TWP/SMET/C3 - Lower wind direction sensor misaligned

The lower wind direction sensor (sensor #2) was misaligned and off by 15 degrees.

• Wind #2 direction vector average(wind2_dir_vec_avg)
• Wind #2 direction standard deviation(wind2_dir_sd)

• Lower sensor, wind direction vector average(lo_dir_vec_avg)
• Lower sensor, wind direction standard deviation(lo_dir_sd)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Intermittent Pressure Sensor Failure

The Barometric Pressure sensor was intermittently failing at TWP site C3 Darwin.  At times 
there were large pressure fluctuations occurring on the order of 24 mb in a few minutes. 
 Times of large pressure fluctuations are readily apparent in the data.  At these times 
the data should be carefully analyzed before determining it's usefulness.  In between the 
periods of large fluctuations the readings appear to be stable.  It is still suggested 
that independent pressure data be obtained for comparison before use.

• Barometric Pressure(atmos_pressure)

• Barometric Pressure(atmos_pressure)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Data reported at 15sec rather than 60s intervals

Data in these data streams should be reported at 60sec intervals, but
the logger program running during this time had the interval set to
15s.  Users will have to average the 15sec data to get 60sec data.

• Vapor pressure mean(vappress_mean)
• External voltage(external_voltage)
• Temperature minimum(temp_min)
• Precipitation standard deviation(precip_sd)
• Precipitation mean(precip_mean)
• Barometric Pressure(atmos_pressure)
• Wind #1 direction vector average(wind1_dir_vec_avg)
• Wind #2 speed standard deviation(wind2_spd_sd)
• Wind #2 speed maximum(wind2_spd_max)
• Wind #1 speed minimum(wind1_spd_min)
• Wind #1 speed arithmetic average(wind1_spd_arith_avg)
• Logger panel temperature(logger_temp)
• Std Dev of Air Temperature(temp_sd)
• Vapor pressure standard deviation(vappress_sd)
• Relative humidity maximum(relh_max)
• Mean Air Temperature or Hardware Error(temp_mean)
• Wind #1 speed maximum gust(wind1_spd_max_gust)
• Std Dev of Relative Humidity or Hardware Error Code(relh_sd)
• Mean Relative Humidity(relh_mean)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Relative humidity minimum(relh_min)
• Wind #2 direction standard deviation(wind2_dir_sd)
• Bit data. See details.(bit_data)
• Wind #2 direction vector average(wind2_dir_vec_avg)
• Wind #1 speed standard deviation(wind1_spd_sd)
• Wind #2 speed minimum(wind2_spd_min)
• Battery Voltage(internal_voltage)
• Wind #1 speed vector average(wind1_spd_vec_avg)
• Temperature maximum(temp_max)
• precipitation minimum(precip_min)
• Wind #2 speed arithmetic average(wind2_spd_arith_avg)
• Wind #2 speed vector average(wind2_spd_vec_avg)
• Precipitation maximum(precip_max)
• Wind #1 direction standard deviation(wind1_dir_sd)
• Wind #1 speed maximum(wind1_spd_max)
• Wind #2 speed maximum gust(wind2_spd_max_gust)

