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A field evaluation of remote sensor measurements of wind, temperature, and moisture for ARM integrated sounding system research

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10182783· OSTI ID:10182783
Remote sensing systems were operated in Colorado in February and March 1991 to obtain detailed profiles of the kinematic and thermodynamic structure of the atmosphere for the US Department of Energy`s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) research program. The instruments included wind profilers, Radio Acoustic Sounding Systems (PASS), microwave and infrared radiometers, an infrared spectrometer, ceilometers, radiosondes, surface meteorological stations, and other equipment. A mesoscale data assimilation model will be used to combine the data into dynamically consistent four-dimensional fields as part of an integrated data assimilation sounding system. This report evaluates the performance of the NOAA remote sensors used in the 1991 field data collection. These included five different wind profilers, each equipped with RASS capability for temperature profiling, and microwave radiometers for measurements of pathintegrated water vapor and liquid water content. The design and initial testing of a Fourier-transform InfraRed Sounder (FIRS) for humidity profiling is also described. The ranges of height coverage and measurement accuracies for each wind profiler/RASS are examined. Specific recommendations for optimizing the design and configuration of similar instruments are made for the ARM cloud and Radiation Testbed (CART) sites, based on results of the 1991 field work and earlier tests. Examples of routine processed data products are presented for three intensive operating period studies to further illustrate the remote sensors` capabilities.
Research Organization:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO (United States). Wave Propagation Lab.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AI06-91RL12089; AI06-91RL12090; AI06-91RL12092
OSTI ID:
10182783
Report Number(s):
DOE/RL/12089--T2; ON: DE94000565; IN: NOAA-ERL WPL-211
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English