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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Apparent Interference Signal in Sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sondeC1

Subject: Apparent Interference Signal in Sounding CF:951004:0530

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   10/04/95   Time   XX:XX:XX (GMT)
  End Date     10/04/95   Time   07:07:50 (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 12.0 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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Apparent Interference Signal in Sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sondeC1

Subject: Apparent Interference Signal in Sounding CF:951004:0834

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   10/04/95   Time   XX:XX:XX (GMT)
  End Date     10/04/95   Time   09:45:30 (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 11.5 km.  At this point the RH signal
 and 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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Apparent Interference Signal in Sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sondeC1

Subject: Apparent Interference Signal in Sounding CF:951004:1130

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   10/04/95   Time   XX:XX:XX (GMT)
  End Date     10/04/95   Time   13:12:02 (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 17.0 km.  At this point the RH signal
 drops out and 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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Jump in pressure value upon launch

DQR No:                               Platform:  SGPSONDEC1

Subject:        Jump in pressure value upon launch 960117:2031

Date Submitted: 1/22/96
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: sgpsondeWRPNC1/ (alt, asc, press)
    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  1/17/96    Time   20:31    (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:

It appears that the pressure sensor was jarred during launch and jumped
readings from 975.4 hPa at the surface to 950.2 hPa at the first sample
after launch.  This results in erroneous altitude values throughout the
sounding and erroneous ascent rate values during the first 30 seconds.
The relative altitude calculations after the second sample should be
correct.  Although the surface wind speed was recorded at 10.3 m/s,
the next wind value is reported as 18.2 m/s - quite strong.  The bouncing
of the balloon during the launch might account for the abnormal jarring
of the sonde.


 
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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Jump in pressure value upon launch

DQR No:                               Platform:  SGPSONDEC1

Subject:        Jump in pressure value upon launch 960118:0533

Date Submitted: 1/22/96
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: sgpsondeWRPNC1/ (alt, asc, press)
    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  1/18/96    Time   05:33    (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:

It appears that the pressure sensor was jarred during launch and jumped
readings from 973.1 hPa at the surface to 960.7 hPa at the first sample
after launch.  This results in erroneous altitude values throughout the
sounding and erroneous ascent rate values during the first 30 seconds.
The relative altitude calculations after the second sample should be
correct.  The surface winds were quite strong, 16.5 m/s.  The bouncing
of the balloon during the launch might account for the abnormal jarring
of the sonde.

 
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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding 12/13/95:0531

Date Submitted:  1/29/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
	What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at: CF
 
    Period of time in question
 	Begin Date  12/13/95   Time   05:31    (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:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 1010 hPa.
The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 971.8 hPa. Pressure at SMOS13
at 05:30 was 973.7 hPa.  The reason for the discrepency between the apparent
surface pressure and that entered by the operator is unknown.

 
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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

bad pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad pressure sounding 02/01/96:1129

Date Submitted:  2/01/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
 What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at: CF

    Period of time in question
  Begin Date  02/01/96   Time   11:29    (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:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 962.6.
The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 962.4 hPa. The surface
pressure in the previous (0533) and subsequent (1429) soundings were 983.3
and 985.7 respectively.  SMOS13 pressures were in the 983+ range during
this same period.  It appears that the sonde pressure sensor was bad and
was used as the source of the surface pressure (this is CF standard procedure).
Both the pressure and altitude values for this sounding are likely incorrect.

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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Incorrect surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Incorrect surface pressure sounding 960221:1131

Date Submitted:  2/22/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at: CF

    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  02/21/96   Time   11:31    (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:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 995.6 hPa.
The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 972.3 hPa.  It appears that
the operator entered sea-level pressure reported by the WeatherMeasureII instead
of sonde surface pressure. The altitude values for this sounding are likely
incorrect.

