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Atmospheric Sciences 370 Observing Systems January 2007

ASOS is a high-quality and well-maintained automated surface observing system located at primary and secondary airports. It is sponsored by the FAA and NWS and provides data in METAR format. The system includes various instruments such as hydrothermograph precipitation gauges, laser weather identifier, anemometer, wind vane, and laser ceilometer. It also features a freezing rain sensor, lightning sensor, visibility sensor, and more.

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Atmospheric Sciences 370 Observing Systems January 2007

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  1. Atmospheric Sciences 370 Observing SystemsJanuary 2007

  2. ASOS: Automated Surface Observing System: Backbone Observing System in the U.S.

  3. ASOS • Located at primary and secondary airports • Sponsored by the FAA and NWS • High quality instrumentation that is well maintained and calibrated. • Reported in METAR format (more later)

  4. Hydrothermograph

  5. Precipitation Gauges

  6. Laser Weather Identifier

  7. Anemometer Wind Vane Laser Ceilometer

  8. The ASOS Freezing Rain Sensor uses an ultrasonically vibrating probe to detect the presence of icing conditions. The vibrating frequency of the probe decreases with the accumulation of ice.

  9. Lightning Sensor Visibility Sensor

  10. Full ASOS system in Arizona

  11. Observing Heights (ASOS and most official obs) • Temperature and dewpoint (2-m) • Wind speed and direction (10-m)

  12. Other Surface Networks • Bureau of Land Management • RAWS • Agrimet • PAWS • Department of Ecology • Puget Sound Clean Air • BC Hydro • BC Olympics • WeatherUnderground

  13. Schoolnet Sites by AWS

  14. Oklahoma Mesonet

  15. Networks of Networks UW: We collect data from about 60 networks in real time over NW Mesowest: Collects about 100 networks over the western third of U.S.

  16. NWNet: Regional Real-Time Collection of Over 60 Networks Over the Pacific Northwest

  17. Marine Reports

  18. Ocean and Lake Weather Buoys Anchored

  19. Drifting Buoys Pressure Wind

  20. Coastal Marine (CMAN) Reports from the Coast Guard

  21. Northwest Buoy and CMAN Locations

  22. Ship Reports: Marine VOS Program Volunteers Observers--generally 6-hourly reports

  23. Satellite Microwave Scatterometer Winds

  24. QuickScat Satellite Bounces microwaves off the ocean surface Capillary waves dependent on wind speed and directon

  25. Upper Air Data

  26. Radiosonde

  27. Radar Wind Profiler and RASS (Radio Acoustic Sounding System)

  28. Seattle Profiler/RASS

  29. Profiler Locations

  30. ACARS: Aircraft Observations Generally on wide-body aircraft Aircraft Communications Addressing and ReportingSystem

  31. New Satellite Observing Capabilities

  32. Cloud and Water Vapor Track Winds Based on Geostationary Weather Satellites

  33. Satellite Temperature and Humidity Soundings

  34. GOES sounder unit

  35. Radar and Satellite Imagery MORE LATER!

  36. GPS Sounding • A constellation of GPS satellites orbit the earth. • By measuring the delay in time as the GPS signal is bent by the earth’s atmosphere, one can acquire density information that can be used to create temperature and humidity soundings. • Can do this with fixed receivers on earth or with receivers on satellites--the COSMIC project.

  37. Typical Observation Errors at the Surface • Sea Level Pressure • Low-Elevation land stations +-.5 mb • Ships +- 1-5 mb • Temperature: +-1C • Wind Speed: +-2-5 knots, very poor for speeds below 2-3 knots. • Relative Humidity: +-10%

  38. Radiosonde Errors • Geopotential heights: • 700 mb (hPa): 5-10 m • 500 mb 10-15 m • 300 mb 15-20 m • 100 mb 20-30 m • Temperature: +-0.5C • Wind speed: +-5%,+-10 degrees

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