• Lower sensor, wind speed minimum(lo_spd_min)
• time(time)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Precipitation maximum(precip_max)
• Battery Voltage(internal_voltage)
• Tipping bucket raingauge total(tbrg_total)
• Mean Air Temperature or Hardware Error(temp_mean)
• Lower sensor, wind speed arithmetic average(lo_spd_arith_avg)
• Barometric Pressure(atmos_pressure)
• Lower sensor, wind speed maximum(lo_spd_max)
• Mean Relative Humidity(relh_mean)
• Upper sensor, wind direction vector average(up_dir_vec_avg)
• Std Dev of Relative Humidity or Hardware Error Code(relh_sd)
• Precipitation standard deviation(precip_sd)
• Upper sensor, wind speed minimum(up_spd_min)
• Tipping bucket raingauge count total(tbrg_count_total)
• Upper sensor, wind speed vector average(up_spd_vec_avg)
• Logger panel temperature(logger_temp)
• Lower sensor, wind direction standard deviation(lo_dir_sd)
• precipitation minimum(precip_min)
• Upper sensor, wind speed maximum(up_spd_max)
• Upper sensor, wind direction standard deviation(up_dir_sd)
• Vapor pressure mean(vappress_mean)
• Lower sensor, wind speed standard deviation(lo_spd_sd)
• Vapor pressure standard deviation(vappress_sd)
• Upper sensor, wind speed arithmetic average(up_spd_arith_avg)
• Lower sensor, wind speed vector average(lo_spd_vec_avg)
• Precipitation mean(precip_mean)
• Lower sensor, wind direction vector average(lo_dir_vec_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind speed standard deviation(up_spd_sd)
• Std Dev of Air Temperature(temp_sd)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Rain blocked pressure port

Atmospheric pressure values were suspect due to anomolous readings during heavy rain 
events.  Suspect blockage of port due to rainfall.  New logger and enclosure corrected problem.

• Barometric Pressure(atmos_pressure)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Negative rainfall rates

Due to limitations of the Zeno dataloggers all voltage measurements
from the optical rain gauge (ORG) were converted to rainfall rates. 
This resulted in negative values for rain rates.  Any value below
0.10 mm/hr should be considered to be 0 mm/hr.  New dataloggers 
alleviated this problem.

• Precipitation mean(precip_mean)
• Precipitation maximum(precip_max)
• Precipitation standard deviation(precip_sd)
• precipitation minimum(precip_min)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Data non-representative

Tower mast was lowered for inspection.  Data during this time is non-representative.

• Lower sensor, wind speed minimum(lo_spd_min)
• Precipitation maximum(precip_max)
• Lower sensor, wind direction standard deviation(lo_dir_sd)
• precipitation minimum(precip_min)
• Upper sensor, wind speed maximum(up_spd_max)
• Tipping bucket raingauge total(tbrg_total)
• Mean Air Temperature or Hardware Error(temp_mean)
• Upper sensor, wind direction standard deviation(up_dir_sd)
• Vapor pressure mean(vappress_mean)
• Lower sensor, wind speed arithmetic average(lo_spd_arith_avg)
• Barometric Pressure(atmos_pressure)
• Lower sensor, wind speed standard deviation(lo_spd_sd)
• Vapor pressure standard deviation(vappress_sd)
• Lower sensor, wind speed maximum(lo_spd_max)
• Mean Relative Humidity(relh_mean)
• Upper sensor, wind speed arithmetic average(up_spd_arith_avg)
• Lower sensor, wind speed vector average(lo_spd_vec_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind direction vector average(up_dir_vec_avg)
• Std Dev of Relative Humidity or Hardware Error Code(relh_sd)
• Precipitation mean(precip_mean)
• Lower sensor, wind direction vector average(lo_dir_vec_avg)
• Precipitation standard deviation(precip_sd)
• Upper sensor, wind speed minimum(up_spd_min)
• Tipping bucket raingauge count total(tbrg_count_total)
• Upper sensor, wind speed standard deviation(up_spd_sd)
• Std Dev of Air Temperature(temp_sd)
• Upper sensor, wind speed vector average(up_spd_vec_avg)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Lower wind direction sensor failure

The lower wind direction sensor failed on 4/14 and disagrees significantly with the upper 
wind direction sensor.  The lower wind sensor reports a constant value around 0-15 
degrees since it failed.  Testing showed that excitation channel two on the logger was the 
problem.  Logger was replaced by spare.

• Lower sensor, wind direction vector average(lo_dir_vec_avg)
• Lower sensor, wind direction standard deviation(lo_dir_sd)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Data not representative

Tower was lowered for radiometer change and characterization. Data are not representative 
of local conditions.

