SGP/MWR - MWR Scaled sondes too wet

As discussed in P000109.1, two of the MWR scaled radiosondes were 
scaled such that the relative humidity profiles greatly exceeded
100% RH for large fractions of the profile.  The two launches that
were affected were on 991203.0531 and 991204.0530.  In both cases,
the scale factor was on the order of 1.9.  Users should beware of
all MWR scaled radiosondes with scale factors outside the range of
0.8 - 1.2.

• Humidity, relative(rh)

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 - Data missing from sounding

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

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

#Collection process shut down by SIGTERM

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

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

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

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

SGP/SONDE - Data missing from sounding

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

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

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

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

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
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• 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)
• wstat
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• 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/B1 - Incorrect surface temperature

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

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

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

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

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Incorrect Surface Pressure

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

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

• alt
• asc

• alt
• asc

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad Temperature Sensor

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

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

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Temperature sensor failure

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

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

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

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad Temperature Sensor

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

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

• Water vapor, total integrated from radiosonde(integ_vap_sonde)

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

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad Temperature Sensor

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

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

• Water vapor, total integrated from radiosonde(integ_vap_sonde)

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

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

Bad temperature sensor

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

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

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

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

SGP/SONDE/B4 - Soundings contaminated by interference

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

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

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

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

SGP/SONDE/B4 - B4 sounding contaminated by interference

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

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

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Contaminated by interference

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

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

SGP/SONDE/B1 - Temperature sensor failed

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

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

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

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

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

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

• lon
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• wstat
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• asc
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• alt
• lat
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• base_time
• 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/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
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• wstat
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• asc
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• alt
• lat
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• base_time
• 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
• 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 - 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/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH Data

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

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH Data

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

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Surface pressure incorrect

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

• alt
• asc

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/SONDE/C1 - Broken temperature sensor

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

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

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

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

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Incorrect surface temperature

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

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Scheduled Soundings Missed

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

20040116.2330
20040117.0530
20040117.1130
20040117.1730
20040118.0530
20040121.0530

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

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

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

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

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Surface pressure incorrect

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

• alt
• asc

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

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

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Surface pressure incorrect

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

• alt
• asc

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Surface pressure incorrect

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

• alt
• asc

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH Data

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

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

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

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

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Temperature/RH incorrect

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

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

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Bad RH Data

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

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Sonde RH values incorrect

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• alt
• lon
• lat

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

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

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - RH values offset due to error in ground check

Background: After installation of the latest software update , we began performing formal 
ground checks on RS92 radiosondes.  By comparing the
radiosonde readings with reference values in a controlled environment, the
ground check is intended to ensure that the radiosonde sensors are in
calibration before launch.  The radisonde values during the ground check
process are recorded automatically; the reference values are entered by the
operator.  If the radiosonde readings vary from the reference values, the
system 'corrects' the radiosonde values.  In the case of RH, the correction
is applied as an offset (true RH = indicated RH + correction).

Problem: Some operators misunderstood the ground-check procedure and entered the 
radiosonde values of RH rather than the reference value (assumed 0%RH), thus, some soundings done 
during this period have RH values that are different from what they would be if the 
ground check procedure had been done correctly.

Consequence:  Because the RH corrections generally are small (averaging
about 0.5% RH) and the precision of the reported RH data during this time
period is 1% RH, some values will not be affected at all; others will be off by about 1% 
RH (still within the stated accuracy of the sensor). 
Furthermore, because entering the radiosonde value as the reference value
results in a near zero 'correction,' one may view these soundings as being
done without the ground check correction.  Also note that the dew point
value will be suspect as well.

I am attaching below a listing of the soundings that were affected during the indicated 
time period.  Users can see the magnitude of the problem and choose whether or not to apply 
an offset in RH.  Note that application of the offset to the processed RH data (in the 
netCDF file) will not have the same effect of applying the correction to the absolutely 
raw data (before processing), but the differences should be insignificant.  Also note that 
the corrections for each sounding are included in the netCDF header information.  These 
attributes are named 'humidity_correction' and 'humidity_correction_2'.  The values of RH 
indicated by the radiosonde while it is in the ground check set are in attributes 
'humidity_gc_sonde' and 'humidity_gc_sonde_2.'  There is an RH reading for each of the two RH 
sensors used in the RS92 radiosonde.

