NIM/ECOR/M1 - Missing data

Data are missing and unrecoverable.

• Pressure, condensation, at altitude, RUC model output(cp)
• covaraince vc(cvar_vc)
• n_spk_u
• n_spk_v
• n_spk_w
• lv
• phi
• covariance uq(cvar_uq)
• standard deviation of wind direction(std_wind_dir)
• covariance ut(cvar_ut)
• covariance uv(cvar_uv)
• covariance uw(cvar_uw)
• n_spk_c
• covariance uc(cvar_uc)
• North latitude(lat)
• Water vapor mixing ratio observed by the Raman lidar(mr)
• mean_spk_c
• n_spk_t
• covariance tq(cvar_tq)
• n_spk_q
• atm_pres
• mean_spk_q
• East longitude(lon)
• Mean CO2 density(mean_c)
• mean_spk_u
• mean_spk_t
• mean_spk_w
• mean_spk_v
• n_bad_v
• real_mr
• n_bad_w
• Latent heat flux(lv_e)
• friction velocity(ustar)
• n_bad_t
• n_bad_u
• wind_dir
• n_bad_q
• covariance wt(cvar_wt)
• Altitude above mean sea level(alt)
• CO2 flux(fc)
• covaraince wq(cvar_wq)
• n_bad_c
• rotated covariance uc(cvar_rot_uc)
• rho
• covariance wc(cvar_wc)
• Corrected sensible heat flux(h)
• n_bad_son_ic
• k
• real_lv
• base_time
• covariance vt(cvar_vt)
• covariance vq(cvar_vq)
• n_bad_irga
• covariance vw(cvar_vw)
• rotated covariance vq(cvar_rot_vq)
• n_good_w
• n_good_v
• rotated covariance vt(cvar_rot_vt)
• real_rho
• n_good_q
• elev
• standard deviation of wind elevation angle(std_elev)
• n_good_u
• n_good_t
• rotated covariance wc(cvar_rot_wc)
• rotated covariance vw(cvar_rot_vw)
• rotated variance v(var_rot_v)
• Variance of rotated u(var_rot_u)
• rotated variance w(var_rot_w)
• n_good_c
• n_bad_irga_light
• rotated covariance ut(cvar_rot_ut)
• real_cp
• mean_cooler
• time
• rotated covariance uq(cvar_rot_uq)
• covariance qc(cvar_qc)
• rotated covariance vc(cvar_rot_vc)
• rotated covariance uw(cvar_rot_uw)
• rotated covariance uv(cvar_rot_uv)
• Mean H2O density(mean_q)
• Mean sonic temp(mean_t)
• mean_v
• mean_u
• skew_v
• skew_w
• temp_irga
• skew_t
• skew_u
• skew_q
• Mean horizontal wind speed(mean_rot_u)
• mean_rot_v
• mean_rot_w
• mean_w
• wind_spd
• covariance tc(cvar_tc)
• skew_c
• Variance of co2 density(var_c)
• rotated covariance wt(cvar_rot_wt)
• Variance of q(var_q)
• kurt_c
• rotated covariance wq(cvar_rot_wq)
• variance of variable w(var_w)
• time_offset
• variance of variable t(var_t)
• variance of variable u(var_u)
• variance of variable v(var_v)
• kurt_w
• kurt_v
• kurt_u
• kurt_t
• kurt_q

NIM/MWRP/M1 - Software problem

The MWRP computer failed and it was cloned with a new Gx620. Soon after, the MWRP program 
started to crash and was intermittent. Data were lost on March 3, 4, 5. 
On March 7 the program was forcefully ended and restarted. This appears to have cleared 
the problem. The instrument has been running since.