• Lower sensor, wind speed minimum(lo_spd_min)
• Precipitation maximum(precip_max)
• Lower sensor, wind direction standard deviation(lo_dir_sd)
• precipitation minimum(precip_min)
• Upper sensor, wind speed maximum(up_spd_max)
• Tipping bucket raingauge total(tbrg_total)
• Mean Air Temperature or Hardware Error(temp_mean)
• Upper sensor, wind direction standard deviation(up_dir_sd)
• Vapor pressure mean(vappress_mean)
• Lower sensor, wind speed arithmetic average(lo_spd_arith_avg)
• Barometric Pressure(atmos_pressure)
• Lower sensor, wind speed standard deviation(lo_spd_sd)
• Vapor pressure standard deviation(vappress_sd)
• Lower sensor, wind speed maximum(lo_spd_max)
• Mean Relative Humidity(relh_mean)
• Upper sensor, wind speed arithmetic average(up_spd_arith_avg)
• Lower sensor, wind speed vector average(lo_spd_vec_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind direction vector average(up_dir_vec_avg)
• Std Dev of Relative Humidity or Hardware Error Code(relh_sd)
• Precipitation mean(precip_mean)
• Lower sensor, wind direction vector average(lo_dir_vec_avg)
• Precipitation standard deviation(precip_sd)
• Upper sensor, wind speed minimum(up_spd_min)
• Tipping bucket raingauge count total(tbrg_count_total)
• Upper sensor, wind speed standard deviation(up_spd_sd)
• Std Dev of Air Temperature(temp_sd)
• Upper sensor, wind speed vector average(up_spd_vec_avg)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Upper wind sensor failure

A lightning strike destroyed the upper wind sensor.

• Upper sensor, wind speed maximum(up_spd_max)
• Upper sensor, wind speed arithmetic average(up_spd_arith_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind direction vector average(up_dir_vec_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind speed minimum(up_spd_min)
• Upper sensor, wind direction standard deviation(up_dir_sd)
• Upper sensor, wind speed vector average(up_spd_vec_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind speed standard deviation(up_spd_sd)

TWP/SMET/C3 - RH Values Artificially High

Lightning strike caused RH readings to be higher than reasonable (130%).

• Vapor pressure standard deviation(vappress_sd)
• Mean Relative Humidity(relh_mean)
• Vapor pressure mean(vappress_mean)
• Std Dev of Relative Humidity or Hardware Error Code(relh_sd)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Instrument failure

A lightning strike caused a failure in the ORG.  Rainfall was being continually recorded.

• Precipitation mean(precip_mean)
• Precipitation maximum(precip_max)
• Precipitation standard deviation(precip_sd)
• precipitation minimum(precip_min)

TWP/SMET/C3 - ORG data noisy due to degraded ground

SMET Rain Data began to be noisy during December 2005 and the problem slowly became worse 
over time so that in February 2006 the ORG was reporting with a constant background value 
of around 0.10 mm/hr rain rate.  ORG voltage showed a near constant value above the 85mV 
threshold.  The ground for the ORG had become degraded and was lost due to corrosion.

• Precipitation mean(precip_mean)
• Precipitation maximum(precip_max)
• Precipitation standard deviation(precip_sd)
• precipitation minimum(precip_min)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Reprocessed: Lower windspeed sensor calibration error

The lower anemometer was replaced but the calibration coefficients were not changed during 
this period.  The data were reprocessed to apply the correct calibrations and the 
reprocessed data were archived in August 2008.

• Lower sensor, wind speed minimum(lo_spd_min)
• Lower sensor, wind speed standard deviation(lo_spd_sd)
• Lower sensor, wind speed maximum(lo_spd_max)
• Lower sensor, wind speed vector average(lo_spd_vec_avg)
• Lower sensor, wind speed arithmetic average(lo_spd_arith_avg)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Data not representative

The Anemometer readings were incorrect due to the tower being lowered for maintenance.