Here is the list - RH1 and RH2 are the radiosonde readings in the ground
check set.  Ref is the reference value entered by the operator.  The
correcte reference value should be 0%.  To obtain an approximation to the RH value that 
would have been recorded if the ground check had been done
properly, subtract the Ref value from the indicated RH.

 YYYYMMDD  HHMM  SerialN      RH1     RH2     Ref
 20060827  2332  B2624322    1.00    1.00    1.00
 20060828  1731  B2634078    1.00    1.00    1.00
 20060828  2332  B2624380    3.00    3.00    2.00
 20060909  2331  B2615266    1.00    1.00    1.00
 20060915  1759  B2914012    1.00    1.00    1.00
 20060919  2350  B2825128    1.00    1.00    1.00
 20060920  1800  B2825088    1.00    1.00    1.00
 20060920  2346  B2815633    1.00    1.00    1.00
 20060921  1728  B2834732    1.30    1.30    1.30
 20060921  2330  B2825042    1.50    1.50    1.50
 20060922  0527  B2825043    1.70    1.80    1.70
 20060922  1128  B2825031    1.60    1.50    1.60
 20060922  1729  B2834437    1.50    1.50    1.50
 20060922  2330  B2825040    0.40    0.50    0.50
 20060923  0529  B2834733    0.30    0.30    0.30
 20060923  1128  B2825026    0.40    0.40    0.40
 20060923  1729  B2825064    0.60    0.70    0.60
 20060923  2330  B2825041    0.40    0.50    0.50
 20060924  0529  B2825039    0.30    0.30    0.30
 20060924  1729  B2825025    0.20    0.30    0.20
 20060924  2329  B2825032    0.30    0.40    0.40
 20060925  0529  B2824234    0.20    0.30    0.20

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

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 - RH Sensor failure

The differences between the two RH sensors on this sonde are unreasonably high (~20%).  As 
a result the reported RH values oscillate by this amount during the times the sensors 
are alternately heated.  After the heating stops, the reported RH comes from the sensor 
reading the higher value.  There is no way of knowing if this is the correct value.

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Suspect RH profile from 150-350 m above ground level

Several radiosondes were noticed to have a very stark dry layer between 150 m and 350 m, 
where the RH dropped from approximately 60-80% (which I would take as close to the ambient 
conditions) to less than 2%.  The character of these dropouts look like instrument 
issues, as it only a handful of radiosondes that appear to be affected.  The quicklook images 
from the Raman lidar does not show any very dry layers, thus supporting the hypothesis 
that the RH measurements from these radiosondes (at least in this small ~200 m level) are 
in error.  I should note that the temperature profiles look normal.

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Suspect RH values

RH values only are suspect for the duration of this radiosonde flight, exhibiting a 
"sawtooth" pattern.

• Humidity, relative(rh)

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)
• lat
• time_offset
• alt
• wstat
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)

operator error

DQR No:                               Platform: SGPSONDEC1

Subject: operator error

Date Submitted: 11/12/93
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 problems@arm.gov.

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

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/CF
         
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  11/11/93   Time   19:27    (GMT)
        End Date      /  /     Time     :      (GMT)
   Sonde data files 11/11/93 19:27 and following may have bad data.

 Data should be labeled:
 _X_  questionable                      ___  All data fields affected
 ___  incorrect                         ___  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:
 
 Mike Splitt of the site scientist team noted that the sounding done 11/11/93
 showed 0 RH at the ground.  I looked at the raw data file and also noted that
 the ground check humidity values were entered as 70 (reference) and 69 (sonde).
 The ground check humidity values should be zero.  This suggests an operator
 error of some sort.  Because 11/11 was a holiday, the usual sonde operator
 was not on site.  No entries of anything unusual were found in the daily
 ops log.  It may be coincidental that the SDS change-over moving Dorothy
 from the SPARC 2 to the SPARC 10 occurred at this time, but it may not be.

 The sounding done 11/12/93 also had problems.  Dave Glahn reported that the
 first sonde he tried showed 44% RH in the ground check set.  This typically
 results from using an incorrect calibration tape.  Dave opened a second
 sonde which passed ground check.  After launch, when Dave attempted to enter
 the surface observations, he says they were not written to the normal output
 file and that he was unable to graph the sounding on the sonde PC
 as it was occurring.  The operators played with the computer and ended up
 overwriting the standard output file - losing all data below about 5 km.

