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GRIP Barbados/Cape Verde Radiosonde Table of Contents
The GRIP Barbados/Cape Verde radiosonde data set consists of generally two soundings per day (06Z, and 12Z ) launched from Barbados, and one sounding per day (12Z) launched from Cape Verde. These radiosondes measure the profile of atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, from the ground to an altitude of up to 40 km (in general, the sondes reached at least a pressure of 100 millibars). The launch program began on 14 August, 2010 and ended 24 September, 2010. The sondes used were type DFM-06, built by GRAW Radiosondes, Nuremberg Germany. Most ascents were done with TOTEX 200-g latex balloons using the DMF-06 sondes. A few launches were made using TOTEX 800-g Balloons with the DFM-97 package (connected with ECC ozonesonde). On some days launch times were changed, and multiple launches were made from Barbados on September 9, 10 and 21. The data were retrieved using a GRAW GS-E ground station and GRAWMET meteorological software. The sample rate of the data was 4 seconds for the Barbados data and 2 seconds for the Cape Verde data. The Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) experiment was a NASA Earth science field experiment conducted August 5 to September 30, 2010. The major goal was to better understand how tropical storms form and develop into major hurricanes. NASA used the DC-8 aircraft, the WB-57 aircraft and the Global Hawk Unmanned Airborne System (UAS), configured with a suite of in situ and remote sensing instruments that were used to observe and characterize the lifecycle of hurricanes. This campaign also capitalized on a number of ground networks and space-based assets, in addition to the instruments deployed on aircraft from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida ( DC-8), Houston, Texas (WB-57), and NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, California (Global Hawk). The radiosondes used were the GRAW DFM-06 (Nuremberg, Germany). The DFM-06 is designed to measure the profile of atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, from the surface up to 40 km altitude. Continuous data sets of measurements are sent down to the ground station by a high quality radio-telemetry link. This radiosonde has a low weight of only 90grams and is completely factory calibrated. A 20 channel GPS module provides most precise position information of the radiosonde which is used for calculating the profile of wind direction and wind speed. Each radiosonde can transmit in a narrow channel anywhere within the meteorological band, which is 400 MHz to 406 MHz. The sondes contain a high specification telemetry transmitter, with a range of up to 300 Km. The ground station used was the GRAW GS-E using GRAWMET meteorological software. The main function of the GS-E ground station is to receive the radiosonde signals and provide local GPS information. All functions of the GS-E are software-controlled by a standard PC (computer) through a USB port. The radiosondes data are received in the ground station to be further processed by GRAWMET meteorological software. Data: The radiosonde data files are of the form:
where,
Each file coverers the entire flight of the radiosonde. Images: Quicklook images were made during the field campaign, using non-QCed data.
where,
Some images are in jpg image format, and others are in gif image format. Data FormatThe GRIP Barbados/Cape Verde radiosonde data files are in ASCII format, with a descriptive header labeling each of the eight data columns. The data producer is:
To order these data or for further information, please contact:
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