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 and remind operators of current procedures.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Incorrect surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Incorrect surface pressure sounding 960221:1430

Date Submitted:  2/22/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at: CF

    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  02/21/96   Time   14:30    (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:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 995.6 hPa.
The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 969.7 hPa.  It appears that
the operator entered sea-level pressure reported by the WeatherMeasureII instead
of sonde surface pressure. The altitude values for this sounding are likely
incorrect.

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 and remind operators of current procedures.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

SGP/SONDE/C1 - incorrect factory RH calib-radiosondes

Ongoing investigation of differences between preciptiable water vapor
measured by the microwave radiometer and precipitable water vapor estimated
by integrating the radiosonde-measured profile of water vapor density, along
with isolated periods of anomalous behavior in the AERI/LBLRTM QME results
led to the suggestion that the calibration of some radiosondes may be suspect.
One group of radiosondes, calibrated in November 1994, seemed particularly
irregular.  I met with the manufacturer on February 7 to show them my
results and discuss this issue with them.  The manufacturer agreed that
the data were suggestive of a calibration problem and offered to review
their calibration records for the period in question.

The initial results of the manufacture's investigation were sent to me
on February 27.  The manufacturer found that radiosondes assembled
between 10/26/94 and 11/22/94 were incorrectly calibrated.  The incorrect
calibration affected only the relative humidity measurement; the nature
of the calibration error is non-linear, with the radiosondes meeting
the specified +/- 2% RH accuracy at both 20%RH (+45 degC) and 0%RH (room
temperature).  The error in calibration occurs at high RH and low temperature
(approximate saturation at -30 degC) and can be as large as 10%RH with
the radiosonde reading high.  The direction of this error agrees with
the observation of negative integrated residuals in the AERI ch 1 region
made by Tony Clough and the tendency toward greater than 'normal' differences
in PWV when compared to the MWR when these sondes were used.

The cause of the calibration error was the addition of new, high RH,
quality control check (-30 degC) into the manufacturing stream that
required a change in the calibration software.  The new software mistakenly
loaded an incorrect parameter file that caused the calibration to be
off at high RH - this was not noticed at the time because the radiosondes
passed the regular production QC checks and the failure to agree at the
new QC value was thought to result from a problem with the new reference
standard.  Troubleshooting the entire calibration system in an effort
to incorporate the new QC check was conducted along with normal production,
and took about a month to complete.  The troubleshooting including adjustment
of the calibration software, at which time the correct parameter file
happened to be reloaded, and after which the radiosondes met the desired
specification at the high RH value.

According to the manufacturer, approximately 1900 radiosondes were calibrated
during the period in question.  Sondes from this period were used at all
CART facilities.  At least 1178 soundings involving these sondes were
included in the QME results I looked at (some QME results were discarded
because of problems with either the MWR data or the sounding data).  The
distribution of these 1178 by facility is:

Facility   Number of Sondes          First Used         Last Used
           (based on QME)
   CF            316               1/20/95 (11:30)    9/22/95 (11:30)
   B1            143               2/21/95 (17:30)    9/29/95 ( 8:30)
   B4            313               4/ 6/95 (17:30)   11/ 7/95 (17:28)
   B5            153               4/14/95 (17:30)   12/14/95 (17:30)
   B6            253               3/22/95 (17:30)   10/19/95 (17:30)

The sondes can be recognized by decoding the serial_number metadata word
in the sounding netCDF file.  The serial number of the sondes in question
is a  number (8 or 9 digit) of the form DDMMYTTPP where DD is the day of
the month (leading zero missing in the netCDF data), MM is the month +80
(e.g. 91 for November), Y is the last digit of the year (4 for 1994),
TT is the calibration tray ID, and PP is the position of the sonde in
the calibration tray.  The sondes in question will therefore have serial
numbers coded between 26904TTPP and 22914TTPP.

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

Bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding 04/01/96 14:30

Date Submitted:  4/2/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at: CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date   4/01/96   Time   14:30    (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:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 1016.1
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 988.3 hPa. The surface
pressure at 11:29 was 987.6 and at 17:32 was 988.3.  It appears that the
operator entered the sea-level pressure rather than the station pressure.