• Lower sensor, wind speed standard deviation(lo_spd_sd)
• Lower sensor, wind speed minimum(lo_spd_min)
• Lower sensor, wind speed maximum(lo_spd_max)
• Upper sensor, wind speed arithmetic average(up_spd_arith_avg)
• Lower sensor, wind speed vector average(lo_spd_vec_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind direction vector average(up_dir_vec_avg)
• Lower sensor, wind direction standard deviation(lo_dir_sd)
• Upper sensor, wind speed maximum(up_spd_max)
• Lower sensor, wind direction vector average(lo_dir_vec_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind speed minimum(up_spd_min)
• Upper sensor, wind direction standard deviation(up_dir_sd)
• Lower sensor, wind speed arithmetic average(lo_spd_arith_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind speed standard deviation(up_spd_sd)
• Upper sensor, wind speed vector average(up_spd_vec_avg)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Reprocess: Barometric pressure units change

Barometric pressure data during this time period is reported in hPa.  After this time, the 
data have been converted to kPa to standardize the measurement units among ARM sites and 
to conform to accepted standard units determined by the scientific community.

• Barometric Pressure(atmos_pressure)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Reprocess: Tipping bucket rain gauge added

A tipping bucket rain gauge was added to the SMET suite of instruments effective 20060926. 
 Two new variables (count and rain amount) were added at the end of the twpsmet60sC1.b1 
datastream.  When reprocessing of this datastream occurs these variables will be added 
with -9999 (missing) as the value for dates prior to gauge installation.

• base time(base_time)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Barometer Data Incorrect

The barometer data was incorrect or missing due to water intrusion.

• Barometric Pressure(atmos_pressure)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Water in enclosure

Data became erratic and unreasonable after water intrusion into the enclosure.

• Precipitation mean(precip_mean)
• Vapor pressure standard deviation(vappress_sd)
• Precipitation maximum(precip_max)
• Mean Relative Humidity(relh_mean)
• Mean Air Temperature or Hardware Error(temp_mean)
• Precipitation standard deviation(precip_sd)
• Vapor pressure mean(vappress_mean)
• Std Dev of Relative Humidity or Hardware Error Code(relh_sd)
• precipitation minimum(precip_min)
• Std Dev of Air Temperature(temp_sd)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Upper wind speed artificially slow

The upper wind measurement was consistently slower by around 0.5 - 1 m/s than the lower 
wind measurement.  The bearings on the upper wind measurement were binding.

• Upper sensor, wind speed maximum(up_spd_max)
• Upper sensor, wind speed arithmetic average(up_spd_arith_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind speed minimum(up_spd_min)
• Upper sensor, wind speed vector average(up_spd_vec_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind speed standard deviation(up_spd_sd)

TWP/SMET/C3 - ORG overestimated rainfall

Optical rain gauge (ORG) measured approximately 10mm higher than two co-located tipping 
bucket rain gauges and a co-located disdrometer.  The ORG is typically higher but usually 
not by an order of magnitude.

• Precipitation mean(precip_mean)
• Precipitation maximum(precip_max)
• Precipitation standard deviation(precip_sd)
• precipitation minimum(precip_min)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Upper Wind Sensor Data Questionable

The wind_up vs. wind_low wind directions diverged, with the differences between the two 
eventually reached 45 degrees. The Upper sensor was found to be mis-aligned and loose.

• Upper sensor, wind speed maximum(up_spd_max)
• Upper sensor, wind speed arithmetic average(up_spd_arith_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind speed minimum(up_spd_min)
• Upper sensor, wind speed vector average(up_spd_vec_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind speed standard deviation(up_spd_sd)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Lower Wind Direction Intermittently Wrong

The lower wind sensor cabling had a problem causing an intermittent connection for the 
wind direction data.

• Lower sensor, wind direction vector average(lo_dir_vec_avg)
• Lower sensor, wind direction standard deviation(lo_dir_sd)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Upper wind speed data incorrect

Beginning on 07/08, the upper wind sensor started reporting significantly lower wind 
speeds than the lower wind sensor.  The cable connections weather proofing failed allowing 
corrosion to occur and increasing he resistance of the cables.  This in turn lowered the 
wind speeds artificially.

