Site log - Melbourne (Dec 1997) Flags: 1-Satellite coincidence data 2-Scan in TSDIS data 3-Scan not in TSDIS data A-Major problem (moderate to strong AP &/or widespread coverage) B-Minor problem (weak AP &/or very litte coverage) *********************************************************************************************** 01 Dec 97: No data. ************************************************************************************************ 02 Dec 97: No data ************************************************************************************************ 03 Dec 97: Band of showers with scattered convection present off the Florida coast for most of the day. Data processed: 1325-2357 Z QC notes: 1325-1400Z: intense, horrendous AP WSW of radar coupled with problem of holes and gaps in light precipitation to the east.....a terrible combination 2A! !!BIG FLAG!! -----> had to make a choice between fixing holes or removing as much of the intense AP as I could. I fixed the precip by lightnening up on H2 and Z3, thus re-introducing precip originally removed by the algorithm. I tried tackling the AP but not only could I not remove the false echo with realistic parameters (something where the precip had a chance of not being wiped out), but any attack on the AP always resulted in already-reduced precip being removed. Therefore, all the nasty AP remains as it awaits a rematch during TSDIS reprocessing. As of now these VOS's are useless. Moved VOS 1400 to bad_files_ not_in_1C.HDF directory. 1405-1415Z: weak-to-moderate AP W of radar plus holes and gaps in precip to the east 3B !!FLAG!! -----> corrected holes and gaps in light precip but Ap remains I tried everything but could not remove weak AP without affecting precip. moved files to bad_files_not_in_1C.HDF 1420-2357Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation -----> corrected ************************************************************************************************ 04 Dec 97: Thin convective line early on (00-04Z) over Atlantic moves out of range. Very large precip shiled with embedded convection begins moving in from west around 05Z and lasts for most of the day. Nice bow echo near KMLB 1332-1442Z. Data processed: 0002-2358 Z QC notes: 0002-0247Z: holes and gaps in light precip -----> corrected 0147-0202Z: moderate-to-intense AP splotch N of radar 3B !!FLAG!! -----> Improved but some VOS's still contain moderate AP which could not be removed without removing precip. Moved 0202Z VOS to bad_files_not_in_1C.HDF directory 0207-0212Z: weak AP splotch near radar -----> corrected 0252Z: moderate-to-intense AP splotch W of radar -----> corrected 0307-0327Z: intense AP W of radar 2A !!FLAG!! -----> VOS's 0307, 0322, and 0327 still cantain splotches of intense AP which could not be removed without removing precip 1038-1108Z: 10 km ring of missing precip surrounding radar -----> corrected 1137-1643Z: 10 km ring of missing precip surrounding radar -----> corrected 1653Z: very intense radial spike remnants NNE of radar 3B !!FLAG!! -----> corrected AP which was definitely within 150 km. Remaining spike seems to be beyond 150 km but can not be absolutely sure that all is contained beyond this range (no range rings on images)...thus the flag. 1703-2058Z: holes and gaps in light precip -----> corrected 2103-2137Z: 10 km ring of missing precip surrounding radar -----> corrected ************************************************************************************************ 05 Dec 97: Bands of showers move across radar scope throughout the day. Most of the precip is light. Data processed: 0003-2352 Z QC notes: 0053-0844Z: holes and gaps in light precip -----> corrected 0924-1104Z: holes and gaps in light precip -----> corrected 2243-2352Z: holes and gaps in light precip -----> corrected ************************************************************************************************ 06 Dec 97: Band of showers moves SE over KMLB (00-04Z). No precip after that. Data processed: 0003-1201 Z QC notes: 0003-0348Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation -----> corrected but was difficult. The precip was so shallow that, in addition to "precip-eating AP" which is remedied by turning Z0 off, a ring of missing precip around the radar still persisted. This was fixed by turning all the height parameters off to allow the shallow to exist and not be erroneously removed. This caused a new problem with level_1 gif generation...All those -99's made the gif name to long for the allocated spaces so the time in each gif_name was filled with 9's....therefore, all the times which had the heights turned off created a gif with the same name. These gifs obviously overwrote each other and the only one remaining is the last one with no heights on. The software people have been notified of the problem. 0131-0240Z: 10 km ring of missing precip surrounding radar -----> corrected ************************************************************************************************ 07 Dec 97: No data ************************************************************************************************ 08 Dec 97: Weak band of showers north of radar later in the day. Data processed: 1310-2356 Z QC notes: 1357-1408Z: weak AP at outer ranges...probably beyond 150 km but no precip present so easy to clean up. -----> corrected 2116-2356Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation -----> corrected ************************************************************************************************ 09 Dec 97: Numerous light to moderate showers (a few intense cores) move over the region throughout the day. Data processed: 0001-2357Z QC notes: 0001-0056Z: holes and gaps in light precip mixed with moderate to intense AP 2A !!FLAG!! -----> corrected the holes and gaps, but AP is impossible to eliminate w/o removing lots of precipitation, esp. after 0021Z. Thus, left the precip in and hope this can be caught during reprocessing. 0101-0221Z: holes and gaps in light precip -----> corrected, except for two times listed next 0126-0131Z: holes and gaps in light precip 3B !!FLAG!! -----> holes and gaps corrected, but an annoying AP speck appears in the process. Can't get rid of the speck w/o eating away at the precip. Replacing 0131Z w/ 0136Z in 1C.HDF since it's a cleaner image. 