SGP 1999 NOAA Wind Profiler Network (NPN) Hourly Surface Dataset 1.0 General Description The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Wind Profiler Network (NPN) dataset is one of several datasets provided for the Southern Great Plains 1999 (SGP99) project. This dataset contains NPN surface data from 2 stations in the SGP99 domain. This dataset covers the complete SGP99 time period (1 July 1999 through 31 July 1999) and domain. The SGP99 domain is approximately 97W to 99W longitude and 34.5N to 37N latitude. No additional quality control was performed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research/Joint Office for Science Support (JOSS). 2.0 Detailed Data Description The algorithms used to produce NOAA Wind Profiler Network (NPN) hourly surface data are not currently available. 2.1 Detailed Format Description The SGP 1999 NOAA Wind Profiler Network (NPN) hourly surface dataset contains ten metadata parameters and 38 data parameters and flags. The metadata parameters describe the station location and time at which the data were collected. The time of observation is reported both in Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) Nominal and UTC actual time. Days begin at UTC hour 0100 and end at UTC hour 0000 the following day. The data parameters are valid for the reported times. Missing values are reported as 9's in the data field. The table below details the data parameters in each record. Several data parameters have an associated Quality Control (QC) Flag Code. For a list of possible QC Flag values see the Quality Control Section 3.0. Parameters Units ---------- ----- Date of Observation UTC Nominal Time of Observation UTC Nominal Date of Observation UTC actual Time of Observation UTC actual Network Identifier Abbreviation of platform name Station Identifier Network Dependent Latitude Decimal degrees, South is negative Longitude Decimal degrees, West is negative Station Occurrence Unitless Station Elevation Meters Station Pressure, QC flag Hectopascals (mb) Reported Sea Level Pressure, QC flag Hectopascals (mb) Computed Sea Level Pressure, QC flag Hectopascals (mb) Dry Bulb Temperature, QC flag Celsius Dew Point, QC flag Celsius Wind Speed, QC flag m/s Wind Direction, QC flag Degrees Total Precipitation, QC flag mm Squall/Gust Indicator Code Value Squall/Gust Value, QC flag m/s Present Weather, QC flag Code Value Visibility, QC flag Meters Ceiling Height (first layer) Hundreds of feet Ceiling Flag (first layer), QC flag Code Value Cloud Amount (first layer), QC flag Code Value Ceiling Height (second layer) Hundreds of feet Ceiling Flag (second layer), QC flag Code Value Cloud Amount (second layer), QC flag Code Value Ceiling Height (third layer) Hundreds of feet Ceiling Flag (third layer), QC flag Code Value Cloud Amount (third layer), QC flag Code Value The list of code values for the Present Weather is too large to reproduce in this document. Refer to WMO, 1988 for a complete list of Present Weather codes. The code values for the Squall/Gust Indicator are: Code Definition ---- ---------- blank No Squall or Gust S Squall G Gust The code values for the ceiling flag Indicator are: Code Definition ---- ---------- 0 None 1 Thin 2 Clear below 12,000 feet 3 Estimated 4 Measured 5 Indefinite 6 Balloon 7 Aircraft 8 Measured/Variable 9 Clear below 6,000 feet (AUTOB) 10 Estimated / Variable 11 Indefinite / Variable 12 12-14 reserved 15 Missing The code values for the Cloud Amount Indicator are: Code Definition ---- ---------- 0 0 ( or clear) 1 1 okta or less, but not zero or 1/10 or less, but not zero 2 2 oktas or 2/10-3/10 3 3 oktas or 4/10 4 4 oktas or 5/10 5 5 oktas or 6/10 6 6 oktas or 7/10-8/10 7 7 oktas or more, but no 8 oktas or 9/10 or more, but not 10/10 8 8 oktas or 10/10 (or overcast) 9 Sky obscured by fog and/or other meteorological phenomena 10 Sky partially obscured by fog and/or other meteorological phenomena 11 Scattered 12 Broken 13 13-14 Reserved 15 Cloud cover is indiscernible for reasons other than fog or other meteorological phenomena, or observation is not made. 2.2 Data Remarks This data is provided "as is". It has been translated into the JOSS QC format. No other changes have been made to the data. 3.0 Quality Control Processing These data were not quality controlled by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research/Joint Office for Science Support (UCAR/JOSS). 4.0 References None.