• Upper sensor, wind speed maximum(up_spd_max)
• Upper sensor, wind speed arithmetic average(up_spd_arith_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind speed minimum(up_spd_min)
• Upper sensor, wind speed vector average(up_spd_vec_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind speed standard deviation(up_spd_sd)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Missing data

Data are missing and unrecoverable.

• time(time)
• lat(lat)
• Lower sensor, wind speed minimum(lo_spd_min)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Precipitation maximum(precip_max)
• Battery Voltage(internal_voltage)
• Logger panel temperature(logger_temp)
• Lower sensor, wind direction standard deviation(lo_dir_sd)
• precipitation minimum(precip_min)
• Upper sensor, wind speed maximum(up_spd_max)
• Tipping bucket raingauge total(tbrg_total)
• Mean Air Temperature or Hardware Error(temp_mean)
• Vapor pressure mean(vappress_mean)
• Upper sensor, wind direction standard deviation(up_dir_sd)
• Lower sensor, wind speed arithmetic average(lo_spd_arith_avg)
• Barometric Pressure(atmos_pressure)
• Lower sensor, wind speed standard deviation(lo_spd_sd)
• Vapor pressure standard deviation(vappress_sd)
• Mean Relative Humidity(relh_mean)
• Lower sensor, wind speed maximum(lo_spd_max)
• Upper sensor, wind speed arithmetic average(up_spd_arith_avg)
• Lower sensor, wind speed vector average(lo_spd_vec_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind direction vector average(up_dir_vec_avg)
• Std Dev of Relative Humidity or Hardware Error Code(relh_sd)
• Precipitation mean(precip_mean)
• Lower sensor, wind direction vector average(lo_dir_vec_avg)
• base time(base_time)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Precipitation standard deviation(precip_sd)
• lon(lon)
• Upper sensor, wind speed minimum(up_spd_min)
• Tipping bucket raingauge count total(tbrg_count_total)
• Upper sensor, wind speed vector average(up_spd_vec_avg)
• Std Dev of Air Temperature(temp_sd)
• Upper sensor, wind speed standard deviation(up_spd_sd)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Wind Speed data contain offset due to induced voltage

The marine model of the RM Young wind sensor needs twisted pair shielded cable.  The 
manufacturer did not originally supply the pigtail with twisted pair shielded cable.  Use of 
twisted pair shielded cable for the rest of the cable run to the logger was also not 
specified.  This caused an induced voltage in the wind speed line from the wind direction 
excitation.  The induced voltage varied from sensor to sensor and probably changed anytime 
the cable was replaced or parts of the wind sensor were repaired or replaced. The induced 
voltage has been seen to vary from 0.15 m/s to as much as 1.08 m/s.

• Upper sensor, wind speed maximum(up_spd_max)
• Lower sensor, wind speed minimum(lo_spd_min)
• Lower sensor, wind speed standard deviation(lo_spd_sd)
• Lower sensor, wind speed maximum(lo_spd_max)
• Upper sensor, wind speed arithmetic average(up_spd_arith_avg)
• Lower sensor, wind speed vector average(lo_spd_vec_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind speed minimum(up_spd_min)
• Lower sensor, wind speed arithmetic average(lo_spd_arith_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind speed vector average(up_spd_vec_avg)
• Upper sensor, wind speed standard deviation(up_spd_sd)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Reprocess: Station Pressure values reported in hPa instead of kPa.

An incorrect program was entered into the datalogger.  This program did not convert the 
station pressure from hPa to kPa.  This made the values larger by a factor of 10 and caused 
the QC bit to be tripped.

• Barometric Pressure(atmos_pressure)

TWP/SMET/C3 - Reprocess: Temperature data biased low

Due to a datalogger problem, the temperature data were biased low by 2.13 degrees C.

The data will be reprocessed.

• Mean Air Temperature or Hardware Error(temp_mean)
• Std Dev of Air Temperature(temp_sd)