• Pressure, lifting condensation level(liftingCondensationLevelPres)
• time_offset
• liquidWaterPath2RmsError
• frequency
• Pressure, barometric. at instrument height (1 or 2 m)(surfacePressure)
• elevation
• Liquid water path, from Tbright at 23.835 and 30.0 GHz only, using stat. retrvl.(liquidWaterPath2)
• wetWindowFlag
• liquidWaterContentRmsError
• Pressure, level of free convection(levelFreeConvectionPres)
• surface pressure(pressure)
• Temperature, dew point, vert. prof. sfc-10km, from water vapor density prof.(dewpointTemperature)
• totalPrecipitableWaterRmsError
• Pressure, equilibrium level(equilibriumLevelPres)
• Height, lifting condensation level(liftingCondensationLevel)
• infraredTemperature
• Liquid water path, from brightness temperatures using statistical retrieval(liquidWaterPath)
• CAPE, Convective available potential energy(cape)
• Temperature, virtual, vert. prof. sfc-10km, fr. wtr. vap. dens. and temp. prof.(virtualTemperature)
• Height, cloud base, height where IR temp. matches retrieved temp. profile(cloudBaseHeight)
• Density, water vapor, at instrument height (1 or 2 m)(surfaceWaterVaporDensity)
• dataQualityFlags
• Mixing ratio, water vap., vert. prof. sfc-10km, frm retr. water vap. dens. prof(waterVaporMixingRatio)
• Height, level of free convection(levelFreeConvection)
• base_time
• Water vapor, total precipitable, derived from Tbright using stat. retrvl.(totalPrecipitableWater)
• Pressure, associated geometric height, at altitude, NGM model output(height)
• liquidWaterPathRmsError
• Temperature, air, at instrument height (1 or 2 m)(surfaceTemperature)
• waterVaporDensityRmsError
• temperatureRmsError
• totalPrecipitableWater2RmsError
• Humidity, relative, at instrument height (1 or 2 m)(surfaceRelativeHumidity)
• Altitude above mean sea level(alt)
• Density, water vapor, prof. from sfc.-10 km, der. from Tbright stat. retrvl.(waterVaporDensity)
• azimuth
• Microwave brightness temperature(brightnessTemperature)
• Humidity, relative, prof. from sfc.-10km, from water vap. dens. and temp. prof.(relativeHumidity)
• time
• East longitude(lon)
• Liquid water content, cloud, vert. prof. sfc.-10km, from Tbright stat. retrvl.(liquidWaterContent)
• Height, equilibrium level(equilibriumLevel)
• North latitude(lat)
• blackbodyTemperature
• Water vapor, tot. precipitable, from Tbright, 23.835 & 30.0 GHz, stat. retrvl.(totalPrecipitableWater2)
• MET air temperature(temperature)

NIM/MWRP/M1 - Instrument noise problem

There are spikes and elevated noise in MWRP data. The origine of the spikes is RF 
interference from various sources.  All brightness temperatures are affected, but in particular 
the 5 K-band channels. LWP retrievals are noisy and affected by spikes as a result.

• Microwave brightness temperature(brightnessTemperature)
• Temperature, dew point, vert. prof. sfc-10km, from water vapor density prof.(dewpointTemperature)
• Water vapor, total precipitable, derived from Tbright using stat. retrvl.(totalPrecipitableWater)
• Humidity, relative, prof. from sfc.-10km, from water vap. dens. and temp. prof.(relativeHumidity)
• Liquid water path, from brightness temperatures using statistical retrieval(liquidWaterPath)
• Temperature, virtual, vert. prof. sfc-10km, fr. wtr. vap. dens. and temp. prof.(virtualTemperature)
• Liquid water content, cloud, vert. prof. sfc.-10km, from Tbright stat. retrvl.(liquidWaterContent)
• Density, water vapor, prof. from sfc.-10 km, der. from Tbright stat. retrvl.(waterVaporDensity)
• Water vapor, tot. precipitable, from Tbright, 23.835 & 30.0 GHz, stat. retrvl.(totalPrecipitableWater2)
• Liquid water path, from Tbright at 23.835 and 30.0 GHz only, using stat. retrvl.(liquidWaterPath2)
• MET air temperature(temperature)
• Mixing ratio, water vap., vert. prof. sfc-10km, frm retr. water vap. dens. prof(waterVaporMixingRatio)

NIM/MWRP/M1 - IRT Sensor Calibration

Discrepancies between the MWRP and Skyrad IRT were observed in January. The MWRP IRT 
readings were constantly higher than those of the skyrad IRT. Some changes were introduced to 
the MWRP IRT to address the problem (see DQR D060602.2). On May 3, the IRT mirror was 
replaced. After the change in the mirror, the MWRP IRT readings became about 5-8 C lower. On 
June 3 the agreement between MWRP and Skyrad IRT became satisfactory (2-5 degree C 
difference).

It is hard to numerically quantify the difference in the IRT readings caused by the change 
in the mirror. We can only warn the user that between January 1 and June 3 the MWRP 
readings are 8 to 15 degree higher than the skyrad IRT.