 It is difficult to determine the cause of the problem.  These data files
 should be flagged as questionable until we understand what happened.  My
 hypothesis is that the operators inadvertently modified the sonde software
 on 11/11 and that the output files are being written to the wrong directories.
 It is also possible that this problem resulted from the SDS change-over.
 SDS change-overs have, in the past, caused problems with the sonde data
 archiving.  I gave instructions to Dave Glahn to check the directory pointers
 before doing a sounding on Monday.  I will be on site Wednesday (for another
 purpose) and will check the system if we do not have resolution by then.
 
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

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

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

Possible error in humidity ground check

DQR No:                               Platform:  sgpsondewrpnC1

Subject:   Possible error in humidity ground check

Date Submitted:  8/3/94
Submitted By:    Barry Lesht          _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

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

    What location was the data collected at: CF
 
    Period of time in question
 	Begin Date   7/13/94   Time   11:31    (GMT)
 	End Date     8/ 3/94   Time   14:30    (GMT)

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

We suspect that the dessicant in the bbss ground check set (located 
only at the central facility) has become saturated and is no longer
providing a 0 %RH environment against which to check the sonde RH sensor.
This would result in a bias in the correction for humidity for 
those soundings that were done during the time the dessicant was bad.  
Examination of the data suggests that the potential errors are small, 
(on the order of a few percent RH), but sufficiently different from previous 
corrections to warrant temporary suspension of the ground check procedure.

A review of the data collected since the beginning of the year shows no
trend in humidity correction until July 13, 1994.  The last positive
humidity correction was recorded on July 12, 1994 and since then has been
noticably (though slightly) downward.

The humidity correction is applied linearly.  That is, U = U' + (Uo - Uo')
where U is the humidity with the ground check applied (this is the RH
value in our data stream), U' is the humidity measured at the sonde before
correction, Uo is the reference humidity (assumed to be 0%), and Uo' is
is the humidity measured by the sonde in the ground check set.  Users
can recover the RH measured at the sonde by subtracing the global attribute
"humidity-correction" from the RH values in the data set.  Based on our
experience with the ground check data, we expect the RH values measured
at the sonde to be accurate within +/-2% RH.  

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:  

Any measurement derived from the sonde RH measurement, for example
dew point temperature, water vapor mixing ratio).


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

Flag data warning user that RH may be biased high by an unknown amount,
probably not exceeding 2% RH.


Data Processing Notes                Date

• 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)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time

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

Sounding Data Suspect

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeB4

Subject:   Sounding data suspect

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

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

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

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

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

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:  

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



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

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


Data Processing Notes                Date

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

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

Bad surface RH value in sounding

DQR No:                               Platform:  SGPSONDEC1

Subject:        Bad surface RH value in sounding 10/30/94 23:26

Date Submitted: 11/4/94
Submitted By:   Barry Lesht           _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

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

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/CF
 
    Period of time in question
 	Begin Date  10/30/94   Time   23:26    (GMT)
 	End Date    10/30/94   Time   23:26    (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 looks as though an incorrect value was entered by the operator for
surface relative humidity.  The value entered 16% is much lower than the
first value given by the radiosonde 80%.  The rest of the sounding is
consistent with humid, rainy conditions, suggesting a typographical
error (16 instead of 76?).

 
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
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• asc
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• alt
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time

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

Bad surface RH value in sounding

DQR No:                               Platform:  SGPSONDEC1

Subject:        Bad surface RH value in sounding 11/6/94 17:33

Date Submitted: 11/8/94
Submitted By:   Barry Lesht           _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

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

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/CF
 
    Period of time in question
     Begin Date  11/06/94   Time   17:33    (GMT)
     End Date    11/06/94   Time   17:33    (GMT)

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

An incorrect value was entered by the operator for surface relative humidity.  
The value as entered as 4% should be 45%.  This typographical error was
noted in the site operations log by the operator shortly after it occurred.
The remaining values in the sounding should be fine.

