Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

A Wireless Network for Collection and Synthesis of Mobile Mesoscale Weather Observations

Conrad L. Ziegler NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma

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Douglas Kennedy Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

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Erik N. Rasmussen Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

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Print Publication:
01 Nov 2004
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH1678.1
Page(s):
1659–1670
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Abstract

This paper reports the development of a wireless network of instrumented vehicles and aircraft for the real-time collection and synthesis of their mobile weather observations in mesoscale field experiments. The mobile digital network (MDN) utilizes 900-MHz radio frequency modem technology, enabling real-time data transmissions at up to 115 kbit s−1 across a domain of about 40 km on a side. The effective throughput of the network of multiple mobile units is about 40 kbit s−1 due to overhead from data quality checking and acknowledgment that data have been received. After gathering data from mobile observing platforms at a centrally located mobile command post, both image products and data are then uplinked via geostationary satellite at about 80 kbit s−1 and served to the Internet. The first application of the MDN was to mobile field observations obtained during the International H2O Project (IHOP).

Corresponding author address: Dr. Conrad L. Ziegler, National Severe Storms Laboratory, Forecast Research and Development Division, 1313 Halley Circle, Norman, OK 73069. Email: conrad.ziegler@noaa.gov

Abstract

This paper reports the development of a wireless network of instrumented vehicles and aircraft for the real-time collection and synthesis of their mobile weather observations in mesoscale field experiments. The mobile digital network (MDN) utilizes 900-MHz radio frequency modem technology, enabling real-time data transmissions at up to 115 kbit s−1 across a domain of about 40 km on a side. The effective throughput of the network of multiple mobile units is about 40 kbit s−1 due to overhead from data quality checking and acknowledgment that data have been received. After gathering data from mobile observing platforms at a centrally located mobile command post, both image products and data are then uplinked via geostationary satellite at about 80 kbit s−1 and served to the Internet. The first application of the MDN was to mobile field observations obtained during the International H2O Project (IHOP).

Corresponding author address: Dr. Conrad L. Ziegler, National Severe Storms Laboratory, Forecast Research and Development Division, 1313 Halley Circle, Norman, OK 73069. Email: conrad.ziegler@noaa.gov

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Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology

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