DOTSATR ASTRA Dropsonde TEMPDROP Data [NCAR/EOL]

1. General Description


This data set includes 90 TEMPDROP messages from the dropsondes released by 
the DOTSTAR ASTRA jet aircraft that flew during the ITOP field program.  The 
DOTSTAR aircraft were based out of Taiwan and flew around tropical systems in the
western Pacific Ocean during August-October 2010.  The data files are in the GTS
TEMPDROP format and contain the mandatory and significant level observations from
the DOTSTAR dropsondes.  NCAR/EOL have conducted no quality control on these data 
files.

2. File Naming Convention

dotstar_dropMMDDHHmm_report.txt

where dotstar_drop = signfies this is a DOTSTAR dropsonde message
      MM = two digit month
      DD = two digit day
      HH = two digit hour
      mm = two digit minute
Note that the times in the file names are when the file was received at NCAR/EOL,
not when the dropsonde was released.

3. Format Description

A complete description of the tempdrop format is available in Appendix G of the 
2009 National Hurricane Observation Plan - http://www.ofcm.gov/nhop/09/pdf/17-app_g-09.pdf
This file is also included as part of your data order.

4. Further Information

Additional information about the ITOP research flights is available in the ITOP
Field Catalog Mission Table:

http://catalog.eol.ucar.edu/itop_2010/missions/missions.html

Additional information about the ITOP project is available at the ITOP home
page:

http://www.eol.ucar.edu/projects/itop/

DOTSTAR Home Page: 

http://typhoon.as.ntu.edu.tw/DOTSTAR/en/