• infraredTemperature

NIM/ECOR/M1 - Flux Data Suspect for Some Wind Directions

NIM: For some wind directions the horizontal fetch was not representative of the field in 
which the AMF was located.  Therefore, for the wind direction ranges 90-170 (buildings) 
and 220-280 (trees) degrees, the fluxes are affected by insufficient fetch and  surfaces, 
buildings, or vegetation that are not similar to the local field conditions.

• Corrected sensible heat flux(h)
• CO2 flux(fc)
• Latent heat flux(lv_e)
• friction velocity(ustar)

NIM/MWRP/M1 - Reprocessed: IRT configuration setting error

The infrared thermometer settings (IRT) were not configured as specified by the 
manufacturer. The analog output was set to a range of -60 to +50 C (0-10V) instead of -50 to +50 C 
(0-10V). The settings were changed on April 20. The IR temperatures should be slightly 
smaller than reported.

The data have been reprocessed to correct the IRT calibrations.  Reprocessed data were 
archived in August 2006.

• infraredTemperature

NIM/MWRP/M1 - Reprocessed - New retrieval coefficients

Occasionally, the retrieved relative humidity was exceeding 120%. Upon reviewing the data 
it was noticed that the high values were appearing in the highest layers (above 8 km) and 
especially during spring season. Since retrievals at the highest levels are mainly 
affected by the climatology used to constrain the retrievals, we reviewed the statistical 
coefficients that were used to retrieve temperature and humidity. It was discovered that, in 
the training dataset (radiosonde), there were a few outliers (invalid radiosonde 
soundings) that had escaped the screening process and were affecting the computations of the 
retrieval coefficients.

We recomputed the retrieval coefficients with the newly screened set of radiosonde data 
and reprocessed all the previous data at Niamey.  The reprocessed data were archived in 
August 2006.

The new coefficients improve temperature and humidity profiles in two ways. The relative 
humidity will not exceed 120% in the upper layers and the temperature profiles will be in 
better agreement with the sonde in the first 4 km.

• Water vapor, total precipitable, derived from Tbright using stat. retrvl.(totalPrecipitableWater)
• liquidWaterPathRmsError
• liquidWaterPath2RmsError
• waterVaporDensityRmsError
• totalPrecipitableWater2RmsError
• temperatureRmsError
• Density, water vapor, prof. from sfc.-10 km, der. from Tbright stat. retrvl.(waterVaporDensity)
• Liquid water path, from Tbright at 23.835 and 30.0 GHz only, using stat. retrvl.(liquidWaterPath2)
• liquidWaterContentRmsError
• Temperature, dew point, vert. prof. sfc-10km, from water vapor density prof.(dewpointTemperature)
• totalPrecipitableWaterRmsError
• Humidity, relative, prof. from sfc.-10km, from water vap. dens. and temp. prof.(relativeHumidity)
• Liquid water path, from brightness temperatures using statistical retrieval(liquidWaterPath)
• Liquid water content, cloud, vert. prof. sfc.-10km, from Tbright stat. retrvl.(liquidWaterContent)
• Temperature, virtual, vert. prof. sfc-10km, fr. wtr. vap. dens. and temp. prof.(virtualTemperature)
• Height, cloud base, height where IR temp. matches retrieved temp. profile(cloudBaseHeight)
• Water vapor, tot. precipitable, from Tbright, 23.835 & 30.0 GHz, stat. retrvl.(totalPrecipitableWater2)
• MET air temperature(temperature)
• Mixing ratio, water vap., vert. prof. sfc-10km, frm retr. water vap. dens. prof(waterVaporMixingRatio)

NIM/MWRP/M1 - 51.25 GHz channel calibration drifted

After a power outage on May 5 the 51.25 GHz had a slight change in the calibration. The 
resulting LWP computed by using all 6 channels increased of about 0.025 mm (25 g/m2).

