EAS 486 Assignment 5 Surface Time Series Analysis

Due: start of class Monday 15 March 2010

Last Updated: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 2:48 PM

Send comments to Bob Weisman

Acquire Data:

1. Go to the Weather Underground Historical Data
2. Type in the airport code for which you are looking
3. You will need data from 235XZ on 13-Sept-2004 through 115XZ 15-Sept-2004
   1. Note: This means that you will need data from the 13-15, since the site stores data by Central Standard Time.
4. Display all METARs.
5. For convenience, you can use the comma delimited file option and save the file. The last item for each time will be the METAR.

Part I: Plotting (100 pts)

Plot the 37-hr time series for the stations you are assigned:

1. Use multiple sheets of graph paper (time goes the long way)
2. Use four blocks for each hour. The even hour (i.e, 1600Z, should be one of the labels)
3. Plot time from right to left on each time series
4. Use altimeter setting (mb) as the vertical coordinate
   1. Use the same scale for both of your time series
5. Plot hourly observations and special reports. Use the format shown for the EAS 385 single station time series exercise.
6. Use the standard surface station model as noted in the EAS 380 Surface Station Plotting Model.

Part II: Analysis

Using your time series of the three stations, identify: (25 pts)

1. What surface boundaries passed at each station.
2. How the meteorological variables changed with the passage of each boundary.
3. Compare how the passage of the same surface boundary appeared at the two stations.

Last Updated: 24-Feb-2010 2:48 PM

Send Comments to: Bob Weisman