0301-0356Z: some AP specks to the west 3B !!FLAG!! -----> difficult to correct w/o eliminating light precip. 0316 and 0336Z look decent, so they'll be included in 1C.HDF. Therefore, all other VOSs are flagged 3B, while 0316 and 0336 aren't flagged. 0401-0506Z: moderate to intense AP specks, plus holes and gaps in light precip become much more pronounced than previous hour. 2A !!FLAG!! -----> the AP specks are difficult to remove w/o causing major gaps in precip. 0511Z used in 1C.HDF instead of 0501, 0506Z. 0511Z: holes and gaps in light precip -----> corrected...faint hint of some light clutter near radar, but very light and not widespread 0516-0826Z: holes and gaps in light precip 1B and 2B !!FLAG!! -----> holes and gaps corrected, but some light AP near radar is included in many of the VOSs. Also, some holes in the very light precip band the extends to the SE from the main area of precip. This period would've been much easier to qc w/o accounting for such light precip. Flagged as a minor problem since everything is fairly light and not terribly widespread. Also flagged as a combination of '1' and '2'...sat overpass at 0542 accounts for the '1'. Otherwise, the normal first VOS after the top and bottom of the hour are included in 1C.HDF. 0831-1156Z: holes and gaps in light precip -----> corrected 1401-1956Z: holes and gaps in light precip -----> corrected 2001-2327Z: holes and gaps in light precip 2B !!FLAG!! -----> holes and gaps fixed, but some light AP/clutter may be included near the radar. Params were lightened in this period to capture some small cells that pop up near the radar. One of the 'cells' is the quasi-stationary plume that develops just to the north of the radar. It has some vertical and time continuity, and some velocity signature (although much of it is in the zero velocity range, too). 2332-2357Z: holes and gaps in lighter precip -----> corrected Note: 0136Z included in 1C.HDF instead of 0131Z. 0316Z included in 1C.HDF instead of 0301, 0306, or 0311Z 0336Z included in 1C.HDF instead of 0331Z ************************************************************************************************ 10 Dec 97: Isolated convective cells with some stratiform precip present early on. This gives way to a squall line which moves into the region around 17Z. Some bow echoes present within the line. Data processed: 0002-2356 Z QC notes: 0002-0547Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation -----> corrected 1611Z: moderate radial spike remnants NW of radar 3B !!FLAG!! -----> spike still remains at outer range limits...but most of it is masked by precip in that region ************************************************************************************************* 11 Dec 97: Scattered convective cells with some light rain early on. Another squall line complex moves in around 16 Z. Intense convection and beautiful gust front present. Rapid development along the gust front is evident at 1857Z. Data processed: 0203-1154 Z 1628-2357 Z QC notes: 0328-0418Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation -----> corrected 0458-0503Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation -----> corrected 2002-2202Z: 10 km ring of missing precip surrounding radar -----> corrected ************************************************************************************************* 12 Dec 97: Early on, scattered convective cells to the North and area of stratifrom rain to the South. Later in the day, a couple convective clusters fire up before a large MCS moves into the scope. Another nice gust front layed down. Out ahead of the convective line is a large area of light precip. By the end of the day, the entire scope is filled with light precip with some embedded convective cells. Data processed: 0003-2358 Z QC notes: 0028-0553Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation -----> corrected 0058-0823Z: holes and gaps in precip plus very shallow precip near radar being removed 2B !!FLAG!! -----> precip put back in but some weak ground clutter specks also re-introduced. Only last gif in this time period is present because all height parameters had to be turned off (set to -99), thus causing gif name to be corrupt and overwritten (see QC notes on 971206 for clearer explanation 1829-2014Z: 10 km ring of missing precip surrounding radar -----> corrected 1854-2358Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation -----> corrected 2034-2358Z: 10 km ring of missing precip surrounding radar -----> corrected ************************************************************************************************** 13 Dec 97: Widespread light precip filling the entire the scope early on gives way to a large MCS with heavy rain later in the day. Data processed: 0004-0714 Z QC notes: 0004-0604Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation -----> corrected 0004-0714Z: 10 km ring of missing precip surrounding radar (H2 problem) -----> corrected 0714Z: 'precip-eating' mode.....Z0 problem -----> corrected ************************************************************************************************** 14 Dec 97: No data ************************************************************************************************** 15 Dec 97: Light precip early on. later, more convection present as upper low moves into vicinity. The spin of the upper low is very impressive towards the end of the day as bands of convection appear in region. Data processed: 1240-1328 Z 1746-2355 Z QC notes: 1240-1328Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation -----> corrected 1746-2355Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation 2B !!FLAG!! -----> holes and gaps corrected but in doing so, re-introduced some moderate ground clutter specks which could not be removed without removing precip 1931-2237Z: 10 km ring of missing precip surrounding radar -----> corrected ************************************************************************************************** 16 Dec 97: Showers and convection related to the upper low off the coast continue to spin to the southeast. Another area of convection moves in behind the low around 