• Microwave brightness temperature(brightnessTemperature)

NIM/MWRP/M1 - Sun in radiometer's field of view

Around noon local time every day there is a spike in the brightness temperature data. This 
is due to the sun being in the field of view of the radiometer. PWV and LWP are affected 
as a consequence

• Microwave brightness temperature(brightnessTemperature)
• Water vapor, total precipitable, derived from Tbright using stat. retrvl.(totalPrecipitableWater)
• totalPrecipitableWaterRmsError
• liquidWaterPathRmsError
• infraredTemperature
• liquidWaterPath2RmsError
• Liquid water path, from brightness temperatures using statistical retrieval(liquidWaterPath)
• totalPrecipitableWater2RmsError
• Liquid water content, cloud, vert. prof. sfc.-10km, from Tbright stat. retrvl.(liquidWaterContent)
• Water vapor, tot. precipitable, from Tbright, 23.835 & 30.0 GHz, stat. retrvl.(totalPrecipitableWater2)
• Liquid water path, from Tbright at 23.835 and 30.0 GHz only, using stat. retrvl.(liquidWaterPath2)
• liquidWaterContentRmsError

NIM/MWRP/M1 - IRTs do not agree with AERI

Since deployment at PYE, and then at NIM, the AMF SKYRAD IRT measured about 10K higher sky 
temperatures than the AERI and the MWRP IRT measured about 20K higher than the AERI.  
Several actions were taken to diagnose the problem including confirming the correct 
configuration of the IRTs and data logger, cleaning the mirror and lens, and replacing the mirror.

After several days of rain beginning 6/2/2006, the three instruments came into agreement. 
The cause of the discrepancy was probably dust accumulation on the lens of the instrument

• infraredTemperature

NIM/MWRP/M1 - Reprocessed: K-band calibration drift corrected

During October and November there was a drift in the K-Band calibration of the MWRP. This 
resulted in brightness temperatures that were too high.

New calibration coefficients were derived from the median value of the noise diode 
temperature for the months of October and November and the data were reprocessed to apply the 
corrected calibrations.  The reprocessed data were archived in January 2007.

• Microwave brightness temperature(brightnessTemperature)
• Water vapor, total precipitable, derived from Tbright using stat. retrvl.(totalPrecipitableWater)
• Liquid water path, from brightness temperatures using statistical retrieval(liquidWaterPath)
• Liquid water content, cloud, vert. prof. sfc.-10km, from Tbright stat. retrvl.(liquidWaterContent)
• Water vapor, tot. precipitable, from Tbright, 23.835 & 30.0 GHz, stat. retrvl.(totalPrecipitableWater2)
• Liquid water path, from Tbright at 23.835 and 30.0 GHz only, using stat. retrvl.(liquidWaterPath2)

NIM/ECOR/M1 - Effects on ECOR CO2 Flux and Concentration By Aircraft

Aircraft landings, departures, and running aircraft on the airport pad
were found to produce large spikes in the half hourly CO2 flux and small spikes in CO2 
concentration on many days during the entire deployment of the AMF at NIM.  This influence 
was found on 40% of the days in March and April 2006 and sometimes for multiple periods in 
a day; this was typical of  the year of data.  The spikes range from only several 
micromoles s-1 m-2 to one hundred or more for flux (a typical spike was in the twenties) and 
near zero to 1.0 mmoles m-3 for CO2 concentration (typically around 0.15).

The aircraft influence was caused by persistent easterly winds; the airport
terminal pad and the nearest part of the runway were almost directly to the
east of the ECOR location.

Occasionally an influence on water vapor density was detected, but this was fairly rare 
and usually of very small magnitude.

• covariance wc(cvar_wc)
• covariance uc(cvar_uc)
• rotated covariance wc(cvar_rot_wc)
• covaraince vc(cvar_vc)
• CO2 flux(fc)
• rotated covariance vc(cvar_rot_vc)
• covariance tc(cvar_tc)
• rotated covariance uc(cvar_rot_uc)
• Mean CO2 density(mean_c)
• Variance of co2 density(var_c)

NIM/MERGESONDE/M1 - Suspect rh_scaled values

MERGESONDE sometimes uses bad or questionable precipitable water vapor data to scale the 
relative humidity profiles provided by the rh_scaled field. In addition, this bad input 
data is not properly indicated by the vapor_source or qc_rh_scaled fields. This problem 
appears to typically occur when there is moisture impacting the microwave radiometer causing 
large spikes in brightness temperatures. During these periods the rh_scaled values are 
often saturated at 101% for much of the profile. 

A new version of the MERGESONDE VAP has corrected this problem, and these data will 
eventually be corrected by a reprocessing task.

• rh_scaled
• vapor_source

• vapor_source
• rh_scaled