html> MET 3510

Sounding Evaluation

You will become familiar with plotting a sounding on a skew-T, log p diagram and begin to become familiar with sounding characteristics.
Assignment 1. Due January 22

  • Refer to the skew-T manual for reference.

  • Following is the data from 12z, January 14 at Salt Lake City.
    STID = SLC STNM = 72572 TIME = 040114/1200
    SLAT = 40.78 SLON = -111.96 SELV = 1288.0
    TTAA 1200
    PRES TMPC DWPC DRCT SPED HGHT
    884.00 -7.90 -9.60 0.00 0.00 -9999.00
    1000.00 -9999.00 -9999.00 -9999.00 -9999.00 323.00
    925.00 -9999.00 -9999.00 -9999.00 -9999.00 938.00
    850.00 -7.70 -8.10 -9999.00 -9999.00 1596.00
    700.00 -0.70 -15.70 -9999.00 -9999.00 3151.00
    500.00 -16.10 -39.10 290.00 5.10 5760.00
    400.00 -29.70 -47.70 325.00 1.50 7400.00
    300.00 -47.50 -58.50 30.00 7.20 9370.00
    250.00 -56.50 -65.50 40.00 12.90 10550.00
    200.00 -63.90 -71.90 300.00 3.60 11940.00
    150.00 -59.90 -77.90 315.00 8.20 13760.00
    100.00 -62.30 -80.30 315.00 14.40 16280.00

    TTBB 1200
    PRES TMPC DWPC
    884.00 -7.90 -9.60
    868.00 -9.50 -10.30
    832.00 -5.90 -5.90
    807.00 0.40 -9.60
    795.00 3.20 -9.80
    779.00 3.60 -13.40
    771.00 3.20 -13.80
    769.00 3.00 -5.00
    751.00 2.00 -12.00
    682.00 -1.90 -17.90
    675.00 -1.90 -7.90
    669.00 -2.50 -2.50
    635.00 -5.50 -19.50
    609.00 -7.70 -17.70
    590.00 -9.10 -21.10
    583.00 -8.90 -26.90
    530.00 -13.90 -27.90
    500.00 -16.10 -39.10
    273.00 -53.10 -61.10
    200.00 -63.90 -71.90
    191.00 -62.70 -70.70
    183.00 -53.30 -65.30
    150.00 -59.90 -77.90
    132.00 -58.50 -78.50
    100.00 -62.30 -80.30
    PPBB 1200
    HGHT DRCT SPED
    0.00 0.00 0.00
    4267.00 310.00 6.20
    4877.00 335.00 4.10
    6096.00 275.00 4.60
    7620.00 355.00 2.60
    8230.00 0.00 6.20
    9144.00 35.00 5.70
    9754.00 25.00 10.80
    10668.00 40.00 9.80
    12192.00 325.00 8.80
    12802.00 270.00 10.80
    13716.00 315.00 8.20
    14630.00 295.00 15.40
    15240.00 300.00 14.90
    16154.00 310.00 14.90

    Plotting Data

  • 1) Using a No. 2 pencil, plot temperature and dew point temperature as a function of pressure. Use a small plus symbol to denote the observation and then connect the observations with straight solid (dashed) lines for temperature (dew point). USE A RULER.

  • 2) Plot wind speed and direction according to the standard meteorological convention. Plot the winds at mandatory levels and observations that correspond to wind reporting levels as discussed in class. Be sure to follow the convention on the orientation of the wind barbs.

  • 3) Identify the base and top of all inversions and stable layers.
  • 4) Identify the height (m and mb) of the tropopause.
  • 5) Identify the base and top of saturated layers.
  • 6) Discuss the change in wind with height, noting any significant features in the wind profile.

    Coded Message
    TTAA 64121 72572 99884 07917 00000 00323 ///// ///// 92938 ///// ///// 85596
    07704 ///// 70151 00765 ///// 50576 16173 29010 40740 29768 32503 30937 47561
    03014 25055 56559 04025 20194 63958 30007 15376 59968 31516 10628 62368 31528
    88200 63958 30007 77999 51515 10164 00013 10194 ///// /////
    TTBB 64120 72572 00884 07917 11868 09508 22832 05900 33807 00460 44795 03263
    55779 03667 66771 03267 77769 03058 88751 02064 99682 01966 11675 01956 22669
    02500 33635 05564 44609 07760 55590 09162 66583 08968 77530 13964 88500 16173
    99273 53158 11200 63958 22191 62758 33183 53362 44150 59968 55132 58570 66100
    62368 31313 45202 81104 41414 865//
    PPBB 64120 72572 900// 00000 9146/ 31012 33508 92057 27509 35505 36012 93025
    03511 02521 04019 94025 32517 27021 31516 948// 29530 9503/ 30029 31029