SGP/MWR/B1 - occasional negative brightness temperatures

Occasional spikes in the MWR data were observed. Inspection of
the data indicates that these are due to spikes in the gain that result from
either unrealistically low values of the blackbody target temperature (~150 K) or
unrealistically low values of the microwave signal counts when viewing the
blackbody target. Unrealistically low values of the mixer temperature have also been
observed.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• Averaged 23.8 GHz sky brightness temperature(23tbsky)
• Mean total water vapor amount along LOS path(vap)
• Mean total liquid water amount along LOS path(liq)
• Averaged 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(31tbsky)

• Mean 23.8 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky23)
• Mean total liquid water amount along LOS path(liq)
• Mean 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)
• Mean total water vapor amount along LOS path(vap)

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

• 23.8 GHz sky signal(tipsky23)
• 31.4 GHz sky signal(tipsky31)
• Mixer kinetic (physical) temperature(tkxc)

SGP/MWR/C1 - Intermittent Negative Sky Brightness Temperatures

Several related and recurring problems with the SGP MWRs have been
reported dating back to 1999.  These problems were due to the
occurrence of blackbody signals (in counts) that were half of those
expected. The symptoms included noisy data (especially at Purcell),
spikes in the data (especially at Vici), negative brightness
temperatures, and apparent loss of serial communication between the
computer and the radiometer, which results in a self-termination of the
MWR program (especially at the CF).

Because these all initially appeared to be hardware-related problems,
the instrument mentor and SGP site operations personnel (1) repeatedly
cleaned and replaced the fiber optic comm. components, (2) swapped
radiometers, (3) sent radiometers back to Radiometrics for evaluation
(which has not revealed any instrument problems), and (4) reconfigured
the computer's operating system.  Despite several attempts to isolate
and correct it, the problem persisted.

It became apparent that some component of the Windows98 configuration
conflicted with the DOS-based MWR program or affected the serial port
or the contents of the serial port buffer. This problem was finally
corrected by upgrading the MWR software with a new Windows-compatible
program.

• Mean total liquid water amount along LOS path(liq)
• Mean 23.8 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky23)
• Mean total water vapor amount along LOS path(vap)
• Mean 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)

• Mean 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)
• Mean total liquid water amount along LOS path(liq)
• Mean total water vapor amount along LOS path(vap)
• Mean 23.8 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky23)

• Mean 23.8 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky23)
• Mean total liquid water amount along LOS path(liq)
• Mean total water vapor amount along LOS path(vap)
• Mean 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)

• Mean total water vapor amount along LOS path(vap)
• Mean 23.8 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky23)
• Mean 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)
• Mean total liquid water amount along LOS path(liq)

SGP/MWR/B1 - Intermittent Negative Sky Brightness Temperatures

Several related and recurring problems with the SGP MWRs have been
reported dating back to 1999.  These problems were due to the
occurrence of blackbody signals (in counts) that were half of those
expected. The symptoms included noisy data (especially at Purcell),
spikes in the data (especially at Vici), negative brightness
temperatures, and apparent loss of serial communication between the
computer and the radiometer, which results in a self-termination of the
MWR program (especially at the CF).

Because these all initially appeared to be hardware-related problems,
the instrument mentor and SGP site operations personnel (1) repeatedly
cleaned and replaced the fiber optic comm. components, (2) swapped
radiometers, (3) sent radiometers back to Radiometrics for evaluation
(which has not revealed any instrument problems), and (4) reconfigured
the computer's operating system.  Despite several attempts to isolate
and correct it, the problem persisted.

It became apparent that some component of the Windows98 configuration
conflicted with the DOS-based MWR program or affected the serial port
or the contents of the serial port buffer. This problem was finally
corrected by upgrading the MWR software with a new Windows-compatible
program.

• Mean 23.8 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky23)
• Mean 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)
• Mean total water vapor amount along LOS path(vap)
• Mean total liquid water amount along LOS path(liq)

• Mean total liquid water amount along LOS path(liq)
• Mean 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)
• Mean total water vapor amount along LOS path(vap)
• Mean 23.8 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky23)

SGP/MWR/B4 - Intermittent Negative Sky Brightness Temperatures

Several related and recurring problems with the SGP MWRs have been
reported dating back to 1999.  These problems were due to the
occurrence of blackbody signals (in counts) that were half of those
expected. The symptoms included noisy data (especially at Purcell),
spikes in the data (especially at Vici), negative brightness
temperatures, and apparent loss of serial communication between the
computer and the radiometer, which results in a self-termination of the
MWR program (especially at the CF).

Because these all initially appeared to be hardware-related problems,
the instrument mentor and SGP site operations personnel (1) repeatedly
cleaned and replaced the fiber optic comm. components, (2) swapped
radiometers, (3) sent radiometers back to Radiometrics for evaluation
(which has not revealed any instrument problems), and (4) reconfigured
the computer's operating system.  Despite several attempts to isolate
and correct it, the problem persisted.