Note that this will affect the altitude calculation throughout the 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.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding 04/12/96 05:31

Date Submitted:  4/15/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at: CF
 
    Period of time in question
    Begin Date   4/12/96   Time   05:31    (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:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 996.1
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 964.2 hPa. The surface
pressure at 11:30 was 972.0 and at 14:30 was 973.5.  It appears that the
operator entered the sea-level pressure rather than the station pressure.
The SMOS pressure during the period is in the 960-970 range.

Note that this will affect the altitude calculation throughout the 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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding 05/04/96 05:29

Date Submitted:  5/06/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at: CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date   5/06/96   Time   05:29    (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:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 993.3
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 964.0 hPa. The surface
pressure at 08:30 was 964.7 and at 11:31 was 954.3.  It appears that the
operator entered the sea-level pressure rather than the station pressure.
The SMOS pressure during the period is in the 960-950 range.

Note that this will affect the altitude calculation throughout the 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.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding 05/29/96 20:31

Date Submitted:  6/2/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  05/29/96   Time   20:31    (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:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 999.2
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 978.2 hPa. The surface
pressure at 17:25 was 980.1 and at 05:30 (5/30) was 981.8.  It appears that the
operator entered the sea-level pressure rather than the station pressure.

Note that this will affect the altitude calculation throughout the 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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

bad surface values sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface values sounding 06/10/96 17:30

Date Submitted:  6/11/96
Submitted By:    Barry Lesht          _X_  Instrument Mentor
                 David Glahn          ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      _X_  Other _Site Ops__________
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  06/10/96   Time   17:30    (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:

The site operator inadvertently entered incorrect surface met values for
the subject sounding.  Although he caught the error soon after launch
and reported it immediately, it was too late to correct.  The following
table shows the incorrect (present in the file) and correct values.

                      Incorrect           Correct
Pressure               1000.0              973.9
Temperature              35.0               30.5
Relative Humidity        27                 30

The incorrect values of surface temperature and relative humidity will not
affect the other values in the sounding.  The incorrect surface pressure
will, however, affect the altitude calculation throughout the 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.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding 06/21/96 11:30

Date Submitted:  7/1/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
       Begin Date  07/01/96   Time   11:30    (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:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 996.4
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 972.3 hPa. The surface
pressure at 05:30 was 972.3 and at 14:46 was 976.1.  It appears that the
operator entered the sea-level pressure rather than the station pressure.

Note that this will affect the altitude calculation throughout the 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.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding 07/04/96 17:28

Date Submitted:  7/6/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
	What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
 	Begin Date  07/04/96   Time   17:28    (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:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 995.4
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 970.1 hPa. The surface
pressure at 14:30 was 972.3 and at 20:27 was 971.1.  It appears that the
operator entered the sea-level pressure rather than the station pressure.

Note that this will affect the altitude calculation throughout the 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

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding C1 09/09/96:14:29

Date Submitted:  9/9/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  09/09/96   Time   14:29    (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:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 1001.4
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 979.7 hPa.  It appears
that the operator incorrectly entered sea-level pressure obtained from the
WeatherMeasure set rather than surface pressure obtained from the radiosonde.

Note that this will affect the altitude calculation throughout the 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.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding C1 09/09/96:17:31

Date Submitted:  9/9/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
 	Begin Date  09/09/96   Time   17:31    (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:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 1001.5
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 978.9 hPa.  It appears
that the operator incorrectly entered sea-level pressure obtained from the
WeatherMeasure set rather than surface pressure obtained from the radiosonde.

Note that this will affect the altitude calculation throughout the 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




----- End Included Message -----

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding C1 09/09/96:20:29

Date Submitted:  9/9/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  09/09/96   Time   20:29    (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:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 999.4
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 975.4 hPa.  It appears
that the operator incorrectly entered sea-level pressure obtained from the
WeatherMeasure set rather than surface pressure obtained from the radiosonde.

