1. Atmospheric Sciences 370 Observing Systems January 2009

2. ASOS: Automated Surface Observing System: Backbone Observing System in the U.S.

3. ASOS Located at primary and secondary airports
Sponsored by the FAA and NWS
High quality instrumentation that is well maintained and calibrated.
Reported in METAR format (more later)

4. Hydrothermograph

5. Precipitation Gauges

6. Laser Weather
Identifier

7. Anemometer
Wind Vane
Laser Ceilometer

8. The ASOS Freezing Rain Sensor
uses an ultrasonically vibrating probe to detect the presence of icing conditions. The vibrating frequency of the probe decreases with the accumulation of ice.

9. Lightning Sensor
Visibility Sensor

10. Full ASOS system in Arizona

11. METAR Format
ASOS data (and airport observations worldwide) are transmitted in METAR format.
Name came from the French words, MÉTéorologique ("Weather") Aviation Régulière ("Routine").
Example: KSEA Z 11008KT 10SM FEW050 SCT070 OVC090 09/03 A2879 RMK AO2 SLP T
Will learn more about it in Lab

12. Observing Heights (ASOS and most official obs)
Temperature and dew point (2-m)
Wind speed and direction (10-m)

13. Other Surface Networks
Bureau of Land Management
RAWS
Agrimet
PAWS
Department of Ecology
Puget Sound Clean Air
BC Hydro
BC Olympics
Weather Underground

14. Schoolnet Sites by AWS

15. Oklahoma Mesonet

16. Networks of Networks
UW: We collect data from about 70 networks in real time over NW
Mesowest: Collects about 100 networks over the western third of U.S.

18. NWNet: Regional Real-Time Collection of Over 60 Networks Over the Pacific Northwest

19. Marine Reports

20. Ocean and Lake
Weather Buoys
Anchored

21. Drifting Buoys
Pressure
Wind

22. Coastal Marine (CMAN) Reports from the Coast Guard

23. Northwest Buoy and CMAN Locations

25. Ship Reports: Marine VOS Program
Volunteers Observers--generally 6-hourly reports
Highly variable quality and frequency

26. Satellite
Microwave
Scatterometer
Winds

27. QuickScat Satellite
Bounces microwaves off the ocean surface
Capillary waves dependent on wind speed and directon

30. Upper Air Data

31. Radiosonde

32. Radar Wind Profiler and RASS (Radio Acoustic Sounding System)

34. Seattle Profiler/RASS

35. Profiler Locations

36. ACARS: Aircraft Observations
Generally on wide-body aircraft
Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System

40. New Satellite Observing Capabilities

41. Cloud and
Water Vapor
Track Winds
Based on Geostationary Weather Satellites

43. Satellite Temperature and Humidity Soundings

44. GOES sounder unit

46. Radar and Satellite Imagery
MORE LATER!

47. GPS Sounding A constellation of GPS satellites orbit the earth.
By measuring the delay in time as the GPS signal is bent by the earth’s atmosphere, one can acquire density information that can be used to create temperature and humidity soundings.
Can do this with fixed receivers on earth or with receivers on satellites--the COSMIC project.

50. Typical Observation Errors at the Surface
Sea Level Pressure
Low-Elevation land stations +-.5 mb
Ships mb
Temperature: +-1C
Wind Speed: knots, very poor for speeds below 2-3 knots.
Relative Humidity: +-10%

51. Typical Radiosonde Errors
Geopotential heights:
700 mb (hPa): 5-10 m
500 mb m
300 mb m
100 mb m
Temperature: C
Wind speed: +-5%,+-10 degrees