Meteorology 301

PROCEDURE

Decoding a Raw Sounding

The VBG sounding below can be decoded using Appendix B as a guide. As you read through the appendix you will find that the information following the TTAA group represents the mandatory level information; that following the TTBB group represents the significant level information; that following the PPBB group represents the winds aloft information.

72393 TTAA 76121 72393 99003 12206 28002 00122 ///// ///// 92779 15665 13515 85496
13657 15025 70109 04456 18026 50575 15773 19062 40741 23557 17564 30944 38785
19086 25067 44183 19599 20215 49581 20103 15400 56579 20577 10651 63177 20540
88999 77237 20110 42005 77226 20110 41507 51515 10164 00091 10194 14515 17515

72393 TTBB 7612/ 72393 00003 12206 11964 12622 22962 12622 33957 15459 44952 15862
55941 15665 66920 16666 77900 16267 88888 16264 99853 13458 11850 13657 22847
14057 33830 14274 44817 13268 55806 13288 66805 13288 77764 10078 88751 08666
99724 06667 11709 05056 22670 01003 33659 00402 44655 00102 55584 06102 66565
(Truncated)

For the mandatory level information, there is a way of helping yourself (visually) from getting too confused. From the reading in the Appendix you will note that the "72393" represents the station designator in WMO code for Vandenburg, CA. This information is repeated in the fourth group on the right (top line). Immediately after this will come station pressure or height, temperature, dewpoint depression, wind direction and speed information for each of the MANDATORY LEVELS (see your Lab 1). Put parentheses around these groups to visually separate them. Here is an example of what I mean:

Surface data 1000 mb data

72265 TTAA 60121 72265 (99914 22232 16508) (00065 ///// /////)

925 mb data 850 mb data

(92762 ///// /////) (85499 20850 20028) etc

The balance of Appendix B is devoted to a detailed step by step guide on decoding raw soundings.

Using the Appendix as a guide, decode the sounding by completing the tables on the following pages.

Plot the sounding on the Skew-T Log P diagram distributed (in xerox form) in class. Complete the PRACTICAL EXERCISES on pages 34-37 and 68 for the Midland sounding.

MAFMANMAF

72265 TTAA 60121 72265 99914 22232 16508 00065 ///// /////

92762 ///// ///// 85499 20850 20028 70158 11267 21013 50587

06750 26515 40757 18546 24015 30966 33161 26014 25091 43959

27026 20237 56158 27031 15416 63759 26044 10659 69360 27012

88114 72359 28024 77999

MAFSGLMAF

72265 TTBB 6012/ 72265 00914 22232 11874 20015 22844 20656

33826 22265 44774 18060 55754 16869 66689 10060 77683 09665

88669 08263 99632 04023 11596 00624 22560 01550 33556 01559

44538 03356 55528 03960 66522 04357 77514 05160 88506 06347

99465 10557 11457 11545 22441 13557 33411 17523 44381 21356

55365 23535 66336 27935 77288 34962 88106 71960

PPBB 60120 72265 90034 16508 17011 18531 90678 21023 22014

21013 909// 20515 91246 22513 25513 24513 92035 26514 23515

24015 93015 25514 26012 26522 9436/ 28038 26547 9504/ 27032

28012

	Mandatory Level Information

Station Location
Date/Time

Surface	850 mb	400 mb	200 mb	Other Info:
Height (or pressure)	Height (or pressure)	Height (or pressure)	Height (or pressure)
Temperature	Temperature	Temperature	Temperature
Dew Pt Depression	Dew Pt Depression	Dew Pt Depression	Dew Pt Depression
Wind Direction	Wind Direction	Wind Direction	Wind Direction
Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed

1000 mb	700 mb	300 mb	150 mb
Height (or pressure)	Height (or pressure)	Height (or pressure)	Height (or pressure)
Temperature	Temperature	Temperature	Temperature
Dew Pt Depression	Dew Pt Depression	Dew Pt Depression	Dew Pt Depression
Wind Direction	Wind Direction	Wind Direction	Wind Direction
Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed

925 mb	500 mb	250 mb	100 mb
Height (or pressure)	Height (or pressure)	Height (or pressure)	Height (or pressure)
Temperature	Temperature	Temperature	Temperature
Dew Pt Depression	Dew Pt Depression	Dew Pt Depression	Dew Pt Depression
Wind Direction	Wind Direction	Wind Direction	Wind Direction
Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed

	Significant Level Information

Station Location
Date/Time

Surface	Level 4	Level 8	Note: May be More
Height (or pressure)	Height (or pressure)	Height (or pressure)	Information Given
Temperature	Temperature	Temperature
Dew Pt Depression	Dew Pt Depression	Dew Pt Depression	Continue Below as Needed:

Level 1	Level 5	Level 9
Height (or pressure)	Height (or pressure)	Height (or pressure)
Temperature	Temperature	Temperature
Dew Pt Depression	Dew Pt Depression	Dew Pt Depression

Level 2	Level 6	Level 10
Height (or pressure)	Height (or pressure)	Height (or pressure)
Temperature	Temperature	Temperature
Dew Pt Depression	Dew Pt Depression	Dew Pt Depression

Level 3	Level 7	Level 11
Height (or pressure)	Height (or pressure)	Height (or pressure)
Temperature	Temperature	Temperature
Dew Pt Depression	Dew Pt Depression	Dew Pt Depression

	Winds Aloft Information

Station Location
Date/Time

Surface	7000 feet	13000 feet	25000 feet	36000 feet
Wind Dir	Wind Dir	Wind Dir	Wind Dir	Wind Dir
Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed

3000 feet	8000 feet	14000 feet	26000 feet	38000 feet
Wind Dir	Wind Dir	Wind Dir	Wind Dir	Wind Dir
Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed

4000 feet	9000 feet	16000 feet	30000 feet	50000 feet
Wind Dir	Wind Dir	Wind Dir	Wind Dir	Wind Dir
Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed

6000 feet	12000 feet	20000 feet	35000 feet	52000 feet
Wind Dir	Wind Dir	Wind Dir	Wind Dir	Wind Dir
Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed	Wind Speed