 
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
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• asc
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• alt
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time

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

CF Sonde Ground Check Corrections

DQR No:                               Platform:  SGPSONDEC1

Subject:        CF Sonde Ground Check Corrections

Date Submitted: 11/8/94
Submitted By:   Barry Lesht           _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondec1
	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  01/21/93   Time   16:40    (GMT)
 	End Date    08/03/94   Time   14:30    (GMT)

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

Between 1/21/93 and 8/3/94 all radiosondes launched from the central
facility were ground checked before launch.  The ground check procedure
consists of placing the sonde sensor arm into a sealed, dessicated chamber
containing a certified calibrated mercury thermometer, allowing the sonde
to equilibrate, and comparing the sonde output readings for RH and
temperature to the thermometer reading and an assumed 0% RH.  All data after
launch were "corrected" to account for any differences between the sonde
output and the reference conditions in the ground check set.

Analysis of the population of ground check values shows that the average
RH correction was 0% RH and average temperature correction was -0.4 degC.
Because there is some question as to whether applying the ground check
correction increases or decreases the accuracy of the output data, some
investigators may wish to remove the effect of the ground check before
using the data in their analyses.  Ground checks were suspended on 8/3/94.

The algorithms for removing the ground check are:

RH (without ground check) = RH (as reported) - humidity_correction

Temp (without ground chk) = [Temp (as reported) - FACTOR1]/FACTOR2 where

FACTOR1 = [(90*temperature_correction)/(tref+90)
FACOTR2 = [1+(temperature_correction)/(tref+90)

The variables "humidity_correction" and "temperature_correction" are
metadata contained in the netCDF data files from 5/20/93 to 8/3/94.
Between 1/21/93 and 5/20/93 these variables were misnamed and are not
easily accessible via FORTRAN (see PIF 940917.1).

The variable tref is the actual temperature reported by the radiosonde
while in the ground check set.  This variable is not included in the
netCDF file and can be estimated by using a value of 15 degC.  The
correction function is relatively insensitive to variations in this
value.  (see PIF 940917.2)

FORTRAN routines for reading the metadata and for applying the algorithms
to produce "uncorrected" data are available from the instrument mentor.
 
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.)

Send (another) notice to users of the data.  

Data Processing Notes                Date

• 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)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time

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

Questionable initial values sounding 941209:1133

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondec1

Subject:   Questionable initial values sounding 941209:1133

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

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

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/CF
 
    Period of time in question
 	Begin Date  12/09/94   Time   11:33:00 (GMT)
 	End Date    12/09/94   Time   11:33:02 (GMT)

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

It appears that incorrect values were entered for surface temperature and
relative humidity in the subject sounding.  The values entered were
temp = 25.1 degC, rh = 18 %.  The next values in the sounding are
temp =- 2.4 degC, rh = 70 %.  Because these do not appear to be simple
typographical errors, the values should be noted as questionable rather
than incorrect until the paper log can be consulted by site ops.

Initial values for subsequent soundings seem fine.

 
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.)

Check paper log and flag data.  Note for possible correction later.


Data Processing Notes                Date

• 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)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time

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

Questionable surface value 1/2/95 11:32

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondec1wrpn

Subject:   Questionable surface value 1/2/95 11:32

Date Submitted: 1/9/95
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement:  sgpsondec1
	What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):  all

    What location was the data collected at: cf
 
    Period of time in question
 	Begin Date   1/02/95   Time   11:32:00    (GMT)
 	End Date     1/02/95   Time   11:32:02    (GMT)

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

It appears that incorrect surface values of temperature and relative
humidity were entered for the subject 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
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• asc
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• alt
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time

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

Questionable surface value 1/3/95 11:29

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondec1wrpn

Subject:   Questionable surface value 1/3/95 11:29

Date Submitted: 1/9/95
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement:  sgpsondec1
	What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):  all

    What location was the data collected at: cf
 
    Period of time in question
 	Begin Date   1/03/95   Time   11:29:00    (GMT)
 	End Date     1/03/95   Time   11:29:02    (GMT)

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

It appears that incorrect surface values of temperature and relative
humidity were entered for the subject 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
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• asc
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• alt
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time

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

Reprocess: Sounding 950222:0530 done in research mode

DQR No:                               Platform:

Subject: Sounding 950222:0530 Done in Research Mode

Date Submitted:  3/4/95
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement:  SGPSONDEC1
	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   2/22/95   Time   05:30    (GMT)
 	End Date     2/22/95   Time   07:30    (GMT)

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

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


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


Data Processing Notes                Date

• 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)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time

