SGP/SONDE/C1 - Incorrect surface temperature

It appears as if the operator mis-typed the temperature when entering the
surface values into the system.  The value appears as 89.0 degC instead of
8.9 degC.  Also note that there are no RH data in this sounding other than
the initial value of 100%.  The reason for this loss of RH is unknown.

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

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

SGP/SONDE - Questionable absolute pressures

The sonde surface pressure reading was considerably higher than the
corresponding THWAPS pressure (988.0 hPa vs 982.3 hPa).  The sonde
readings are consistent during the sounding, however, suggesting that
this is not a case of a pressure jump at launch but one of sensor offset.
This problem will only affect those who use the absolute pressure values.
The file altitudes, which are based on the relative pressure changes
from the surface, should be fine.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)

• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)

SGP/SONDE - Questionable absolute pressures

The sonde surface pressure reading was considerably higher than the
corresponding THWAPS pressure (992.9 hPa vs 983.0 hPa).  The sonde
readings are consistent during the sounding, however, suggesting that
this is not a case of a pressure jump at launch but one of sensor offset.
This problem will only affect those who use the absolute pressure values.
The file altitudes, which are based on the relative pressure changes
from the surface, should be fine.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)

• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Operator used wrong calibration tape

It appears as if the operators had a problem with the original sounding
and launched a second radiosonde.  Apparently they used the calibration
tape that came with the first radiosonde (serial number 943156405) in
place of the one that was correct for the second radiosonde (sn 943156406)
and all the data are bad after the first sample (surface values).

• lon
• u_wind_calc
• alt
• u_wind_flags
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)
• lat
• base_time
• v_wind_flags
• time_offset
• v_wind_calc

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

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

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Incorrect absolute pressure

The surface pressure (983.5 hPa) reported by this radiosonde (sn 94315713)
is substantially higher than that reported by the THWAPS (~977) or by the
sondes used in the previous and following soundings (976.6, 977.3).  This
may be a calibration problem or a mechanic problem on launch.  The pressure
values reported in the remainder of the sounding are consistent with the
reported surface pressure, so the altitudes should be correct.  The
absolute pressure values may be high by about 5 hPa.

• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)

• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Incorrect surface temperature

The value for air temperature at the surface in this file is 23.3 degC.  This value is too 
high and resulted from incorrect data entry (typographic mistake) by the operator.  The 
true value as determined from the operator pre-launch logs is 12.3 degC.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

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

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/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/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/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)

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/MWR/C1 - Intermittent Negative Sky Brightness Temperatures

Several related and recurring problems with the SGP MWRs have been
reported dating back to 1999.  These problems were due to the
occurrence of blackbody signals (in counts) that were half of those
expected. The symptoms included noisy data (especially at Purcell),
spikes in the data (especially at Vici), negative brightness
temperatures, and apparent loss of serial communication between the
computer and the radiometer, which results in a self-termination of the
MWR program (especially at the CF).

Because these all initially appeared to be hardware-related problems,
the instrument mentor and SGP site operations personnel (1) repeatedly
cleaned and replaced the fiber optic comm. components, (2) swapped
radiometers, (3) sent radiometers back to Radiometrics for evaluation
(which has not revealed any instrument problems), and (4) reconfigured
the computer's operating system.  Despite several attempts to isolate
and correct it, the problem persisted.

It became apparent that some component of the Windows98 configuration
conflicted with the DOS-based MWR program or affected the serial port
or the contents of the serial port buffer. This problem was finally
corrected by upgrading the MWR software with a new Windows-compatible
program.

• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)
• Radiation, longwave, brightness temperature, 23.8 GHz(tbsky23)

• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• Radiation, longwave, brightness temperature, 23.8 GHz(tbsky23)
• 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)

• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)
• Radiation, longwave, brightness temperature, 23.8 GHz(tbsky23)

• 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)
• Radiation, longwave, brightness temperature, 23.8 GHz(tbsky23)
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

SGP/MWR/C1 - REPROCESS - Revised Retrieval Coefficients

IN THE BEGINNING (June 1992), the retrieval coefficients used to derive the precipitable 
water vapor (PWV) and liquid water path (LWP) from the MWR brightness temperatures were 
based on the Liebe and Layton (1987) water vapor and oxygen absorption model and the Grant 
(1957) liquid water absorption model.  

Following the SHEBA experience, revised retrievals based on the more recent Rosenkranz 
(1998) water vapor and oxygen absorption models and the Liebe (1991) liquid waer absorption 
model were developed.  The Rosenkranz water vapor absorption model resulted a 2 percent 
increase in PWV relative to the earlier Liebe and Layton model.  The Liebe liquid water 
absorption model decreased the LWP by 10% relative to the Grant model.  However, the 
increased oxygen absorption caused a 0.02-0.03 mm (20-30 g/m2) reduction in LWP, which was 
particularly significant for low LWP conditions (i.e. thin clouds encountered at SHEBA).

Recently, it has been shown (Liljegren, Boukabara, Cady-Pereira, and Clough, TGARS v. 43, 
pp 1102-1108, 2005) that the half-width of the 22 GHz water vapor line from the HITRAN 
compilation, which is 5 percent smaller than the Liebe and Dillon (1969) half-width used in 
Rosenkranz (1998), provided a better fit to the microwave brightness temperature 
measurements at 5 frequencies in the range 22-30 GHz, and yielded more accurate retrievals.  
Accordingly, revised MWR retrieval coefficients have been developed using MONORTM, which 
utilizes the HITRAN compilation for its spectroscopic parameters.  These new retrievals 
provide 3 percent less PWV and 2.6 percent greater LWP than the previous retrievals based on 
Rosenkranz (1998).

Although the MWR data will be reprocessed to apply the new monortm-based retrievals, for 
most purposes it will be sufficient to correct the data using the following factors:

PWV_MONORTM = 0.9695 * PWV_ROSENKRANZ
LWP_MONORTM = 1.026  * LWP_ROSENKRANZ

The Rosenkranz-based retrieval coefficients became active as follows (BCR 456):
SGP/C1 (Lamont)     4/16/2002, 2000
SGP/B1 (Hillsboro)  4/12/2002, 1600
SGP/B4 (Vici)       4/15/2002, 2300
SGP/B5 (Morris)     4/15/2002, 2300
SGP/B6 (Purcell)    4/16/2002, 2200
SGP/E14(Lamont)     4/16/2002, 0000
NSA/C1 (Barrow)     4/25/2002, 1900 
NSA/C2 (Atqasuk)    4/18/2002, 1700
TWP/C1 (Manus)      5/04/2002, 0200
TWP/C2 (Nauru)      4/27/2002, 0600
TWP/C3 (Darwin)     inception

The MONORTM-based retrieval coefficients became active as follows (BCR 984):

SGP/C1 (Lamont)     6/28/2005, 2300
SGP/B1 (Hillsboro)  6/24/2005, 2100
SGP/B4 (Vici)       6/24/2005, 2100
SGP/B5 (Morris)     6/24/2005, 2100
SGP/B6 (Purcell)    6/24/2005, 1942
SGP/E14(Lamont)     6/28/2005, 2300
NSA/C1 (Barrow)     6/29/2005, 0000 
NSA/C2 (Atqasuk)    6/29/2005, 0000
TWP/C1 (Manus)      6/30/2005, 2100
TWP/C2 (Nauru)      6/30/2005, 2100
TWP/C3 (Darwin)     6/30/2005, 2100
PYE/M1 (Pt. Reyes)  4/08/2005, 1900**

** At Pt. Reyes, the original retrieval coefficients implemented in March 2005 were based 
on a version of the Rosenkranz model that had been modified to use the HITRAN half-width 
at 22 GHz and to be consistent with the water vapor continuum in MONORTM.  These 
retrievals yield nearly identical results to the MONORTM retrievals.  Therefore the Pt. Reyes 
data prior to 4/08/2005 may not require reprocessing.

• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)

• liqtip
• vaptip

• mean_liq_mwr
• mean_vap_mwr

• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)

• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)

• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Increased precision for alt, dp, pres, rh, tdry

The output precision of the following variables was increased 20060928

alt  changed from 1m to 0.1m
dp   changed from 0.1degC to 0.01degC
pres changed from 0.1 hPa to 0.01 hPa
RH   changed from 1%RH to 0.01%RH
tdry changed from .1degC to 0.01degC

Note that the increase in precision does not necessarily imply an increase in accuracy.  
Users are cautioned to continue to use their best scientific judgement when using these or 
any other data.

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Sensor failure

Temperature sensor failure on sonde.  Data is incorrect, do not use.

• 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)

Jump in pressure value upon launch

DQR No:                               Platform:  SGPSONDEC1

Subject:        Jump in pressure value upon launch 960117:2031

Date Submitted: 1/22/96
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: sgpsondeWRPNC1/ (alt, asc, press)
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc): all

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  1/17/96    Time   20:31    (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 pressure sensor was jarred during launch and jumped
readings from 975.4 hPa at the surface to 950.2 hPa at the first sample
after launch.  This results in erroneous altitude values throughout the
sounding and erroneous ascent rate values during the first 30 seconds.
The relative altitude calculations after the second sample should be
correct.  Although the surface wind speed was recorded at 10.3 m/s,
the next wind value is reported as 18.2 m/s - quite strong.  The bouncing
of the balloon during the launch might account for the abnormal jarring
of the sonde.


 
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

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

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

Jump in pressure value upon launch

DQR No:                               Platform:  SGPSONDEC1

Subject:        Jump in pressure value upon launch 960118:0533

Date Submitted: 1/22/96
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: sgpsondeWRPNC1/ (alt, asc, press)
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc): all

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  1/18/96    Time   05:33    (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 pressure sensor was jarred during launch and jumped
readings from 973.1 hPa at the surface to 960.7 hPa at the first sample
after launch.  This results in erroneous altitude values throughout the
sounding and erroneous ascent rate values during the first 30 seconds.
The relative altitude calculations after the second sample should be
correct.  The surface winds were quite strong, 16.5 m/s.  The bouncing
of the balloon during the launch might account for the abnormal jarring
of the sonde.

 
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

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

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

bad pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad pressure sounding 02/01/96:1129

Date Submitted:  2/01/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
 What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at: CF

    Period of time in question
  Begin Date  02/01/96   Time   11:29    (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 962.6.
The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 962.4 hPa. The surface
pressure in the previous (0533) and subsequent (1429) soundings were 983.3
and 985.7 respectively.  SMOS13 pressures were in the 983+ range during
this same period.  It appears that the sonde pressure sensor was bad and
was used as the source of the surface pressure (this is CF standard procedure).
Both the pressure and altitude values for this sounding are likely incorrect.

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

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

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

Incorrect surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Incorrect surface pressure sounding 960221:1131

Date Submitted:  2/22/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at: CF

    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  02/21/96   Time   11:31    (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 995.6 hPa.
The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 972.3 hPa.  It appears that
the operator entered sea-level pressure reported by the WeatherMeasureII instead
of sonde surface pressure. The altitude values for this sounding are likely
incorrect.

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 and remind operators of current procedures.

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

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

Incorrect surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Incorrect surface pressure sounding 960221:1430

Date Submitted:  2/22/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at: CF

    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  02/21/96   Time   14:30    (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 995.6 hPa.
The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 969.7 hPa.  It appears that
the operator entered sea-level pressure reported by the WeatherMeasureII instead
of sonde surface pressure. The altitude values for this sounding are likely
incorrect.

