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About this collection

Extent

1 digital object.

Description

Rationale for data collection: Radiosondes are released during atmospheric river conditions (integrated vapor transport exceeding 250 kg/ms) or to coincide with Atmospheric River Reconnaissance flights.

Stations:
USBOD = Bodega Bay, CA; 38.3 N 123.1 W
USCAT = Catalina Island, CA; 33.4 N 118.5 W
USSAL = Salton Sea, CA; 33.2 N 115.9 W
USSIO = Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA; 32.9 N 117.3 W
USUKI = Ukiah, CA; 39.1 N 123.1 W
USYUB = Marysville, CA; 39.2 N 121.5 W

The raw data from the Vaisala radiosondes, which were originally in .mwx format, have been processed into .txt files and made available here.

Date Collected

• 2016 to 2021

Date Issued

• 2021

Creators

• Alden, Douglas
• Cooper, Ava
• Demirdjian, Reuben
• Ellis, Carolyn
• Hecht, Chad
• Paulsson, Kerstin

Principal Investigator

• Ralph, F. Martin

Co Principal Investigator

• Wilson, Anna M.

Researcher

• Cannon, Forest

Data Manager

• Kawzenuk, Brian

Methods

We coordinate with the Atmospheric River Reconnaissance forecasting team during that campaign. Otherwise, we use ensemble forecasts of IVT (e.g., the AR landfall tool (Cordeira and Ralph, 2021)) to identify events to sample. During sampling, we obtain permission from the Federal Aviation Administration and local airports via filing Notice to Airmen to release unmanned free balloons. Balloons are filled with helium using the process described in Vaisala's manuals. Releases may or may not include parachutes. As of 2019, ascent and descent profiles are processed and provided to global operational numerical weather prediction models via the Global Telecommunications System. Profiles are also shared with National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices throughout Western Region.

Funding

USACE grant W912HZ-19-2-0023
USACE grant W912HZ-15-2-0019

Topics

• Atmospheric river
• Domain: Earth sciences
• Orographic precipitation
• Precipitation

Format

View formats within this collection

• data

Language

• English

Identifier

Identifier: Anna M. Wilson: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7342-1955

Identifier: Brian Kawzenuk: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1194-4296

Identifier: Carolyn Ellis: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0901-1545

Identifier: Chad Hecht: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8357-3263

Identifier: F. Martin Ralph: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0870-6396

Identifier: Forest Cannon: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2520-3790

Related Resources

Primary associated publication

• Mascioli, N. R., Evan, A. T., & Ralph, F. M. (2021). Influence of dust on precipitation during landfalling atmospheric rivers in an idealized framework. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 126, e2021JD034813. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JD034813

Other resource

• Center For Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E)