Survey Of Sensors For Automated Tactical Weather Observations

Survey of Sensors for Automated Tactical Weather Observations

Current requirements for tactical weather systems at fixed and bare- base airfields necessitate an upgrading of meteorological sensor capability, system automation, and a range of data dissemination options. A program has been initiated at the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory to implement these objectives. In the first phase of this program, a survey of the state-of-the-art has been made for the identification of equipment suitable for such a system. Government inventoried instrumentation, as well as those from commercial sources, have been considered. Criteria to be used in sensor selection will include both accuracy and the ability to operate trouble free over a wide range of environmental extremes. When appropriate, in-house programs will be initiated to correct deficiencies. During the coming year, field tests and intercomparisons will be made of selected sensors. Instrumentation will eventually be integrated into an automated system with local and/or remote display of weather elements tailored to user requirements.

Evaluation of Selected Sensors for Automated Tactical Weather Observations

A program was initiated at the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory to develop an automated system to provide accurate and timely measurements of temperature/dew point, winds, precipitation, pressure, visibility, and cloud height in a tactical bare-base airfield environment. An assessment was made of available meteorological sensors to determine their suitability to satisfy the requirements of such a system. Potential candidate sensors have been identified in all areas with the exception of visibility and cloud height. Under the current effort the following were completed: (1) translators were designed and built for AWS wind and temperature/dew point measuring sets in order to provide for automated operation; (2) intercomparison testing of a number of precipation gages was performed; (3) a hand-held laser rangefinder was evaluated for use as a cloud height measuring device; (4) a prototype tactical visibility meter (TVM) was designed, fabricated, and tested; and (5) the development of a preproduction version of the tactical visibility meter was initiated.

Survey of Sensors for Automated Tactical Weather Observations