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 and remind operators of current procedures.

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

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

Bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding 04/01/96 14:30

Date Submitted:  4/2/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at: CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date   4/01/96   Time   14:30    (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 1016.1
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 988.3 hPa. The surface
pressure at 11:29 was 987.6 and at 17:32 was 988.3.  It appears that the
operator entered the sea-level pressure rather than the station pressure.

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.

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

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

SGP/MWR/C1 - Loss of thermal stabilization

Periodically during August and September 1995 all microwave radiometers
at the SGP CART generated error messages in the Site Operations Log
like:

  Time: Sat Aug 19 18:41:20 1995
  MWRLOS.C1, tkxc: Value above Maximum.

This indicates that the temperature of the microwave hardware
(specifically, the cross-coupler or "xc") exceeded its controlled
temperature (47-52 deg C) at which point it was no longer thermally
stabilized and the gain was uncontrolled.  During these periods which
typically last about 8 hours from about local noon until about sunset
the data behave anomalously and should be considered invalid.

Specifically the precipitable water vapor increases and the liquid
water path decreases (and becomes SIGNIFICANTLY NEGATIVE (-0.1 mm) on
clear sky days).  The RMS noise level in the data also increases
sharply.  The 'Tkxc' field appears ONLY in the a0-level data and does
NOT appear in either the a1 (mwrlos) or c1 (mwr5avg) files.  Therefore
THESE ANOMALOUS VALUES HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE 5-MINUTE AVERAGES.

The microwave hardware is thermally stabilized to about +/- 0.1 deg C
by resistive heating.  When the internal temperature rises above the
set point the thermal stabilization of the instrument gain is lost.
>From an examination of the component temperature data it appears that
increasing the set point temperature to about 55 deg C (328 K) would
prevent a re-ocurrance of this problem at the SGP.  The manufacturer,
Radiometrics, concurs that raising the set point will fix this problem
and will not cause other problems.

I will have to carefully examine the MCTEX data to determine whether
this will be a problem for the TWP.  The manufacturer and I had
discussed this possibility prior to building the TWP MWRs (S/N 015,
016, and 017) and those instruments have set points above 50 deg C.
Note that MWR 018 has a set point near 52 deg C (like the TWP models)
but it still experienced a few loss-of-stabilization events.

Note that the instruments with the lowest set points had the most
loss-of-stabilization events.

• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• 23tbsky
• 31tbsky

• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• 23tbsky
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• 31tbsky

• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)
• Radiation, longwave, brightness temperature, 23.8 GHz(tbsky23)

• 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)
• Radiation, longwave, brightness temperature, 23.8 GHz(tbsky23)
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)

Bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding 04/12/96 05:31

Date Submitted:  4/15/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at: CF
 
    Period of time in question
    Begin Date   4/12/96   Time   05:31    (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 996.1
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 964.2 hPa. The surface
pressure at 11:30 was 972.0 and at 14:30 was 973.5.  It appears that the
operator entered the sea-level pressure rather than the station pressure.
The SMOS pressure during the period is in the 960-970 range.

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

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

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

Bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding 05/04/96 05:29

Date Submitted:  5/06/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at: CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date   5/06/96   Time   05:29    (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 993.3
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 964.0 hPa. The surface
pressure at 08:30 was 964.7 and at 11:31 was 954.3.  It appears that the
operator entered the sea-level pressure rather than the station pressure.
The SMOS pressure during the period is in the 960-950 range.

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.

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

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

bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding 05/29/96 20:31

Date Submitted:  6/2/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  05/29/96   Time   20:31    (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 999.2
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 978.2 hPa. The surface
pressure at 17:25 was 980.1 and at 05:30 (5/30) was 981.8.  It appears that the
operator entered the sea-level pressure rather than the station pressure.

