Atmospheric Data Definitions
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Data Type
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Abbr.
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Definition
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Air Temperature
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Temp
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Air temperature at the RPU.
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Dew Point Temperature
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Dew
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Temperature at which the air becomes saturated as it cools. If the road or
runway temperature drops to or below the dew point, moisture may develop
on the surface. The form the moisture takes depends on the surface temperature
and the amount of chemical present.
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Relative Humidity
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RH
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Percent of moisture in the air. A relative humidity of 0% shows that the
air contains no moisture and 100% shows that the air is completely saturated
and cannot absorb more moisture.
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Wind Speed
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SpdAvg
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Average speed of the wind during a one minute period.
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Wind Direction
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DirAvg
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Average wind direction during a one minute period. Wind direction can be
displayed in two formats: cardinal points or degrees. Cardinal format has
8 possible headings. Degree format displays wind direction in values ranging
from 001 to 360.
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Direction
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Cardinal Format
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Degree Range
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North
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N
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338 - 22
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Northeast
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NE
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23 - 68
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East
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E
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69 - 112
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Southeast
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SE
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113 - 158
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South
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S
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159 - 202
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Southwest
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SW
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203 - 248
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West
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W
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249 - 292
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Northwest
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NW
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293 - 337
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Gust
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SpdGst
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Maximum wind speed measured during a one minute period. The RPU averages
the wind speed every four seconds and collects 15 four-second averages in
one minute. The largest of these 15 values is the gust value.
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Precipitation Type
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Precip
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Type of precipitation detected by a precipitation sensor, if one is available.
Certain types of precipitation sensors can only detect the presence or absence
of precipitation and will display Yes or No. Other types of precipitation
sensors, such as the Weather Identifier and Visibility Sensor (WIVIS) or
Optical Weather Identifier (OWI), can classify the type of precipitation
and will report a specific type of precipitation. The WIVIS and OWI precipitation
sensors may report Yes at the onset of precipitation until sufficient time
has elapsed to classify the precipitation type.
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Precipitation Rate
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Rate
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Average precipitation rate computed every minute. Snowfall is converted to
water equivalent and the rate represents the rate of liquid equivalent.
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Precipitation Intensity
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Intens
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Intensity of the precipitation as derived from the precipitation rate. The
National Weather Service defines the following intensity classes: light,
moderate, or heavy.
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Precipitation Accumulation
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Accum
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Rainfall amount or snowfall liquid equivalent for the period from midnight
GMT to the current time. Every 30 seconds the RPU computes the amount of
water that accumulated during the previous 30 seconds based upon the
precipitation rate. The RPU adds that amount to the previous total accumulation,
keeping a running total. At midnight GMT the total accumulation is stored
in the history file and the counter is reset to zero.
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Visibility
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Vis
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Average distance that you can see, both day and night, computed every three
minutes.
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Pavement Temperature
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|
Temperature range of the pavement sensor roughly 3 mm (1/8 inch) below the surface of the sensor.
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Air Temperature:
Air temperature at the RPU.
Dew Point Temperature:
Temperature at which the air becomes saturated as it cools. If the road or
runway temperature drops to or below the dew point, moisture may develop
on the surface. The form the moisture takes depends on the surface temperature
and the amount of chemical present.
GMT:
A time standard which uses the local time of Greenwich, England known as
Greenwich Mean Time. It is one of the time standards used in meteorology,
and it is 4 hours ahead of EDT (5 hours ahead of EST) - 00:GMT is equal to
8 pm EDT (5 pm PDT), 12:GMT is 8 am EDT (5 am PDT). You might also see GMT
listed as Z, Zulu time, or UTC, Universal Coordinated Time.
Gust :
Maximum wind speed measured during a one minute period. The RPU averages
the wind speed every four seconds and collects 15 four-second averages in
one minute. The largest of these 15 values is the gust value.
Precipitation:
Accumulation Rainfall amount or snowfall liquid equivalent for the period
from midnight GMT to the current time. Every 30 seconds the RPU computes
the amount of water that accumulated during the previous 30 seconds based
upon the precipitation rate. The RPU adds that amount to the previous total
accumulation, keeping a running total. At midnight GMT the total accumulation
is stored in the history file and the counter is reset to zero.
Precipitation Intensity:
Intensity of the precipitation as derived from the precipitation rate. The
National Weather Service defines the following intensity classes: light,
moderate, or heavy. Precipitation Rate Average precipitation rate computed
every minute. Snowfall is converted to water equivalent and the rate represents
the rate of liquid equivalent.
Precipitation Type:
Type of precipitation detected by a precipitation sensor, if one is available.
Certain types of precipitation sensors can only detect the presence or absence
of precipitation and will display Yes or No. Other types of precipitation
sensors, such as the Weather Identifier and Visibility Sensor (WIVIS) or
Optical Weather Identifier (OWI), can classify the type of precipitation
and will report a specific type of precipitation. The WIVIS and OWI precipitation
sensors may report Yes at the onset of precipitation until sufficient time
has elapsed to classify the precipitation type.
Relative Humidity:
Percent of moisture in the air. A relative humidity of 0% shows that the
air contains no moisture and 100% shows that the air is completely saturated
and cannot absorb more moisture.
RWIS:
Road and Runway Weather Information System
Visibility:
Average distance that you can see, both day and night, computed every three
minutes.
Wind Direction:
Average wind direction during a one minute period. Wind direction can be
displayed in two formats: cardinal points or degrees. Cardinal format has
8 possible headings. Degree format displays wind direction in values ranging
from 001 to 360.
Wind Speed:
Average speed of the wind during a one minute period.
Copyright © Surface
Systems, Inc. 1997
last modified November 11, 1997
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