Use of Radiosonde Temperature Data in Climate Studies

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Abstract
Ten of the most common radiosondes used throughout the world since 1960 have been evaluated concerning potential use of their temperature data for climate studies. The VIZ; Space Data Corp.; Chinese GZZ; Japanese RS2-80; Russian RKZ, MARS, and A-22; and Vaisala RS80, RS 12/15, and RS18/21 radiosondes were evaluated by modeling the temperature of the sensing element relative to the temperature of the air in which it is immersed. The difference, designated as the temperature error, was calculated under various environmental conditions. Validation and sensitivity analysis studies were performed on each radiosonde model as a means of estimating the environmental parameters that influence the temperature error and the resulting accuracy of the day and nighttime temperature profiles. Environmental parameters to which some sondes were sensitive include cloud cover, surface temperature, solar angle, ambient temperature profile, blackbody temperature, and the ventilation velocity. The ventilation velocity... Abstract Ten of the most common radiosondes used throughout the world since 1960 have been evaluated concerning potential use of their temperature data for climate studies. The VIZ; Space Data Corp.; Chinese GZZ; Japanese RS2-80; Russian RKZ, MARS, and A-22; and Vaisala RS80, RS 12/15, and RS18/21 radiosondes were evaluated by modeling the temperature of the sensing element relative to the temperature of the air in which it is immersed. The difference, designated as the temperature error, was calculated under various environmental conditions. Validation and sensitivity analysis studies were performed on each radiosonde model as a means of estimating the environmental parameters that influence the temperature error and the resulting accuracy of the day and nighttime temperature profiles. Environmental parameters to which some sondes were sensitive include cloud cover, surface temperature, solar angle, ambient temperature profile, blackbody temperature, and the ventilation velocity. The ventilation velocity...

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