Improving the Usefulness of Operational Radiosonde Data

The Workshop to Improve the Usefulness of Operational Radiosonde Data was held at the NOAA National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in Asheville, North Carolina, from 11 through 13 March 2003. It brought together users of global radiosonde data in numerical weather prediction, climate, and satellite data applications, along with a number of experts concerned with radiosonde instrument development, validation, and operational programs. This report provides a set of findings and recommendations produced by the group. The recommendations address issues in the areas of accuracy, calibration, and corrections of radiosonde measurements, sampling strategies, and the exchange of and response to information on data integrity, metadata, and data processing strategies.