06Z. Light showers for the rest of the day. Data processed: 0000-1205 Z 1745-2358 Z QC notes: 0000-0635Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation -----> corrected 0750-0840Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation -----> corrected 1745-2011Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation -----> corrected 2016-2358Z: precip-eating mode 1B,2B !!FLAG!! -----> precip which was erroneously removed was put back in the field but to do so, had to turn off just about all the QC parameters which obviously resultd in gound clutter and light AP being re-introduced to the field. Anything less still removed true precipitation. ************************************************************************************************* 17 Dec 97: Scattered showers and with isolated convection present off the coast during the first part of the morning. This activity quickly dissipates and no other significant precipitation is present within the scope the rest of the day. Data processed: 0003-2353 Z QC notes: 0003-0843Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation -----> corrected 0848-0948Z: intense, horrendous AP NW of radar in vicinity of very precip; so light it may not be reaching the ground. 2B !!FLAG!! -----> all intense AP was removed but in doing so, the very weak true echo was also removed. This was considered acceptable because (1) the precip is very light and may not be even reaching the ground at all, and (2) there is a relative dirth of rain gauges to the immediate NNW of the radar so if this light precip is reaching the ground, it won't disrupt rain gauge validation. 1043-1048Z: moderate AP speck SE of radar -----> corrected 1144-1204Z: intense AP specks W of radar -----> corrected 1243Z: moderate AP splotch W of radar -----> corrected 1322-1432Z: scattered weak AP but no precip present -----> corrected ************************************************************************************************* 18 Dec 97: Only precip is a very weak shower band which moves through before 11Z. Data processed: 0003-2358 Z QC notes: 0538-1122Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation 2B !!FLAG!! -----> all gaps in the precip were corrected. However, after 08Z, the precip, which is extremely shallow, moves into a range where the parameters think the shallow echo is false and removes. This was corrected by turning off H1, H2, H3, and Z0 but in doing so, specks of weak to marginally moderate AP and clutter were re-introduced. Nothing could be done about the specks without the removing the light, shallow precip....it is up to the PI to determine which is more important. 1132-1409Z: scattered, moderate AP -----> corrected ************************************************************************************************* 19 Dec 97: No precipitation within 150 km on this day. Data processed: 0007-2352 Z QC notes: 0007-0027Z: weak AP NNW of radar -----> corrected 1154-1452Z: scattered weak AP throughout field -----> corrected 2312-2352Z: weak AP NNW of radar -----> corrected ************************************************************************************************* 20 Dec 97: No precipitation within 150 km on this day. Data processed: 0001-2355 Z QC notes: 1139-1425Z: scattered weak AP -----> corrected 2315-2335Z: Ap speck NNW of radar -----> corrected ************************************************************************************************** 21 Dec 97: Some widely scattered showers and convective cells over the Ocean later in the day. Data processed: 0004-2350 Z QC notes: 0311Z: AP speck NNW of radar -----> corrected 0904-1500Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation -----> corrected *************************************************************************************************** 22 Dec 97: Scattered cells off the coast early on and more cells moving in from the west later in the day. Data processed: 0000-2358 Z QC notes: 0000-0900Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation -----> corrected *************************************************************************************************** 23 Dec 97: Scattered, unorganized convection throughout the day. Data processed: 0003-2357 Z QC notes: no problems *************************************************************************************************** 24 Dec 97: Scattered weak convection/showers off the coast after 14Z. Convection quickly fires (although cells being fired are small) ahead of a larger complex which peeks in at the edge of the scope. Data processed: 0002-2359 Z QC notes: 0358-0538Z: weak AP SE of radar -----> corrected *************************************************************************************************** 25 Dec 97: Convective cluster south of radar while large complex skirts the outer fringes of the scope to the NW and N. Data processed: 0004-0149 Z QC notes: no problems....not enough data for them to develop *************************************************************************************************** 26 Dec 97: No data *************************************************************************************************** 27 Dec 97: No data *************************************************************************************************** 28 Dec 97: No data *************************************************************************************************** 29 Dec 97: No data *************************************************************************************************** 30 Dec 97: Only precip is a very light shower band entering outer ranges of scope after 23Z and even this is probably not important since it appears to be beyond 150 km. Data processed: 1648-2357 Z QC notes: no problems...not enough data for them to develop *************************************************************************************************** 31 Dec 97: Weak shower bands move across the scope early on (00-04Z). Other than some cells beyond 150 km later on, there is no other precipitation. Data processed: 0007-2354 Z QC notes: 0007-0352Z: holes and gaps in light precipitation ***************************************************************************************************