TCSP Ticosonde-Aura 2005
Table of Contents
 Introduction
The Ticosonde/Aura-TCSP 2005 radiosonde data set consists of 4 soundings per day (00, 06, 12 and 18 UT) launched from Juan Santamaria International Airport, WMO station 78762, latitude 10°N and 84.2°W. The launch program began at 00 UT on 16 June 2005 and ended 00 UT 24 August 2005. With a very few exceptions, the sondes were Vaiasala model RS92-SGP and the ground station was a DigiCORA MW11 equipped for GPS wind-finding and upgraded for RS92 telemetry. (A small number of ascents were made with RS90-AG and RS80-15G sondes.) Most ascents were done with 500-g latex balloons filled with hydrogen. Exceptions included 24 ascents at 06 and 18UT in July that were piggybacked on a larger payload consisting of the University of Colorado cryogenic frostpoint hygrometer (CFH) and an ECC ozonesonde. Median termination altitude for all ascents was ~26 km. Data were recorded at the maximum DigiCORA MW11 sample rate of one every two seconds.
Campaign Description
The Tropical Cloud Systems and Processes (TCSP) mission was a field research investigation sponsored by the Science Mission Directorate of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). TCSP was focused on the study of the dynamics and thermodynamics of precipitating cloud systems, including tropical cyclones using NASA-funded aircraft and surface remote sensing instrumentation. TCSP research specifically addressed the following topical areas:
- Tropical cyclone structure, genesis, intensity change, moisture fields and rainfall.
- Satellite and aircraft remote sensor data assimilation and validation studies pertaining to development of tropical cyclones.
- The role of upper tropospheric/lower stratospheric processes governing tropical cyclone outflow, the response of wave disturbances to deep convection and the evolution of the upper level warm core.
Principles of Operation
The term radiosonde is a contraction for radio-sounding device. The instrument measures the ambient pressure, temperature, and moisture. When attached to a weather balloon filled with a lighter-than-air gas, radiosondes can attain heights in excess of 30 kilometers. Winds are determined from changes in the radiosonde position during the flight. The thermodynamic and wind data information are formulated into a "rawinsonde" observation.
The radiosonde transmits its data to a ground-based telemetry system (antenna and receiver). This telemetry system receives the signals and forwards them to another module (signal processing system) to be decoded into meteorological units. Data are then passed to a computer for collection of data for the entire sounding and formulation of the observation products. When the balloon reaches it elastic limit and bursts, a parachute slows the descent of the radiosonde to the ground.
The Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology has a page devoted to radiosondes and rawinsonde.
Data Naming Conventions and Data Format
The data are in ASCII files (in the Hipskind-Gaines format). Below is a sample file name:
RS78762_2005-06-17T00.EDT
Where RS78762 is the type of sonde, 2005-06-17 is the year, month, day, and T00.EDT is the time.
Sample Software
Sample software and PI supplied documentation are available here .
Contact Information
To order these data or for further information, please contact:
Global Hydrology Resource Center
User Services
320 Sparkman Drive
Huntsville, AL 35805
Phone: 256-961-7932
E-mail: support-ghrc@earthdata.nasa.gov
Web: http://ghrc.nsstc.nasa.gov/
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