Windsor Case Study Data Ingest Summary

This list is partially complete at present, of the datasets we are using for the Windsor case. We can make the ESRL data available on the web for download as desired.

New and Enhanced Datasets

GPS:

We are starting with reprocessed GPS data. decoded into our standard real-time NetCDF format. There were supplied by Kirk Holub with 5 new sites (BNTT, CMRC, DNVR, ELBZ, WTRT). This includes Suominet and other networks as well as the original sites/data from the Mass Store.

Rinex files and metadata for GPS and surface meteorological observations used in this study will be made available on request. Measurements and zenith estimates of geophysical parameters derived from the GPS observations will be made available in ascii and TBD format. We might discuss what parameters and formats (beyond the usual we find on /public) we can use between several of us (Steve A., Dan B., Yuanfu, Kirk, Seth).

Met-Tower:

Dan Wolfe has informed us that BAO tower data are available from several ESRL websites for this case. We are checking into the best way to make these data readable for LAPS/STMAS (hopefully NetCDF), including whether a real-time feed can be set up along with archive access.

Radiometer:

We are using the MADIS radiometer data from the ESRL/GSD Mass Store for temperature and humidity soundings. A new enhancement to the ingest is being tested to read in the cloud base temperature and integrated cloud liquid and can presently be viewed in the real-time "parallel side" log files to assess their quality. The next step will be to include them in the sounding ingest "SND" file. After that we can consider how to read them into the LAPS & STMAS analyses and use them in the analysis or perhaps initially as verification data. In learning to use the cloud base temperatures we might want to know how it handles cases of multiple partial cloud layers, as well as clear sky cases.

COSMIC:

A COSMIC radio occultation refractivity sounding is available from the Sterling area at about 1800 UTC. We will consider ingesting this into STMAS once a forward model is developed.

We also have a 1dvar retrieval of T and Td supplied by John Braun in a separate NetCDF file. We might consider whether to use this retrieved sounding in the LAPS analysis (and sounding ingest program).

Terra MODIS satellite imagery at 1815 UTC.

Should we use this for validation of analyses and forecasts?

Profiler & RASS:

We are using the NOAA profiler network over the CONUS from the NIMBUS NetCDF database. The Platteville (PLTC2) 404 mHz profiler is available in the analysis up until 1600 UTC.

For boundary layer 915 mHz profiler and RASS we are using the data from the ESRL/GSD Mass Store (MSS). There is a station at Estes Park in the real-time database that is absent in the archive as perhaps it wasn't installed there as of May 2008.

We are looking into the availability of a MAPR 915mHz wind profiler near Boulder and a Vaisala LAPS-3000 at Louisville.

Routinely Archived Data

First Guess:

We are using the RUC model in GRIB format from the ESRL/GSD Mass Store (MSS).

Satellite:

We are using GOES imagery in NetCDF format from the ESRL/GSD Mass Store (MSS).

Radar:

We are using WSR-88D wideband (full volume) radar data. In this transitional period some were switched to "hi-res" (e.g. KFTG Front-Range radar) mode while others were still in "low-res". We are continuing to check that all the nearby wideband radar data are being included and preprocessed correctly. How should we address computed refractivity?

We're using low-level WSI-NOWRAD radar reflectivities from the ESRL/GSD Mass Store (MSS).

Surface Observations:

For METARs we are using the NIMBUS NetCDF data from the ESRL/GSD Mass Store (MSS). This can be switched to an equivalent MADIS dataset if desired.

For Maritime data we are using the NIMBUS NetCDF data from the ESRL/GSD Mass Store (MSS). This can be switched to an equivalent MADIS dataset if desired.

For mesonet data we are using the MADIS NetCDF data from the ESRL/GSD Mass Store (MSS).

RAOB:

For RAOB data we are using the NIMBUS NetCDF data from the ESRL/GSD Mass Store (MSS). This can be switched to an equivalent MADIS dataset if desired. This database includes the regular 1200 UTC soundings and special soundings such as one taken at DEN at 1800UTC.

There is a question about the DEN special 1800 UTC RAOB humidity accuracy, since it differs in IWV from the GPS station located within about 10-15km. There is a however a dry-line boundary in the area that might help explain the difference. We can assess this possibility further by looking at several items including surface dewpoint analysis evolution, temporal variability of the GPS station, and looking at surrounding GPS or other upper air humidity measurements.

Satellite Soundings:

We are using GOES and POES retrieved soundings from satellite, as available from MADIS.

ACARS:

For ACARS we are using the NIMBUS NetCDF data from the ESRL/GSD Mass Store (MSS). This can be switched to an equivalent MADIS dataset if desired. We are also "borrowing" this format where we append the in-flight radar data.

Cloud-Drift Winds:

For cloud-drift winds we are using the MADIS hourly and 3-hourly NetCDF data from the ESRL/GSD Mass Store (MSS). The use of cloud-drift winds can be toggled with the 'l_use_cdw' parameter in 'wind.nl'.

Steve Koch's data source list

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