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

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

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

bad surface values sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface values sounding 06/10/96 17:30

Date Submitted:  6/11/96
Submitted By:    Barry Lesht          _X_  Instrument Mentor
                 David Glahn          ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      _X_  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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  06/10/96   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:

The site operator inadvertently entered incorrect surface met values for
the subject sounding.  Although he caught the error soon after launch
and reported it immediately, it was too late to correct.  The following
table shows the incorrect (present in the file) and correct values.

                      Incorrect           Correct
Pressure               1000.0              973.9
Temperature              35.0               30.5
Relative Humidity        27                 30

The incorrect values of surface temperature and relative humidity will not
affect the other values in the sounding.  The incorrect surface pressure
will, however, 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.

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

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

Bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding 06/21/96 11:30

Date Submitted:  7/1/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
       Begin Date  07/01/96   Time   11:30    (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 996.4
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 972.3 hPa. The surface
pressure at 05:30 was 972.3 and at 14:46 was 976.1.  It appears that the
operator entered the sea-level pressure rather than the station pressure.

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.

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

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

Bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding 07/04/96 17:28

Date Submitted:  7/6/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
	What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
 	Begin Date  07/04/96   Time   17:28    (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 995.4
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 970.1 hPa. The surface
pressure at 14:30 was 972.3 and at 20:27 was 971.1.  It appears that the
operator entered the sea-level pressure rather than the station pressure.

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

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

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

bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding C1 09/09/96:14:29

Date Submitted:  9/9/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  09/09/96   Time   14:29    (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 1001.4
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 979.7 hPa.  It appears
that the operator incorrectly entered sea-level pressure obtained from the
WeatherMeasure set rather than surface pressure obtained from the radiosonde.

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.

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

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

bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding C1 09/09/96:17:31

Date Submitted:  9/9/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
 	Begin Date  09/09/96   Time   17:31    (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 1001.5
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 978.9 hPa.  It appears
that the operator incorrectly entered sea-level pressure obtained from the
WeatherMeasure set rather than surface pressure obtained from the radiosonde.

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 -----

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

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

bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding C1 09/09/96:20:29

Date Submitted:  9/9/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  09/09/96   Time   20:29    (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 999.4
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 975.4 hPa.  It appears
that the operator incorrectly entered sea-level pressure obtained from the
WeatherMeasure set rather than surface pressure obtained from the radiosonde.

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.

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

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

bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding C1 09/12/96:0830

Date Submitted:  9/13/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  012/96   Time 08:30    (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 987.7
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 976.1 hPa.  The
operator transposed the correct surface pressure 978.7 when entering the
data.

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.

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

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

Bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding C1 09/26/96:0828

Date Submitted:  9/27/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  09/27/96   Time 08:28      (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 976.1
hPa.  Analysis of the raw data file suggests that the actual surface pressure
at time of launch was 967.1 hPa.  It appears that the operator transposed 
the correct surface pressure from 967.1 to 976.1 when entering the data.

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.

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

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

SGP/MWR/B1/B4/B5/B6/C1 - Thermal Stabilization Adjustment

In order to correct a thermal stabilization problem identified earlier
I adjusted the thermal set point of the microwave radiometers at the
SGP upward from 48-50 deg C to 55 deg C in early August 1996 according
to the schedule given below.

B6    5 August 1996
C1    6 August 1996
B1    7 August 1996
B5    8 August 1996

Subsequent to making this adjustment the MWRs were put in TIP mode to
check on whether the change in set point temperature affected their
calibration.  Because clear sky conditions were quite intermittent, it
is difficult to determine whether the substantial variability in the
tip data were attributable to the change in thermal set point.  The
instrument calibration was not altered in August.

Tip data were again collected with these instruments in September prior
to the beginning and at the close of the Water Vapor IOP.  For example,
the calibration of the instrument at the central facility (S/N 10)
derived from the September data was essentially the same as that
derived from calibration data acquired in February 1996.  Although this
would lead one to believe that altering the thermal set point did not
affect the instrument calibration, it may be that some transient effect
was induced.

