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ASOS Surface 5-Minute Data (DSI-6401, DSI-6401b)

Entry ID: gov.noaa.ncdc.C00418

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Summary

Abstract: ASOS Surface 5-Minute Data is digital data set DSI-6401 and DSI-6401b archived at the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC).The National Weather Service (NWS) describes ASOS this way: "The Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS) program is a joint effort of the National Weather Service (NWS), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Department of Defense (DOD). The ASOS system serves ... as the nations primary surface weather observing network. ASOS is designed to support weather forecast activities and aviation operations and, at the same time, support the needs of the meteorological, hydrological, and climatological research communities. With the largest and most modern complement of weather sensors, ASOS has significantly expanded the information available to forecasters and the aviation community. The ASOS network has more than doubled the number of full-time surface weather observing locations. ASOS works non-stop, updating observations every minute, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Getting more information on the atmosphere, more frequently and from more locations is the key to improving forecasts and warnings. Thus, ASOS information will help the NWS to increase the accuracy and timeliness of its forecasts and warnings--the overriding goal of the NWS modernization. The primary concern of the aviation community is safety, and weather conditions often threaten that safety. A basic strength of ASOS is that critical aviation weather parameters are measured where they are needed most: airport runway touchdown zone(s). ASOS detects significant changes, disseminating hourly and special observations via the networks. Additionally, ASOS routinely and automatically provides computer-generated voice observations directly to aircraft in the vicinity of airports, using FAA ground-to-air radio. These messages are also available via a telephone dial-in port. ASOS observes, formats, archives and transmits observations automatically. ASOS transmits a special report when conditions exceed preselected weather element thresholds, e.g., the visibility decreases to less than 3 miles. Reports basic weather elements: Sky condition: cloud height and amount (clear, scattered, broken, overcast) up to 12,000 feet; Visibility (to at least 10 statute miles); Basic present weather information: type and intensity for rain, snow, and freezing rain; Obstructions to vision: fog, haze; Pressure: sea-level pressure, altimeter setting; Ambient temperature, dew point temperature; Wind: direction, speed and character (gusts, squalls); Precipitation accumulation; Selected significant remarks including- variable cloud height, variable visibility, precipitation beginning/ending times, rapid pressure changes, pressure change tendency, wind shift, peak wind. DSI-6401 and DSI-6401b both contain data from stations in the United States of America including Alaska and Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The earliest data available is July 1996. There are actually two archived data sets that differ somewhat in archival format: DSI-6401 and DSI-6401b. The former is data archived through July 1998; the latter is data after July 1998.

Purpose: To make a wide range of climatic data available to researchers and the public.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: data set

CURRENTNESS REFERENCE: Ground Condition

Related URL

Link: VIEW EXTENDED METADATA

Description: View Source Metadata document from the Metadata Manager and Repository (NMMR).

Link: VIEW RELATED INFORMATION

Geographic Coverage

(Click for Interactive Map)

Spatial coordinates

N: 72.0

S: 15.0

E: -60.0

W: 170.0

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce

Dataset Title: ASOS Surface 5-Minute Data (DSI-6401, DSI-6401b)

Dataset Release Date: Unknown

Data Presentation Form: tabular digital data

Online Resource: http://205.156.54.206/asos/

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1996-07-01

Location Keywords

OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > CARIBBEAN SEA > PUERTO RICO

CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Data Resolution

Temporal Resolution: 5 Minute
Temporal Resolution Range: 1 minute - < 1 hour

Science Keywords

ATMOSPHERE > AIR QUALITY > TURBIDITY

ATMOSPHERE > AIR QUALITY > VISIBILITY

ISO Topic Category

CLIMATOLOGY/METEOROLOGY/ATMOSPHERE

Platform

DMSP 5D-2/F14 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F14

Instrument

SSMI > Special Sensor Microwave/Imager

Project

EOSDIS > Earth Observing System Data Information System

ESIP > Earth Science Information Partners Program

DISCOVER > Distributed Info. Services for Climate/Ocean Prod./Visualizations for Earth Res.

CWIC > CEOS WGISS Integrated Catalog

Access Constraints none

Ancillary Keywords

EOSDIS

Data Set Progress

COMPLETE

Data Center

Global Hydrology Resource Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA

Data Center URL: http://ghrc.nsstc.nasa.gov/
Dataset ID: rssmif14m

Data Center Personnel
Name: GHRC USER SERVICES OFFICE Phone: 256-961-7932 Fax: 256-961-7859 Email: ghrcdaac at itsc.uah.edu Contact Address: GHRC User Services Office Global Hydrology Resource Center (GHRC) 320 Sparkman Drive City: Huntsville Province or State: AL Postal Code: 35805 Country: USA

Distribution

Distribution Media: FTP

Distribution Size: 1 Mb

Distribution Format: NETCDF

Fees: none

Personnel

GHRC USER SERVICES OFFICE

Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT

Phone: 256-961-7932

Fax: 256-961-7859

Email: ghrcdaac at itsc.uah.edu

Contact Address:

GHRC User Services Office

Global Hydrology Resource Center (GHRC)

320 Sparkman Drive

City: Huntsville

Province or State: AL

Postal Code: 35805

Country: USA

FRANK WENTZ

Role: INVESTIGATOR

Phone: 707-545-2904

Email: support at remss.com

Contact Address:

444 Tenth Street, Suite 200

City: Santa Rosa

Province or State: California

Postal Code: 95401

Country: USA

SHERRY HARRISON

Role: DIF AUTHOR

Phone: 256-961-7973

Email: ghrcdaac at itsc.uah.edu

Contact Address:

320 Sparkman Dr.

City: Huntsville

Province or State: AL

Postal Code: 35805

Country: USA

Extended Metadata Properties

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Creation and Review Dates

Last DIF Revision Date: 2012-08-22

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