TRMM Tethered Sonde Team at Meck Island
Daily Activity Report for August 8
Tethersonde and flux tower measurement systems worked properly. Four tethered balloon flights were made on the main synoptic hours. Inter-comparisons were carried out with the U of W Convair aircraft. These were done at 300 and 100 m respectively, with the aircraft making straight and level passes just upwind, over and downwind of the balloon between 0320 and 0440 GMT. At 0200 and 0500 tethered balloon profile were carried out between the surface, 1000 m and the surface. Temperature, humidity, pressure and horizontal wind velocity for the profiles and for the fixed level time series are attached on diskette.
Tower inter-comparisons of temperature, humidity, pressure and horizontal wind velocity were made before and after each profile. The tower and tethered balloon variables agreed as follows:
Temperature at 9 m within ± 0.4oC
Relative humidity at 9 m within ± 3%
Pressure at 2 m within ± 0.5 mb
Wind speed at 9 m within 1.0 m/s
Wind direction (magnetic) at 9 m within 5 deg.