Note that this will affect the altitude calculation throughout the 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.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding C1 09/12/96:0830

Date Submitted:  9/13/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  012/96   Time 08:30    (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:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 987.7
hPa. The first pressure value reported by the sonde is 976.1 hPa.  The
operator transposed the correct surface pressure 978.7 when entering the
data.

Note that this will affect the altitude calculation throughout the 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.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Bad surface pressure sounding

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Bad surface pressure sounding C1 09/26/96:0828

Date Submitted:  9/27/96
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: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  09/27/96   Time 08:28      (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:

The surface pressure for this sounding was entered by the operator as 976.1
hPa.  Analysis of the raw data file suggests that the actual surface pressure
at time of launch was 967.1 hPa.  It appears that the operator transposed 
the correct surface pressure from 967.1 to 976.1 when entering the data.

Note that this will affect the altitude calculation throughout the 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.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Incorrect surface temperature

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Incorrect surface temperature: sounding C1 01/10/97:1730

Date Submitted:  1/11/97
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      _X_  Other - Site Ops
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnC1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  01/10/97   Time 17:30      (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:

The site operator noted that the surface temperature for the subject sounding
was entered incorrectly.  The value entered was -3.3 degC; the correct value
should be -6.3 degC.  This is a fairly benign error, only the surface values
will be affected.
 
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.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Questionable RH

DQR No:                               Platform: sgpsondeC1

Subject: Questionable RH: sounding C1 03/07/97:1427

Date Submitted:  3/18/97
Submitted By:                         _X_  Instrument Mentor
                                      ___  EST Member
                                      ___  Science Team Member
                                      ___  Other - Site Ops
 
For questions or problems, please contact the ARM Experiment Center at
509-375-6898 or via email at dqr@arm.gov.

Platform/Measurement: sgpsondewrpnC1.A1/all
    What level data: (raw,a0,a1,b1,c1 etc):

    What location was the data collected at:  CF
 
    Period of time in question
        Begin Date  03/07/97   Time 14:27      (GMT)
        End Date               Time            (GMT)

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

David Cook pointed out that the RH values for the subject sounding disagree
substantially with values reported at the 60m tower.  Review of the sounding
data shows saturation (100%) values reported at the surface and during
most of the sounding.  The site ops log shows RH values of between 68% (1400) 
and 52% (1500) at the surface.  Surface temperature (8.4) and pressure (983.0)
obtained from the sonde are not substantially different from the surface
observations (7.8/10.8) and (982.7/982.4) at 1400 and 1500 respectively, so
it is unlikely that an incorrect calibration tape was used for the sonde.
I think the conclusion must be that the RH sensor on this sonde was bad.

As an operational issue, this sonde should have been rejected by site ops
because the surface RH value of 100% is more than 7% different than the surface
value obtained from an independent reference instrument.  I will check the 
procedures that I have provided to site ops to be sure that I included this
criterion.  
 
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.

• Wind Status(wstat)
• lon(lon)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Jump in pressure value

DQR No:                               Platform:  sgpsondeC1

Subject:        Jump in pressure value C1 sounding 970505.1732

Date Submitted: 5/06/97
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: sgpsondewrpnc1/ (alt, asc, press)
    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  5/05/97    Time   17:32    (GMT)
        End Date               Time            (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 first pressure value reported by the radiosonde (t = 2 sec) is
974.9.  The surface pressure value was 980.9 hPa.  This difference
is somewhat greater than the expected (normal) change and may mean that
either the pressure sensor was jarred during launch or the system 
mis-identified the actual launch start time.  Further clarification requires 
analysis of the raw data which will take some time.  The altitude values 
for this sounding will be incorrect.  The ascent rate values during the 
first 30 seconds also will be wrong.  Because the system will reject 
samples with out of bound ascent rates (i.e., during the first 30 seconds), 
the temperature and rh values also will be incorrect (result of 
interpolation).  Relative height values after 30 seconds should be 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.

