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Lecture 3 (9/23) METR 1111

Lecture 3 (9/23) METR 1111. METAR Surface Observation Code. What is METAR?. METAR is the the international standard code for hourly and special surface weather observations. It roughly translates from French as Aviation Routine Weather Report. Typical METAR Report.

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Lecture 3 (9/23) METR 1111

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  1. Lecture 3 (9/23)METR 1111 METAR Surface Observation Code

  2. What is METAR? • METAR is the the international standard code for hourly and special surface weather observations. • It roughly translates from French as Aviation Routine Weather Report

  3. Typical METAR Report KOKC 311156Z 12015G22KT 10SM SCT350 OVC420 08/M02 A2999 RMK A02 SLP136 T00781018 P0012= • All lines after the first are indented. • Each METAR report ends with an = sign

  4. Station Identifier KOKC 311156Z 12015G22KT 10SM SCT350 OVC420 08/M02 A2999 RMK A02 SLP136 T00781018 P0012= • KOKCis the station identifier. - All station identifiers begin with a K. - This identifier stands for Oklahoma City.

  5. Some other near-by stations • KTUL = Tulsa • KITC = Wichita • KDFW = Dallas/Fort Worth • Let’s not forget us!! - KOUN = Norman

  6. Date & Time KOKC 311156Z 12015G22KT 10SM SCT350 OVC420 08/M02 A2999 RMK A02 SLP136 T00781018 P0012= • 31 indicates it is the 31st day of the month • 1156Z tells us it’s 1156 Zulu (Greenwich time). • All observations taken at the same time around the world

  7. What is Zulu Time? • Think of it like military time (24 hours) • To get Central Daylight Time (CDT) subtract 5 hours. 1156Z = 6:56AM CDT • Central Standard Time (CST) subtract 6 hours. 1156Z = 5:56AM

  8. Winds KOKC 311156Z 12015G22KT 10SM SCT350 OVC420 08/M02 A2999 RMK A02 SLP136 T00781018 P0012= • 120 means the wind is FROM 120º. Here, we have an ESE wind. • 15 is the wind speed (in knots) • G22 means the wind is gusting to 22 kts • KT just gives you the units (knots)

  9. Visibility KOKC 311156Z 12015G22KT 10SM SCT350 OVC420 08/M02 A2999 RMK A02 SLP136 T00781018 P0012= • 10SMmeans the visibility is at least 10 statute miles. • Visibility may decrease if the air is hazy, foggy, dusty, or precipitation is falling.

  10. Cloud Abundance & Height KOKC 311156Z 12015G22KT 10SM SCT350OVC420 08/M02 A2999 RMK A02 SLP136 T00781018 P0012= • SCT350means there are scattered clouds at 35,000 feet. Just add 2 zeros to the end • OVC420means it’s overcast at 42,000 ft. • You can have BKN(broken) or FEW(few) • In terms of clouds, FEW < SCT < BKN < OVC

  11. Temperature & Dew Point KOKC 311156Z 12015G22KT 10SM SCT350 OVC420 08/M02 A2999 RMK A02 SLP136 T00781018 P0012= • The number before the slash, 08, gives you the temperature in °Celsius. • M02gives you the dew point temperature in °Celsius. • The M means the dew point is minus 2°C

  12. Altimeter Setting KOKC 311156Z 12015G22KT 10SM SCT350 OVC420 08/M02 A2999 RMK A02 SLP136 T00781018 P0012= • A2999stands for an Altimeter setting of 29.99 inches of mercury (in Hg). • Used by pilots and skydivers to help them figure out how high above the ground they are.

  13. Remarks & Precipitation Discriminator KOKC 311156Z 12015G22KT 10SM SCT350 OVC420 08/M02 A2999 RMK A02 SLP136 T00781018 P0012= • RMKstands for ‘remarks’. It is in every METAR report and separates the standard data from extra data. • A02means this site has a precipitation discriminator. A01 would mean it didn’t.

  14. Sea Level Pressure KOKC 311156Z 12015G22KT 10SM SCT350 OVC420 08/M02 A2999 RMK A02 SLP136 T00781018 P0012= • SLP = Sea Level Pressure. This is the pressure the barometer would read if it were at sea level. • We use this instead of the actual measured station pressure so we can compare the pressure at 2 stations with different elevations.

  15. More Fun with Sea Level Pressure KOKC 311156Z 12015G22KT 10SM SCT350 OVC420 08/M02 A2999 RMK A02 SLP136 T00781018 P0012= • Add either 10 or 9 in front of 136 to get the sea level pressure. Add a decimal before the last #. • You have to decide whether you add 9 or 10. This station is at 1013.6 mb. Typical values range from 970 mb to 1030 mb.

  16. Temperature & Dew Point KOKC 311156Z 12015G22KT 10SM SCT350 OVC420 08/M02 A2999 RMK A02 SLP136 T00781018 P0012= • Tindicates temperature & dew point group. • Gives temperature and dew point to a tenth of a degree. • Use this if you’re going to convert to °F.

  17. More Fun With Temperature & Dew Point KOKC 311156Z 12015G22KT 10SM SCT350 OVC420 08/M02 A2999 RMK A02 SLP136 T00781018 P0012= • A zero in the 1st or 5th number means it is positive. A one means it’s negative. • 0078indicates the temperature is 7.8 °C. • 1018means the dew point is –1.8 °C.

  18. Amount of Precipitation KOKC 311156Z 12015G22KT 10SM SCT350 OVC420 08/M02 A2999 RMK A02 SLP136 T00781018 P0012= • Pindicates precipitation • It gives you the precipitation since the last hourly report to the .01” • P0012means 0.12” of precip fell in the last hour.

  19. That’s It! • There’s much more to know about METAR code. www.met.tamu.edu/documentation/metar.html • You can get observations in the METAR form at: www.met.tamu.edu/personnel/students/weather/weather_interface.html • Or www.met.fsu.edu/weather/text_weather/

  20. For next week: • Read Chapter 4 “Storms and Fronts” (pages 47 – 62) • Complete homework 3 (METAR surface observation code)

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