Data Quality Reports for Session: 104088 User: chwbear Completed: 02/06/2007


TABLE OF CONTENTS

DQR IDSubjectData Streams Affected
D060208.2SGP/SONDE/C1 - Mixed use of RS92-SGP and RS92-KL radiosondessgpsondewnpnC1.b1
D060630.1SGP/SONDE/C1 - No Wind/Lat/Lon Data in Sonde FilessgpsondewnpnC1.b1
D060928.2SGP/SONDE/C1 - RH values offset due to error in ground checksgpsondewnpnC1.b1
D060928.3SGP/SONDE/C1 - Increased precision for alt, dp, pres, rh, tdrysgpsondewnpnC1.b1
D061201.1SGP/SONDE/C1 - RH Sensor failuresgpsondewnpnC1.b1


DQRID : D060208.2
Start DateStart TimeEnd DateEnd Time
02/10/2006000012/31/20062359
Subject:
SGP/SONDE/C1 - Mixed use of RS92-SGP and RS92-KL radiosondes
DataStreams:sgpsondewnpnC1.b1
Description:
Because of a manufacturer's production problem, we will be using both RS92-SGP (GPS 
windfinding and RS92-KL (Loran windfinding) radiosondes at the SGP/CF starting February 10, 
2006.  The radiosonde type used for the each sounding may be determined by looking the 
metadata variable "launch_status" in the netCDF data files.
Measurements:sgpsondewnpnC1.b1:
  • east longitude for all the input platforms.(lon)
  • model zonal wind velocity(u_wind)
  • surface wind speed(wspd)
  • model meridional wind velocity(v_wind)
  • north latitude for all the input platforms.(lat)
  • Wind Direction(deg)
  • Wind Status(wstat)


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DQRID : D060630.1
Start DateStart TimeEnd DateEnd Time
06/17/2006000006/21/20062359
Subject:
SGP/SONDE/C1 - No Wind/Lat/Lon Data in Sonde Files
DataStreams:sgpsondewnpnC1.b1
Description:
The wind finding hardware failed so that no wind or latitude/longitude data was collected 
on the launches for these days.
Measurements:sgpsondewnpnC1.b1:
  • east longitude for all the input platforms.(lon)
  • model zonal wind velocity(u_wind)
  • surface wind speed(wspd)
  • model meridional wind velocity(v_wind)
  • north latitude for all the input platforms.(lat)
  • Wind Status(wstat)


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DQRID : D060928.2
Start DateStart TimeEnd DateEnd Time
08/27/2006233209/25/20061600
Subject:
SGP/SONDE/C1 - RH values offset due to error in ground check
DataStreams:sgpsondewnpnC1.b1
Description:
Background: After installation of the latest software update , we began performing formal 
ground checks on RS92 radiosondes.  By comparing the
radiosonde readings with reference values in a controlled environment, the
ground check is intended to ensure that the radiosonde sensors are in
calibration before launch.  The radisonde values during the ground check
process are recorded automatically; the reference values are entered by the
operator.  If the radiosonde readings vary from the reference values, the
system 'corrects' the radiosonde values.  In the case of RH, the correction
is applied as an offset (true RH = indicated RH + correction).

Problem: Some operators misunderstood the ground-check procedure and entered the 
radiosonde values of RH rather than the reference value (assumed 0%RH), thus, some soundings done 
during this period have RH values that are different from what they would be if the 
ground check procedure had been done correctly.

Consequence:  Because the RH corrections generally are small (averaging
about 0.5% RH) and the precision of the reported RH data during this time
period is 1% RH, some values will not be affected at all; others will be off by about 1% 
RH (still within the stated accuracy of the sensor). 
Furthermore, because entering the radiosonde value as the reference value
results in a near zero 'correction,' one may view these soundings as being
done without the ground check correction.  Also note that the dew point
value will be suspect as well.

