• region_zenith_count_thin
• region_horizon_count
• region_zenith_count_opaque
• Cloud amount, opaque (percent)(percent_opaque)
• count_unknown
• alt
• solar_altitude
• lat

• JPEG data stream - documentation not yet available

• MPEG data stream - documentation not yet available