• Wind Status(wstat)
• lon(lon)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Incorrect surface values

DQR No:                               Platform:  sgpsondeC1

Subject:        Incorrect surface values sounding 970621:2027

Date Submitted: 6/23/97
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: sgpsondewrpnc1
    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  6/21/97    Time   20:27    (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:

Site operations reports that incorrect surface values were entered into
the subject sounding.  Instead of 972.3, 33.7, and 46 the surface pressure,
temperature, and humidity values should have been 971.8, 33.3, and 47.

The incorrect surface pressure will result in incorrect altitudes throughout
the profile and incorrect ascent rate values during the first 30 seconds.
The effects of the incorrect temperature and relative humidty values should
be negligable.
 
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.

• Wind Status(wstat)
• lon(lon)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Bad sounding file CF 970622:0228

It appears that there was a problem with the radiosonde that generated
this short file. The pressure values are unreasonably high and the
file terminated after only 484 seconds of flight.  I note that the
operators started a new sounding at 0252.  This entire file should be
disregarded or deleted.

• Wind Status(wstat)
• lon(lon)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Bad pressure values CF sounding 970704:0525

The pressure values and hence altitude values are most likely incorrect
in this sounding.  It also appears that an incorrect surface pressure
value was entered by the operator.  The surface pressure value in
the data (986.8) is somewhat higher than the surface pressures for the
neighboring soundings and higher than recorded in the raw data collected
before launch (~978 hPa).  The first pressure value recorded by the
sonde after launch is 884.8 hPa.  Analysis of the absolutely raw data
reveals that the sonde was reading about 978 hPa well before launch,
then suddenly dropped to 886.8 at which it remained stable for several
minutes, then began slowly decreasing as would be expected after launch.
My best guess is that the sonde was somehow damaged during handling
before launch resulting in erroneous pressure values.  Relative pressure
changes from an 'apparent' surface value of 886.8 hPa may be correct,
but the absolute pressure values are not.

• Wind Status(wstat)
• lon(lon)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Questionable pressure/altitude data

Ric Cederwall noticed that the lowest 85 samples of this sounding have
nearly constant values of temperature and relative humidity.  It appears
that the system may have mis-identified the launch start time in a way
that resulted in the system using interpolated values of pressure even
though the sonde was still on the ground.  This may have been caused by
a damaged pressure sensor.  I will examine the absolutely raw data to
try and understand this further, but I think it is reasonable to assume
that the first 85 samples or so are incorrect and representative of
condidtions at the surface and that the pressure sensor was damaged
during this sounding.  I will request the raw data from the archive
today.

• Wind Status(wstat)
• lon(lon)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the first pressure value recorded by the radiosonde
after launch (984.5) that the surface value entered by the operator (989.3)
is somewhat larger than would normally be expected.  This will result in
incorrect altitude values throughout the sounding.  The ascent rates
during the first 30 seconds also will be incorrect.

• Wind Status(wstat)
• lon(lon)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Incorrect radiosonde serial numbers

Radiosondes manufactured at Vaisala's Woburn, MA factory during the first
of January 1998 have incorrect serial numbers.  Instead of being numbered
8012XXXXX these sondes are numbered 7012XXXXX.  Vaisala has been informed
of this, has confirmed the problem, and has corrected their numbering for
all subsequent sondes.  163 incorrectly numbered sondes were shipped to ARM
on 1/9/98.  Some have been used at the CF since 1/19/98:1430.