In comparing soundings launched from the central facility with the
microwave radiometer there, I noticed that those sondes calibrated in
June 1996 consistently reported lower integrated water vapor than the
radiometer in July and September (during the IOP) but were in better
agreement with the radiometer for the two weeks period immediately
after the set point was adjusted.  I suspect that adjusting the thermal
set point may have temporarily increased the radiometer gain
(kelvins/volt) thereby lowering the measured brightness temperature and
the retrieved integrated water vapor.

It is not clear why a temporary change in gain should occur or even
whether it did.  But users of the data should be aware that the data
from the microwave radiometers at the SGP may be anomalous during
August 1996.

• 23tbsky
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• 31tbsky

• 23tbsky
• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• 31tbsky
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)

• 31tbsky
• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• 23tbsky
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)

• 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)
• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• Radiation, longwave, brightness temperature, 23.8 GHz(tbsky23)

• Radiation, longwave, brightness temperature, 23.8 GHz(tbsky23)
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)

• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• 23tbsky
• 31tbsky

• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• 31tbsky
• 23tbsky
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)

• 31tbsky
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• 23tbsky
• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)

• 23tbsky
• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• 31tbsky

• 23tbsky
• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• 31tbsky
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)

• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• 31tbsky
• 23tbsky

• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• 31tbsky
• 23tbsky

• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• 31tbsky
• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• 23tbsky

• 31tbsky
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• 23tbsky

• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• 23tbsky
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• 31tbsky

• 23tbsky
• Total liquid water along LOS path(liq)
• Total water vapor along LOS path(vap)
• 31tbsky

Incorrect surface temperature

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Incorrect surface temperature: sounding C1 01/10/97:1730

Date Submitted:  1/11/97
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      _X_  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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  01/10/97   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:

The site operator noted that the surface temperature for the subject sounding
was entered incorrectly.  The value entered was -3.3 degC; the correct value
should be -6.3 degC.  This is a fairly benign error, only the surface values
will be affected.
 
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.

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

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

Questionable RH

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Questionable RH: sounding C1 03/07/97:1427

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: sgpsondewrpnC1.A1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  03/07/97   Time 14:27      (GMT)
        End Date               Time            (GMT)

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

David Cook pointed out that the RH values for the subject sounding disagree
substantially with values reported at the 60m tower.  Review of the sounding
data shows saturation (100%) values reported at the surface and during
most of the sounding.  The site ops log shows RH values of between 68% (1400) 
and 52% (1500) at the surface.  Surface temperature (8.4) and pressure (983.0)
obtained from the sonde are not substantially different from the surface
observations (7.8/10.8) and (982.7/982.4) at 1400 and 1500 respectively, so
it is unlikely that an incorrect calibration tape was used for the sonde.
I think the conclusion must be that the RH sensor on this sonde was bad.

As an operational issue, this sonde should have been rejected by site ops
because the surface RH value of 100% is more than 7% different than the surface
value obtained from an independent reference instrument.  I will check the 
procedures that I have provided to site ops to be sure that I included this
criterion.  
 
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.

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

Jump in pressure value

DQR No:                               Platform:  sgpsondeC1

Subject:        Jump in pressure value C1 sounding 970505.1732

Date Submitted: 5/06/97
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: sgpsondewrpnc1/ (alt, asc, press)
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc): all

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  5/05/97    Time   17:32    (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:

The first pressure value reported by the radiosonde (t = 2 sec) is
974.9.  The surface pressure value was 980.9 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.

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

Incorrect surface values

DQR No:                               Platform:  sgpsondeC1

Subject:        Incorrect surface values sounding 970621:2027

Date Submitted: 6/23/97
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: sgpsondewrpnc1
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc): all

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  6/21/97    Time   20:27    (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:

Site operations reports that incorrect surface values were entered into
the subject sounding.  Instead of 972.3, 33.7, and 46 the surface pressure,
temperature, and humidity values should have been 971.8, 33.3, and 47.