I am attaching below a listing of the soundings that were affected during the indicated 
time period.  Users can see the magnitude of the problem and choose whether or not to apply 
an offset in RH.  Note that application of the offset to the processed RH data (in the 
netCDF file) will not have the same effect of applying the correction to the absolutely 
raw data (before processing), but the differences should be insignificant.  Also note that 
the corrections for each sounding are included in the netCDF header information.  These 
attributes are named 'humidity_correction' and 'humidity_correction_2'.  The values of RH 
indicated by the radiosonde while it is in the ground check set are in attributes 
'humidity_gc_sonde' and 'humidity_gc_sonde_2.'  There is an RH reading for each of the two RH 
sensors used in the RS92 radiosonde.

Here is the list - RH1 and RH2 are the radiosonde readings in the ground
check set.  Ref is the reference value entered by the operator.  The
correcte reference value should be 0%.  To obtain an approximation to the RH value that 
would have been recorded if the ground check had been done
properly, subtract the Ref value from the indicated RH.

 YYYYMMDD  HHMM  SerialN      RH1     RH2     Ref
 20060827  2332  B2624322    1.00    1.00    1.00
 20060828  1731  B2634078    1.00    1.00    1.00
 20060828  2332  B2624380    3.00    3.00    2.00
 20060909  2331  B2615266    1.00    1.00    1.00
 20060915  1759  B2914012    1.00    1.00    1.00
 20060919  2350  B2825128    1.00    1.00    1.00
 20060920  1800  B2825088    1.00    1.00    1.00
 20060920  2346  B2815633    1.00    1.00    1.00
 20060921  1728  B2834732    1.30    1.30    1.30
 20060921  2330  B2825042    1.50    1.50    1.50
 20060922  0527  B2825043    1.70    1.80    1.70
 20060922  1128  B2825031    1.60    1.50    1.60
 20060922  1729  B2834437    1.50    1.50    1.50
 20060922  2330  B2825040    0.40    0.50    0.50
 20060923  0529  B2834733    0.30    0.30    0.30
 20060923  1128  B2825026    0.40    0.40    0.40
 20060923  1729  B2825064    0.60    0.70    0.60
 20060923  2330  B2825041    0.40    0.50    0.50
 20060924  0529  B2825039    0.30    0.30    0.30
 20060924  1729  B2825025    0.20    0.30    0.20
 20060924  2329  B2825032    0.30    0.40    0.40
 20060925  0529  B2824234    0.20    0.30    0.20
Measurements:sgpsondewnpnC1.b1:
  • Surface dew point temperature(dp)
  • Relative humidity scaled, by total column amount from MWR(rh)


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DQRID : D060928.3
Start DateStart TimeEnd DateEnd Time
09/28/2006172812/31/99992359
Subject:
SGP/SONDE/C1 - Increased precision for alt, dp, pres, rh, tdry
DataStreams:sgpsondewnpnC1.b1
Description:
The output precision of the following variables was increased 20060928

alt  changed from 1m to 0.1m
dp   changed from 0.1degC to 0.01degC
pres changed from 0.1 hPa to 0.01 hPa
RH   changed from 1%RH to 0.01%RH
tdry changed from .1degC to 0.01degC

Note that the increase in precision does not necessarily imply an increase in accuracy.  
Users are cautioned to continue to use their best scientific judgement when using these or 
any other data.
Measurements:sgpsondewnpnC1.b1:
  • Surface dew point temperature(dp)
  • Dry-Bulb Temperature(tdry)
  • Relative humidity scaled, by total column amount from MWR(rh)
  • pressure at constant pressure surface(pres)
  • altitude above sea levelaltunits(alt)


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DQRID : D061201.1
Start DateStart TimeEnd DateEnd Time
11/27/2006233111/28/20060056
Subject:
SGP/SONDE/C1 - RH Sensor failure
DataStreams:sgpsondewnpnC1.b1
Description:
The differences between the two RH sensors on this sonde are unreasonably high (~20%).  As 
a result the reported RH values oscillate by this amount during the times the sensors 
are alternately heated.  After the heating stops, the reported RH comes from the sensor 
reading the higher value.  There is no way of knowing if this is the correct value.
Measurements:sgpsondewnpnC1.b1:
  • Surface dew point temperature(dp)
  • Relative humidity scaled, by total column amount from MWR(rh)


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