REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE GCOS TSP

THIRD --QUARTER

JANUARY --APRIL 2006

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="6.0in" height="6.914583333333334in"}

**BY :MOMPATI BUTALE**

**:EMMANUEL MAGAGWA**

SUMMARY ON THE THIRD QUARTER PROGRESS

REPORT JANUARY -- MARCH 2006 -- GCOS TSP -- BOTSWANA

Following the installation of the Upper Air Sounding System in Harare
--Zimbabwe in January 2006 operational problems were encountered with
the operation of the Upper Air Sounding System. The problems were mainly
technical and also due to faulty Radio sondes. However, as it was not
clear at the beginning, an Operators' Training was organized so that the
operators could be confident in operating the system. The training was
successful and all the teething problems with the system were
eliminated.

We have noted in our monitoring that there is a continuous observations
of Upper Air hence we can confidently say that there is an improvement
in the availability of Upper information from this Zimbabwe GCOS-GUAN
station. In this regard it will be noted that the GCOS Project is
steadily realizing its objectives.

In Windhoek --Namibia several emails were exchanged in connection with
the malfunctioning of the Upper Air Sounding System and the hydrogen
generator. InterMet Africa and GCOS -- TSP joined forces and undertook a
mission to Windhoek in endeavor to rectify the existing faults. The main
problems were with the Upper Air Sounding System and a representative of
InterMet has partially eliminated some of the problems and could not
completely resolve the software problem, which is still causing problems
in the transmission of data. InterMet Africa is still following this
problem with the hope that it will completely eliminate it.

The Hydrogen Generator appears to have no major problems. The only
problem, which was noted, was a minor leak of gas from one of the
valves. However, we note with concern from the report that there is some
reluctance and lack of corporation from our Namibian counterparts. This
attitude is rather discouraging and makes our efforts to ineffective.

It is true that training on the maintenance of the Hydrogen Generator
was not properly done and efforts are being made to remedy the
situation.

I have also been in contact with Tanzanian Authorities to find out why
there is no continuous flow of information. However I have not yet
received a clear indication of what is happening. My only guess is that
there could be some operational and maintenance problems, which may have
to be resolved through factory training as already demanded by my
Namibian colleagues.

I am in contact with InterMet to try and organize some training and
Proton Energy Systems will also be contacted in this regard.

##### 

##### 

##### HARARE UPPER AIR SOUNDING SYSTEM

**[TRAINING BY MICHAEL TALBOT]{.underline}**

**[( INTERMET SYSTEMS AFRICA )]{.underline}**

**[HELD 13^TH^ -- 17^TH^ FEBRUARY 2006.]{.underline}**

**[1. INTRODUCTION]{.underline}**

The Harare Upper Air Sounding system was installed in January 2006 by
Intermet Systems Africa and shortly there after operational staff
started to have problems with the system. The problems were mostly
confined to the inability of the antenna in tracking the radiosonde,
communication between the decoder and the receiving computer, faulty
radiosondes and missing of TEMP data and PILOT messages. As a result of
the foregoing problems it was necessary to conduct this operators
training in an endeavor to minimize the systems problems and also to
impact a reasonable understanding of how the system works.

**Figure 1 below depicts how the upper air system has been connected.**

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.0in" height="2.439583333333333in"}
![](media/image3.jpeg){width="1.8263888888888888in"
height="2.4444444444444446in"}
![](media/image4.jpeg){width="1.6354166666666667in" height="2.5in"}

***Receiver computer. Ups, decorder and RS485 IMS700 Antenna***

***/232 converter.***

***Figure1 Upper Air Sounding System.***

**[2. PARTICIPANTS]{.underline}**

Participants in the training were upper air operational staff and some
members of the Forecasting Division who made valuable contributions in
this field. Mr. Michael Talbot from Intermet Africa and Mr Mompati
Butale from the TSP Botswana were resource persons. All the participants
are shown in figure 2 below.

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="2.4972222222222222in"
height="1.8729166666666666in"}
![](media/image6.jpeg){width="2.4972222222222222in"
height="1.8729166666666666in"}

***Mr. Talbot ( far right) with participants. Stakeholders being shown
the system.***

***Figure 2 Participants training -- workshop- Harare***

**[3. TRAINING]{.underline}**

The training, being an operators training, consisted mostly of the
operation of the system mainly the antenna and IMETOS software. Proper
preparation of the Sippican Mark II radiosonde was also emphasized. Two
to three soundings were made daily including night ones**.**

***IMETSO Software***

This software forms the foundation of the operation of the whole upper
air system. The software generates a number of products including TEMP,
PILOT, T-PHIGRAMS and TRACKING PLOT of the radiosonde. The antenna
controls were also included and full explanation of how the antenna can
be controlled on the receiving computer was given. The IMETSO is capable
of storing flight records that can be played back as simulated flights
and any other reports of previous soundings can be retrieved.

