Please cite as:
Ralph, F. Martin; Wilson, Anna M.; Kawzenuk, Brian; Demirdjian, Reuben; Alden, Douglas; Hecht, Chad, Ellis, Carolyn; Cannon, Forest; Cooper, Ava; Paulsson, Kerstin (2021). Radiosonde Data Collected During California Storms. UC San Diego Library Digital Collections. https://doi.org/10.6075/J09P31S0

Corresponding author:
Anna Wilson, anna-m-wilson@ucsd.edu

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

Details for each directory in the archive are as follows:
Text files: Text file for each radiosonde launch including data for every level that was qualified as good data by sounding software. Filenames are formatted as station_yyyymmdd_hhmn.txt. Columns are year, month, day, hour, minute, seconds, pressure (hPa), temperature (C), dew point (C), wind direction, wind speed (m/s), height (m), latitude, longitude
Skew-Ts: Image files for all radiosonde launches, created by CW3E.  Filenames are formatted as station_yyyymmdd_hhmn.png
Bufr: Raw bufr files output from sounding software for all radiosonde launches.
GTS_Files: Text files for all radiosonde launches decoded in WMO format for ingest in the GTS.  Filenames are formatted as station_yyyymmdd_hhmn.txt.

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

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

We use Vaisala radiosondes, models that may be either RS41-SG or RS41-SGP. Software used is Digicora Sounding Software MW41 made by Vaisala.

CW3E Radionsonde raw data files separated by location of launch and wateryear. Column headers are:
Year, Month, Day, Hour, Minute, Second, Pressure (hPa), Temperature (C), Dew Point (C), Wind Direction (degrees), Wind Speed (m/s), Height (m), Latitude, Longitude