[nws-changes] 20091112: Notification of Radiosonde Change at McGrath and Kodiak, AK]

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-------- Original Message --------
The NWS upper air office at McGrath, Alaska (WMO# 70231), will transition from the Vaisala RS80-57H radiosonde to the Lockheed Martin Sippican B2 radiosonde on or about 00:00 UTC November 15, 2009.
The NWS upper air office at Kodiak, Alaska (WMO# 70350), will transition from the Vaisala RS80-57H radiosonde to the Lockheed Martin Sippican B2 radiosonde on or about 00:00 UTC December 1, 2009.
The B2 radiosonde has been used in the NWS Upper air network since June, 1997. Unlike the Vaisala RS80-57H, a solar/IR radiation temperature correction is not applied to the B2 data at the station prior to dissemination.
Questions on the radiosonde transition should be directed to Joseph Facundo, Observing Systems Branch Chief, at Joseph.Facundo@xxxxxxxx 

William Blackmore wrote:

Hello,
This is a notification that all remaining 11 National Weather Service (NWS) upper air stations using the Vaisala RS80-57H radiosonde will either transition to the Sippican B2 radiosondes (for use with the existing 1950s ART tracking system) or the Radiosonde Replacement System (RRS) within the next 12 months. 

*NWS stations using the Vaisala RS80 radiosonde as of November 1, 2009:*
McGrath, AK
Kodiak, AK
Bethel, AK
Kotzebue, AK
Cold Bay, AK

In Pacific Region:
Lihue
Chuuk
Koror
Ponape
Pago Pago
Yap
Vaisala Inc., no longer manufactures the RS80 radiosonde and remaining supplies of the instrument are projected to run out in early 2010 at current usage rates. Thus, a number of sites listed above must transition to the B2 radiosonde before they get RRS so as to maintain 24/7 operations.
NWS is currently testing the B2 radiosonde at McGrath, Alaska, which has used the Vaisala RS80 since November, 1995. Non-synoptic test soundings have been taken (and transmitted) at the office with the B2 radiosonde since November 1, 2009, and will continue for about another week . If all goes well, McGrath, as well as Kodiak, could switch over to the Sippican B2 radiosonde as early as mid to late November. Lihue, Koror and Chuuk may switchover to the B2 radiosonde in December at the earliest. Additional sites will likely switchover to the B2 radiosonde later in 2010. Sites transitioning to the B2 radiosonde are expected to eventually implement RRS within the next few years.
I will keep you informed as these sites transition to the B2 radiosonde or RRS. 

Bill Blackmore
Upper air Operations
National Weather Service HQ
NOAA U.S. Dept. of Commerce
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