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base time(base_time)

• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• lat(lat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• lat(lat)

• Wind Direction(deg)
• lat(lat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lon(lon)

• lat(lat)
• base time(base_time)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lon(lon)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)

• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• base time(base_time)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• lat(lat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lon(lon)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)

• Wind Status(wstat)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• lat(lat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• base time(base_time)

• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lon(lon)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• base time(base_time)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• lat(lat)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• lon(lon)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)

• Wind Direction(deg)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• lat(lat)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• base time(base_time)

Incorrect surface temperature and humidity

Incorrect values of surface temperature and relative humidity were entered
by the operator.  The surface temperature was entered as 17.5 degC; the
first value reported by the sonde was -3.6 degC.  The surface humidity
was entered as 26; the first value reported by the sonde was 81%. It
appears that the operator used the inside temperature/humidity rather
than the sonde-reported outside temperature/humidity.

Only the first few samples of the sounding will be affected.  Note that
the delta-check QC flag is set by this error.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Incorrect surface values

The surface pressure, temperature, and relative humidity are incorrect for
this soundings.  The values in the sounding netCDF file (975.6, 3.2, 86)
are different from the surface observations in the site ops log (978.9,
9.1, and 83) and from the values in the raw radiosonde data file at
the moment just before ascent (978.7, 9.5, 83).  The reason for the
differences are unknown, but insofar as the surface values are manually
entered by the operator into both the log (where they are correct) and
into the sounding file (where they are incorrect) an operator
miscue is a possibility.

The major effect of this problem will be incorrect absolute altitude.

• Wind Status(wstat)
• lon(lon)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Incorrect surface pressure

The operator transposed the digits of the surface pressure entering 976.3
instead of 967.3.  The ops log shows 967.3 for the sonde and 968.3 for
the THWAPS.  Analysis of the absolutely raw sonde data shows 968.0 at
the system-identified launch time.

Note that because the output pressure data are smoothed, under the
assumption that the surface data value is true, the first value
reported by the sonde after launch 970.4 also is incorrect.  The raw
value corresponding to the sample after launch is 966.6.

The absolute pressure values will be incorrect for the first few samples
of the sounding, as will be the ascent rates for the first 30 seconds.
The absolute altitude values also will be in error.

• Wind Status(wstat)
• lon(lon)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Incorrect surface pressure

The operator entered 960.2 for the surface pressure in both the log and
the system.  The first reading from the sonde is 950.9.  Examination of
the absolutely raw data shows that the sonde pressure before launch was
952.3.  The THWAPS reading was 964.2.  From the raw data it appears that
either the system was not reset before this sounding or that a second
sonde was started without resetting the system.  The sonde pressure
may be low in absolute terms or the operator may have mis-entered the
actual sonde reading.  In either case the absolute altitude will be wrong
in this sounding and the ascent rates will be incorrect for the first
30 seconds.

• Wind Status(wstat)
• lon(lon)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Bad sounding

Data from this sounding look very fragmented as if only a few actual points
were collected and intermediate points were intepolated.  In a general
sense this sounding looks 'weird' and should not be trusted.  I do not yet
have access to r1 so I can't look at the raw data, but I doubt that it will
shed much light on the situation.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Incorrect surface readings

It appears that the operator entered an incorrect set of surface data for
the subject sounding.  The sounding has surface PTU as 975.6 hPa, 20.0 degC,
and 93% RH - the corresponding THWAPS readings are 969.7 hPa, 19.9 degC, and
72.1 %RH.  The OMIS log for the subject souding shows sonde surface values
of 969.2 hPa, 17.6 degC, and 70% RH.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Incorrect surface RH

Because of what appears to be a typographical error, the operator entered
5% RH when the surface RH was 54% RH.  The corresponding THWAPS reading
is 50.1% RH and the OMIS log shows 54%RH.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

SGP/SONDE - Dry bias in sonde RH

Vaisala has confirmed ARM findings of an apparent dry bias in the
relative humidity measured by RS-80H radiosondes.  The cause of
the dry bias is thought to be contamination of the humidity sensor
by volatile organic substances originating from some plastic parts
of the radiosonde.  The amount of contamination is a function of
the time between the date of sonde manufacture and its use.  All
RS-80H sondes manufactured before week 34 of 1998 will show this
bias.  After week 34 of 1998 Vaisala changed its packaging to
reduce, but not eliminate the contamination problem.

