DATA DISKETTE RECORDS

station identification and sounding identification information. Such information includes the following: Ship/mobile team/or station’s name ICAO (shore), IRCS (ship) Mobile team or ship’s latitude and longitude Elevation of release Scheduled observation time, day, month. year and actual time of release Radiosonde number Any remarks Most of these items are automatically entered on the MRS printout. DATA DISKETTE RECORDS Every effort should be made to download upper-air observation data directly to floppy diskette for submission to FNMOD. Asheville, North Carolina. This is a much easier process. and the data is more rapidly archived. It also eliminates the storing of paper forms. Ensure the diskette is labeled with the data type (upper-air data). the station name and ICAO or IRCS. and the date/time of the data. Also ensure the disk is write protected. Additionally, all upper-air observing units should maintain an Environmental Meteorological Sounding (EMS) Log file or book for all soundings. including training. The log should indicate. at the minimum. the instrument serial number. the data and time of release. the latitude and longitude. and elevation of release (for mobile units or ships), the size balloon used, how much gas was used to till the balloon, the altitude of the sounding at termination. the reason for termination, and the time it took the radiosonde to reach the termination level. Information about which Omega stations were used. the surface weather. and remarks may also be included. Completed logs and duplicate copies of sounding records serve several useful purposes. They may be used for research or equipment evaluation, and as justification for budget requests. REVIEW QUESTIONS Q70. Where are upper-air observation records sent at the end of each month? Q71. What information from an upper-air observation must be forwarded for archive purposes:’ Q72. What is the purpose of maintaining an Environmental Meteorological Sounding (EMS) log? SUMMARY In this chapter. we have discussed the different types of upper-air observations and the equipment in use by the Navy and Marine Corps. We also described the basic procedures for conducting Rawinsonde and Pibal observations. We then covered the two primary code forms used to report Rawinsonde and Pibal- observed information, and introduced you to the other upper-air reporting code forms in international use. Next, we explained how, by national practice. the United States reports fixed regional level winds in the PILOT code in addition to reporting the usual information in the TEMP code. Finally, we discussed the disposition of upper-air observation records. 1-32