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

Bad surface values in sounding 3/9/95:0530

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface values in sounding 3/9/95:0530

Date Submitted:  3/10/95
Submitted By:                         _x_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement:
	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   3/09/95   Time   05:30    (GMT)
 	End Date     3/09/95   Time   05:30    (GMT)

 Data should be labeled:
 ___  questionable                      ___  All data fields affected
 _x_  incorrect                         _x_  Only some data fields affected
 ___  wrong calibration
 ___  others 
 
 Discussion of Problem:   It appears that the operator entered incorrect
values for the surface temperature and humidity for this sounding.  The
entered values are 24.8 degC (temp) and 19 %RH (humidity) which are most
likely the values obtained from the met instruments inside the trailer
rather from the sonde on the launch platfrom.  The next sample values of
-3.1 degC (temp) and 81 %RH (humidity) appear to be valid.



 
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
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• asc
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• alt
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time

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

Reprocess: Sounding 950315:1429 done in research mode

P950316.1                                                  Barry Lesht
SGP/SONDE.C1.950315.950315 - Sounding 950315:1429 Done in Research Mode

DQR No:                               Platform:

Subject: Sounding 950315:1429 Done in Research Mode

Date Submitted:  3/4/95
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________

For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement:  SGPSONDEC1
 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   3/15/95   Time   14:29    (GMT)
  End Date     3/15/95   Time   16:29    (GMT)

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

 Discussion of Problem:   This sounding was done in RESEARCH mode for
                          both thermodynamic as well as wind data.  The
                          normal mode is to for RESEARCH winds only.  As
                          a result, both the ascending and descending
                          flights of the sonde are included in the data
                          file and none of the data are smoothed or
                          filtered.


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


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


Data Processing Notes                Date

• 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)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time

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

Reprocess: Sounding 950413:1130 done in research mode

DQR No:                               Platform:

Subject: Sounding 950413:1130 Done in Research Mode

Date Submitted:  4/17/95
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement:  SGPSONDEC1
	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   4/13/95   Time   11:30    (GMT)
 	End Date     4/13/95   Time   13:30    (GMT)

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

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


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


Data Processing Notes                Date

• 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)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time

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

Bad surface values in sounding 4/17/95 14:29

DQR No:                               Platform:  SGPSONDEC1

Subject:        Bad surface values in sounding 4/17/95 14:29

Date Submitted: 4/19/95
Submitted By:   Barry Lesht           _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

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

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/CF
 
    Period of time in question
 	Begin Date  4/17/95   Time   14:29    (GMT)
 	End Date    4/17/95   Time   15:51    (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 operator entered incorrect surface values for both RH and pressure.
Because of the way altitude is calculated, the incorrect pressure value
has the effect of making all subsequent altitude values incorrect.  The
RH error only affects the first sample.  

 
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
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• asc
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• alt
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Reprocess: Bad surface pressure

An incorrect value was entered by the operator for surface pressure. The value as entered 
as 873.9 (hPa) should be 973.9.  This error results in incorrect altitude values 
throughout the sounding and incorrect ascent rate values during the first few minutes.

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

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

Reprocess: Sounding 950506:0230 done in research mode

DQR No:                               Platform:

Subject: B4 Sounding 950506:0230 Done in Research Mode

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

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

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

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

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


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


Data Processing Notes                Date

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

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

Reprocess: Sounding done in research mode

DQR No:                               Platform:

Subject: B1 Sounding 950717:2330 Done in Research Mode

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

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

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

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

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


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


Data Processing Notes                Date

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

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

Reprocess: Sounding done in research mode

DQR No:                               Platform:

Subject: B1 Sounding 950718:0530 Done in Research Mode

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

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

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

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

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


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


Data Processing Notes                Date

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

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

Reprocess: Sounding done in research mode

DQR No:                               Platform:

Subject: B1 Sounding 950718:2330 Done in Research Mode

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

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

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

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

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


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


Data Processing Notes                Date

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

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

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

DQR No:                               Platform:

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

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

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

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

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

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


Data Processing Notes                Date

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

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

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

DQR No:                               Platform:

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

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

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

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

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

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


Data Processing Notes                Date

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

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

SGP/SONDE/C1 - Sonde RESEARCH mode altitudes biased low

EDITOR'S NOTE:  The C1 begin date is actually 4/7/94.  This DQR applies to
all sgpsondewXprFF.aN data, where X is r or n, FF is B1, B4, B5, C1, and
N is 0 or 1.