It became apparent that some component of the Windows98 configuration
conflicted with the DOS-based MWR program or affected the serial port
or the contents of the serial port buffer. This problem was finally
corrected by upgrading the MWR software with a new Windows-compatible
program.

• Mean total liquid water amount along LOS path(liq)
• Mean 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)
• Mean 23.8 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky23)
• Mean total water vapor amount along LOS path(vap)

• Mean total water vapor amount along LOS path(vap)
• Mean 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)
• Mean 23.8 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky23)
• Mean total liquid water amount along LOS path(liq)

SGP/MWR/B5 - Intermittent Negative Sky Brightness Temperatures

Several related and recurring problems with the SGP MWRs have been
reported dating back to 1999.  These problems were due to the
occurrence of blackbody signals (in counts) that were half of those
expected. The symptoms included noisy data (especially at Purcell),
spikes in the data (especially at Vici), negative brightness
temperatures, and apparent loss of serial communication between the
computer and the radiometer, which results in a self-termination of the
MWR program (especially at the CF).

Because these all initially appeared to be hardware-related problems,
the instrument mentor and SGP site operations personnel (1) repeatedly
cleaned and replaced the fiber optic comm. components, (2) swapped
radiometers, (3) sent radiometers back to Radiometrics for evaluation
(which has not revealed any instrument problems), and (4) reconfigured
the computer's operating system.  Despite several attempts to isolate
and correct it, the problem persisted.

It became apparent that some component of the Windows98 configuration
conflicted with the DOS-based MWR program or affected the serial port
or the contents of the serial port buffer. This problem was finally
corrected by upgrading the MWR software with a new Windows-compatible
program.

• Mean total water vapor amount along LOS path(vap)
• Mean 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)
• Mean 23.8 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky23)
• Mean total liquid water amount along LOS path(liq)

• Mean 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)
• Mean total liquid water amount along LOS path(liq)
• Mean total water vapor amount along LOS path(vap)
• Mean 23.8 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky23)

SGP/MWR/B6 - Intermittent Negative Sky Brightness Temperatures

Several related and recurring problems with the SGP MWRs have been
reported dating back to 1999.  These problems were due to the
occurrence of blackbody signals (in counts) that were half of those
expected. The symptoms included noisy data (especially at Purcell),
spikes in the data (especially at Vici), negative brightness
temperatures, and apparent loss of serial communication between the
computer and the radiometer, which results in a self-termination of the
MWR program (especially at the CF).

Because these all initially appeared to be hardware-related problems,
the instrument mentor and SGP site operations personnel (1) repeatedly
cleaned and replaced the fiber optic comm. components, (2) swapped
radiometers, (3) sent radiometers back to Radiometrics for evaluation
(which has not revealed any instrument problems), and (4) reconfigured
the computer's operating system.  Despite several attempts to isolate
and correct it, the problem persisted.

It became apparent that some component of the Windows98 configuration
conflicted with the DOS-based MWR program or affected the serial port
or the contents of the serial port buffer. This problem was finally
corrected by upgrading the MWR software with a new Windows-compatible
program.

• Mean total water vapor amount along LOS path(vap)
• Mean 23.8 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky23)
• Mean 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)
• Mean total liquid water amount along LOS path(liq)

• Mean total liquid water amount along LOS path(liq)
• Mean total water vapor amount along LOS path(vap)
• Mean 23.8 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky23)
• Mean 31.4 GHz sky brightness temperature(tbsky31)

SGP/MWR/B1  - min/max/delta values incorrect

The values of valid_min, valid_max, and valid_delta for fields tkxc and tknd were 
incorrect. They should be 303, 333, and 0.5 K, respectively.

• Noise diode mount temperature(tknd)
• Mixer kinetic (physical) temperature(tkxc)

SGP/MWR/B4  - min/max/delta values incorrect

The values of valid_min, valid_max, and valid_delta for fields tkxc and tknd were 
incorrect. They should be 303, 333, and 0.5 K, respectively.

• Mixer kinetic (physical) temperature(tkxc)
• Noise diode mount temperature(tknd)

SGP/MWR/B5  - min/max/delta values incorrect

The values of valid_min, valid_max, and valid_delta for fields tkxc and tknd were 
incorrect. They should be 303, 333, and 0.5 K, respectively.

• Noise diode mount temperature(tknd)
• Mixer kinetic (physical) temperature(tkxc)

SGP/MWR/B6  - min/max/delta values incorrect

The values of valid_min, valid_max, and valid_delta for fields tkxc and tknd were 
incorrect. They should be 303, 333, and 0.5 K, respectively.

• Mixer kinetic (physical) temperature(tkxc)
• Noise diode mount temperature(tknd)