Starting with RS-80 radiosonde manufactured in late June 2000 Vaisala
enclosed the sensor boom in an inert plastic shield, thereby eliminating
the contamination that caused the dry bias.

Starting in May 2001 at the SGP, May 2002 at the TWP, and later 2002
at the NSA, ARM has moved to using RS-90 radiosondes.  These sondes
are not subject to the contaminatino that caused the dry bias.

Vaisala is in the process of developing an algorithm that can be 
used to estimate the correct RH from knowledge of the sonde age.
All of the ARM sounding data have sufficient metadata available
to apply the correction.

Additionally, ARM has funded a Science Team effort (Milosevich) to
develop a 'best' correction algorithm for the RS-80 radiosonde humidity
data.  When completed this algorithm will allow us to reprocess the
accumulated RS-80 data and produce a new data platform with what we
hope will be more accurate data.

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• (Development raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)

• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• (Development data stream - documentation not supported)

SGP/SONDE - Wrong cal tape

There is something wrong with this sounding, its not clear exactly
what happened, however.  The first values reported by the radiosonde
are much different from those entered by the operator.  My impression
is that this is a calibration tape mixup.  The raw data file shows
that the sounding software was initialized twice for this sounding,
the first time showing sonde 823360910, the second time showing
sonde 819351814.  There is no enties in the operations log that
describe a problem with a sonde before launch.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• lat(lat)
• Flags for input v_wind values(v_wind_flags)
• Flags for input u_wind values(u_wind_flags)
• W-to-E Component of wind, calculated(u_wind_calc)
• base time(base_time)
• S-to-N Component of Wind, calculated(v_wind_calc)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• lon(lon)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• U-component(u_wind)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

SGP/SONDE - Pressure jump at launch

The difference between the sonde-reported pressure at the surface
(969.1 hPa) and the first pressure value reported after launch
(963.5) is larger than expected.  This may indicate that either
the pressure sensor was jarred at launch, that the system failed
to correctly identify the launch start time, or some other problem.

The ascent rates during the first 30 seconds of the sounding will be
incorrect as will the absolute altitudes during the sounding.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

Incorrect surface RH

The operator entered an incorrect value (7.5%) for the surface RH for this
sounding.  The correct value should have been 70%.  The operator noticed
the error after the sounding had been completed and reported it in his log.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

SGP/SONDE - RH probably biased low in several soundings

In the process of moving storage facilties, site operations uncovered some old radiosondes 
(vintage April 1998) that were used in several soundings starting on May 10 at 0530 and 
continuing at least through May 11 at 2040.
Because these sondes are so old and pre-date Vaisala's repackaging they are likely subject 
to the sensor contamination problem that results in a dry bias in RH.  The sondes in 
question have serial numbers 816XXXXXX.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

SGP/SONDE - Incorrect surface temperature

The operator entered 20.0 degrees rather than the true temperature of 2.0
degrees.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)

SGP/SONDE - Incorrect surface temperature

The operator entered the surface temperature as 25 degC rather than the
correct 2.5 deg C.  This is the second time in a week this type of error
has occurred.  I have sent a separate e-mail to site ops.

• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• lat(lat)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• lon(lon)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• base time(base_time)

• null(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• lon(lon)
• V-component(v_wind)
• Ascent Rate(asc)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• Wind Status(wstat)
• Relative humidity inside the instrument enclosure(rh)
• Dummy altitude for Zeb(alt)
• Wind Direction(deg)
• Retrieved pressure profile(pres)
• Dry bulb temperature(tdry)
• U-component(u_wind)
• base time(base_time)
• Surface dew point temperature(dp)
• Mean Wind Speed(wspd)
• lat(lat)