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

In response to my queries, Vaisala explained that the dry-air calculation was
selected to increase the processing speed in RESEARCH mode.  They consider
the problem to be a minor one.  Vaisala claims that altitudes in NORMAL
(or NOMINAL) processing are calculated by including the sensed RH.

• alt

• alt

• alt

• alt

• alt

• alt

• alt

• alt

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

DQR DESCRIPTION:
DQR No:                               Platform: BBSS

Subject: Sonde RESEARCH mode altitudes biased low

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

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

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

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

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

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:  Unknown.


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

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


Data Processing Notes                Date

• alt

• alt

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

DQR DESCRIPTION:
DQR No:                               Platform: BBSS

Subject: Sonde RESEARCH mode altitudes biased low

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

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

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

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

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

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:  Unknown.


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

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


Data Processing Notes                Date

• alt

• alt

bad surface tdry value in sounding 17:55

DQR No:                               Platform:  SGPSONDEC1

Subject:        Bad surface tdry value in sounding 8/11/95 17:55

Date Submitted: 8/16/95
Submitted By:   Barry Lesht           _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

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

    What location was the data collected at: SGP/CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  8/11/95    Time   17:55    (GMT)
        End Date    8/11/95    Time   17:55    (GMT)

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

An incorrect value was entered by the operator for surface temperature.
The value entered as 28.8 should be 31.8.  This error was noted in the 
site operations log by the operator shortly after it occurred.
The remaining values in the sounding should be fine.

 
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
• Northward Wind Component(v_wind)
• Humidity, relative(rh)
• asc
• Eastward Wind Component(u_wind)
• alt
• Dry Bulb Temperature(tdry)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time

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

Apparent Interference Signal in Sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sondeB6

Subject: Apparent Interference Signal in Sounding

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

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

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

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

 
Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:


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

    Flag


Data Processing Notes                Date

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

Apparent Interference Signal in Sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sondeC1

Subject: Apparent Interference Signal in Sounding CF:951002:2330

Date Submitted:   October 6, 1995
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________

For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

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

    What location was the data collected at:     CF

    Period of time in question
        Begin Date   10/03/95   Time   XX:XX:XX (GMT)
        End Date     10/03/95   Time   00:54:12 (GMT)

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

 Discussion of Problem:  It appears as if the ground station started to
 receive data from a foreign sonde (i.e., not the sonde originally being
 tracked) at an altitude of about 14.5 km.  At this point the RH signal
 drops out, and both the pressure and temperature signals are noisy and
 look unnatural.


Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:


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

    Flag


Data Processing Notes                Date

• 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)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time

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

Apparent Interference Signal in Sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sondeC1

Subject: Apparent Interference Signal in Sounding CF:951003:0830

Date Submitted:   October 6, 1995
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________

For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

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

    What location was the data collected at:     CF

    Period of time in question
  Begin Date   10/03/95   Time   XX:XX:XX (GMT)
  End Date     10/03/95   Time   09:40:20 (GMT)

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

 Discussion of Problem:  It appears as if the ground station started to
 receive data from a foreign sonde (i.e., not the sonde originally being
 tracked) at an altitude of about 14.0 km.  At this point the RH signal
 drops out, and both the pressure and temperature signals are noisy and
 look unnatural.


Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:


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

    Flag


Data Processing Notes                Date

• 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)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time

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

Apparent Interference Signal in Sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sondeC1

Subject: Apparent Interference Signal in Sounding CF:951003:1429

Date Submitted:   October 6, 1995
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other _____________________________

For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

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

    What location was the data collected at:     CF

    Period of time in question
  Begin Date   10/03/95   Time   XX:XX:XX (GMT)
  End Date     10/03/95   Time   15:25:24 (GMT)

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

 Discussion of Problem:  It appears as if the ground station started to
 receive data from a foreign sonde (i.e., not the sonde originally being
 tracked) at an altitude of about 12.7 km.  At this point the RH signal
 drops out, and both the pressure and temperature signals are noisy and
 look unnatural.


Other observations/measurements impacted by this problem:


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

    Flag


Data Processing Notes                Date

• 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)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dewpoint Temperature(dp)
• lon
• wstat
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base_time

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