Field Teams
Please See the UNSTABLE Operations Plan for updated information on field teams
Automated Mobile Meteorological Observation System (AMMOS)
The AMMOS was constructed following designs of mobile mesonet stations used in VORTEX and other field experiments. The AMMOS is part of the suite of instrumentation under the supervision of Dave Sills (MRD) and has been tested in the Alberta foothills (summer 2006) and was used during the Border Air Quality Science - Meteorology (BAQSMET) experiment in southern Ontario in the summer of 2007. During UNSTABLE, AMMOS measurements of T, Td, P, and wind speed and direction will be obtained as 1 s averages. The AMMOS will be used to sample gradients in meteorological parameters associated with mesoscale boundaries and circulations (e.g., thermal and moisture gradients, convergence boundaries).
The AMMOS leads during field operations will be Dave Sills and Neil Taylor. An assistant position will be filled with duties including driving the AMMOS vehicle (EC Prius), technical assistance, and photography. The assistant will be required to attend morning and evening briefings during UNSTABLE operations.
2nd Mobile Data Collection Platform
A second mobile data collection platform will be operated by Geoff Strong (U of A, Adjunct Professor) providing measurements of T, Td, and P. This mobile system was tested against the AMMOS in the summer of 2006 and measurements were found to correspond well with the AMMOS and fixed mesonet stations. An assistant position will be filled for this vehicle with duties including driving and photography. The assistant will be required to attend morning and evening briefings during UNSTABLE operations.
Mobile Atmopsheric Research System (MARS)
The University of Manitoba will be bringing an integrated upper-air research system into the field during UNSTABLE. The MARS consists of the following:
Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI MR100) providing profiles of temperature and humidity in the lowest 3 km.
Doppler Sodar providing profiles of thermal structure, wind speed and direction, vertical motion, mixing depth, and turbulence from 20 m to 1300 m AGL (max 2000 m).
Profiling Microwave Radiometer providing profiles of temperature, humidity, and liquid water up to 10 km AGL. Unfortunately, this device will not be part of the MARS for 2008 but should be available in 2011.
Infrared Pyrometer used to measure convective cloud base temperature to determine cloud base height when compared to sounding data.
Surface Weather Sensor giving tenperature, pressure, humidity, and wind speed and direction while stationary or in motion.
The MARS will be dispatched along with the AMMOS and other mobile teams to sample the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) on the moist side of mesoscale boundaries/circulations or in otherwise favourable areas for convective initiation (CI). The MARS will also serve as a mobile radiosonde station. The leads for the MARS team will be John Hanesiak and Julian Brimelow. Two additional personnel are required, one will be the radiosonde lead and the other will assist in whatever way required, including driving the truck pulling the trailer. Both additional people will be required to attend UNSTABLE briefings.
Tethersonde
The new Environment Canada tethersonde allows for high temporal resolution upper-air measurements through sondes 'tethered' to a line attached to a large balloon. The current configuration of the system allows for 2 km of line and three sondes. The tethersonde system was used succesfully during BAQSMET in summer 2007. For UNSTABLE the system will be deployed in a fixed location for the duration of the IOP. This will likely be near, or in, the village of Caroline. Positions of tethersonde lead and assistant will need to be filled for UNSTABLE 2008, leads will receive training prior to being responsible for the system. Due to challenges associated with rapid ascent/descent of the balloon (due to NAV Canada requirements) the balloon will likely be released in the early morning and remain aloft until CI is observed in the area.
Mobile Radiosonde
A mobile radiosonde station will be brought into the field for UNSTABLE by Craig Smith (CRD). The mobile radiosonde team will be dispatched with the AMMOS, 2nd mobile platform, and MARS to sample mesoscale boundaries and cicrculations. The mobile radiosonde team will release two-hourly balloons on the dry side of boundaries while the MARS is on the moist side, also releasing two-hourly balloons as the AMMOS and 2nd mobile team make transects across the boundary. The lead for the mobile radiosonde team will be Craig Smith and it is unlikely that an additional position will be needed for this team as Craig will be bringing CRD staff with him.
Fixed Radiosonde (WMI)
Staff at Weather Modification Inc. stationed at Olds-Didsbury airport will release morning forecast soundings near 12Z followed by two-hourly soundings on intensive observation days (IODs). It is possibly that one of the mobile sounding teams will provide the early morning sounding with WMI staff releasing the later balloons depending on WMI hours of work (they sometimes work late nights). No positions are anticipated to be filled for this location.
Fixed Radiosonde (Water Valley / Cochrane / Sundre)
A second fixed radiosonde site will be at either Water Valley, Cochrane, or Sundre (final location still TBD). This team will release morning forecast soundings (near 12Z) followed by two-hourly soundings on IODs. The lead for this site will likely be from CRD. There may be a need to fill an additional assistant position for this team.
Stand-By Storm Observers
It would be desirable to have volunteers available on stand-by during the UNSTABLE IOP to provide in-situ storm observations, photography, hail measurements, and severe weather reports. These observers would not be compensated for field expenses and not offered accommodation. They would of course be welcome at UNSTABLE briefings if available.
Contact: Neil Taylor