The incorrect surface pressure will result in incorrect altitudes throughout
the profile and incorrect ascent rate values during the first 30 seconds.
The effects of the incorrect temperature and relative humidty values should
be negligable.
 
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.

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

Bad sounding file CF 970622:0228

It appears that there was a problem with the radiosonde that generated
this short file. The pressure values are unreasonably high and the
file terminated after only 484 seconds of flight.  I note that the
operators started a new sounding at 0252.  This entire file should be
disregarded or deleted.

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

Bad pressure values CF sounding 970704:0525

The pressure values and hence altitude values are most likely incorrect
in this sounding.  It also appears that an incorrect surface pressure
value was entered by the operator.  The surface pressure value in
the data (986.8) is somewhat higher than the surface pressures for the
neighboring soundings and higher than recorded in the raw data collected
before launch (~978 hPa).  The first pressure value recorded by the
sonde after launch is 884.8 hPa.  Analysis of the absolutely raw data
reveals that the sonde was reading about 978 hPa well before launch,
then suddenly dropped to 886.8 at which it remained stable for several
minutes, then began slowly decreasing as would be expected after launch.
My best guess is that the sonde was somehow damaged during handling
before launch resulting in erroneous pressure values.  Relative pressure
changes from an 'apparent' surface value of 886.8 hPa may be correct,
but the absolute pressure values are not.

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

Questionable pressure/altitude data

Ric Cederwall noticed that the lowest 85 samples of this sounding have
nearly constant values of temperature and relative humidity.  It appears
that the system may have mis-identified the launch start time in a way
that resulted in the system using interpolated values of pressure even
though the sonde was still on the ground.  This may have been caused by
a damaged pressure sensor.  I will examine the absolutely raw data to
try and understand this further, but I think it is reasonable to assume
that the first 85 samples or so are incorrect and representative of
condidtions at the surface and that the pressure sensor was damaged
during this sounding.  I will request the raw data from the archive
today.

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

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value recorded by the radiosonde
after launch (984.5) that the surface value entered by the operator (989.3)
is somewhat larger than would normally be expected.  This will result in
incorrect altitude values throughout the sounding.  The ascent rates
during the first 30 seconds also will be incorrect.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Incorrect surface temperature and humidity

Incorrect values of surface temperature and relative humidity were entered
by the operator.  The surface temperature was entered as 17.5 degC; the
first value reported by the sonde was -3.6 degC.  The surface humidity
was entered as 26; the first value reported by the sonde was 81%. It
appears that the operator used the inside temperature/humidity rather
than the sonde-reported outside temperature/humidity.

Only the first few samples of the sounding will be affected.  Note that
the delta-check QC flag is set by this error.

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

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

Incorrect surface values

The surface pressure, temperature, and relative humidity are incorrect for
this soundings.  The values in the sounding netCDF file (975.6, 3.2, 86)
are different from the surface observations in the site ops log (978.9,
9.1, and 83) and from the values in the raw radiosonde data file at
the moment just before ascent (978.7, 9.5, 83).  The reason for the
differences are unknown, but insofar as the surface values are manually
entered by the operator into both the log (where they are correct) and
into the sounding file (where they are incorrect) an operator
miscue is a possibility.

The major effect of this problem will be incorrect absolute altitude.

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

Incorrect surface pressure

The operator transposed the digits of the surface pressure entering 976.3
instead of 967.3.  The ops log shows 967.3 for the sonde and 968.3 for
the THWAPS.  Analysis of the absolutely raw sonde data shows 968.0 at
the system-identified launch time.

Note that because the output pressure data are smoothed, under the
assumption that the surface data value is true, the first value
reported by the sonde after launch 970.4 also is incorrect.  The raw
value corresponding to the sample after launch is 966.6.

The absolute pressure values will be incorrect for the first few samples
of the sounding, as will be the ascent rates for the first 30 seconds.
The absolute altitude values also will be in error.

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

Incorrect surface pressure

The operator entered 960.2 for the surface pressure in both the log and
the system.  The first reading from the sonde is 950.9.  Examination of
the absolutely raw data shows that the sonde pressure before launch was
952.3.  The THWAPS reading was 964.2.  From the raw data it appears that
either the system was not reset before this sounding or that a second
sonde was started without resetting the system.  The sonde pressure
may be low in absolute terms or the operator may have mis-entered the
actual sonde reading.  In either case the absolute altitude will be wrong
in this sounding and the ascent rates will be incorrect for the first
30 seconds.

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

Bad sounding

Data from this sounding look very fragmented as if only a few actual points
were collected and intermediate points were intepolated.  In a general
sense this sounding looks 'weird' and should not be trusted.  I do not yet
have access to r1 so I can't look at the raw data, but I doubt that it will
shed much light on the situation.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

Incorrect surface readings

It appears that the operator entered an incorrect set of surface data for
the subject sounding.  The sounding has surface PTU as 975.6 hPa, 20.0 degC,
and 93% RH - the corresponding THWAPS readings are 969.7 hPa, 19.9 degC, and
72.1 %RH.  The OMIS log for the subject souding shows sonde surface values
of 969.2 hPa, 17.6 degC, and 70% RH.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

Incorrect surface RH

Because of what appears to be a typographical error, the operator entered
5% RH when the surface RH was 54% RH.  The corresponding THWAPS reading
is 50.1% RH and the OMIS log shows 54%RH.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

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.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

• Development raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

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

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

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

• Development raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

• Development raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

• Development raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

• Development raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Development raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

• Development raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Development raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

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

• Development raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

• Development data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

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

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

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

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

SGP/SONDE - Wrong cal tape

There is something wrong with this sounding, its not clear exactly
what happened, however.  The first values reported by the radiosonde
are much different from those entered by the operator.  My impression
is that this is a calibration tape mixup.  The raw data file shows
that the sounding software was initialized twice for this sounding,
the first time showing sonde 823360910, the second time showing
sonde 819351814.  There is no enties in the operations log that
describe a problem with a sonde before launch.

• lat
• base_time
• lon
• u_wind_calc
• alt
• v_wind_flags
• u_wind_flags
• time_offset
• v_wind_calc
• Pressure, atmospheric, constant value of model level, RUC model output(pres)

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

SGP/SONDE - Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the sonde-reported pressure at the surface
(969.1 hPa) and the first pressure value reported after launch
(963.5) is larger than expected.  This may indicate that either
the pressure sensor was jarred at launch, that the system failed
to correctly identify the launch start time, or some other problem.

The ascent rates during the first 30 seconds of the sounding will be
incorrect as will the absolute altitudes during the sounding.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

Incorrect surface RH

The operator entered an incorrect value (7.5%) for the surface RH for this
sounding.  The correct value should have been 70%.  The operator noticed
the error after the sounding had been completed and reported it in his log.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

SGP/SONDE - RH probably biased low in several soundings

In the process of moving storage facilties, site operations uncovered some old radiosondes 
(vintage April 1998) that were used in several soundings starting on May 10 at 0530 and 
continuing at least through May 11 at 2040.
Because these sondes are so old and pre-date Vaisala's repackaging they are likely subject 
to the sensor contamination problem that results in a dry bias in RH.  The sondes in 
question have serial numbers 816XXXXXX.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

SGP/SONDE - Incorrect surface temperature

The operator entered 20.0 degrees rather than the true temperature of 2.0
degrees.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

SGP/SONDE - Incorrect surface temperature

The operator entered the surface temperature as 25 degC rather than the
correct 2.5 deg C.  This is the second time in a week this type of error
has occurred.  I have sent a separate e-mail to site ops.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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