***IMS700 Antenna***

The antenna can be controlled in two ways, one of which is with the
receiving computer and the other is by a Crew Display Unit ( CDU ). The
CDU is weather prove handset attached to the arm of the antenna with
control buttons on it. The CDU proved handy in daytime or whenever the
balloon can be seen or when the general direction the balloon is known.
At night the use of night stick attached to the balloon can be useful in
manual tracking of the balloon. During night ascents the use of a CDU is
not practical but the tracking of the radiosonde can still be done on
the computer.

![](media/image7.jpeg){width="2.0in" height="2.4in"}
![](media/image8.jpeg){width="1.7861111111111112in" height="2.4in"}

***IM 700 Antenna. CDU handset.***

### **Figure 3 Figure 4**

***SIPPICAN MARK II Radiosonde***

The radiosonde plays a vital role leading to a successful ascent. This
became very apparent in this training. The sippican mark II radiosonde
comes with a set of instructions on how to prepare it for the flight and
proved to be a very sensitive sonde, which can easily malfunction if the
instructions are not followed properly. In our test flights two
radiosondes were found to be faulty. The preliminary investigations
showed that their transmitters were not functioning. Before launching
the sonde, it is important to make sure that it transmits data to the
computer ( this can easily be seen on the IMETSO ). The sonde together
with the decoder are products of Sippican Company but the antenna and
IMETSO software are products of Intermet Africa.

![](media/image9.jpeg){width="3.626388888888889in"
height="2.7194444444444446in"}
![](media/image10.jpeg){width="2.033333333333333in"
height="2.7111111111111112in"}

***Sippican Mark II radiosonde. Mr. Talbot and Mr. Butale***

***Figure5 Checking a faulty sonde.***

***Figure 6***

**[4. PROBLEMS REALISED]{.underline}**

**The problems that were encountered are summarized as listed below**

**a). Fading signal that resulted in tracking and data loss.**

**b). Decoder not communicating with the computer.**

**c). Faulty radiosondes**

**d). Side lobe tracking**

**e). Unsuitable launching site**

**f). Missing data in the generated TEMPS and PILOT messages.**

**[5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS]{.underline}**

In bringing the training to a close Mr. Talbot promised to go and look
into the problems encountered since most of them were software related.
He also took some mark II radiosondes for further tests to establish why
signal and transmitters fail. A temporary launch site was found on top
of the building opposite the upper air building. It was difficult to
launch the balloon on the ground since the antenna is mounted on top of
the building hence it was not easy for the antenna to lock on the sonde.
It is currently risky to climb up the building to launch since it does
not have stairs and operators have to use a metallic stepladder. After
releasing the balloon an officer has to run to the computer and initiate
the start flight for the antenna to send data to the decoder and
computer. This was seen as another setback, which needed to be corrected
by making, timed start flight whereby an operator could time the start
flight to coincide with the release of the balloon. The current setup
require at least two officers to make an ascent.

![](media/image11.jpeg){width="2.6222222222222222in"
height="1.9666666666666666in"}
![](media/image12.jpeg){width="2.6222222222222222in"
height="1.9666666666666666in"}

***Building used as a launching site. Note Antenna and launching site
building in the stepladder to the left of picture the background***

***Figure 8 Figure 7***

For the missing groups in the TEMP and PILOT messages Mr. Talbot
promised that the company will make the necessary changes in the
software as soon as possible, he however indicated that the problem of
losing tracking of the radiosonde and side lobe tracking would be easily
picked by the antenna wherever the sonde is launched.

![](media/image13.jpeg){width="4.746527777777778in"
height="3.5597222222222222in"}

***The old vaisala upper air system.***

***Figure 9***

The problems mentioned above the participants appreciated both the
training and products from the system and also recommended that the old
system be run in parallel with the new one for comparison before doing
away with the old one.

[WINDHOEK-NAMIBIAN-OPERATIONAL TRAINING ON THE RADIO THEODOLITE AND
MAINTENANCE TRAINING ON THE HYDROGEN GENERATOR]{.underline}

**[26^TH^ MARCH -- 01^ST^ APRIL 2004]{.underline}**

# INTRODUCTION

The Intermet Upper Air System and Proton Hydrogen Generator for the
Namibian Meteorological Services in Windhoek were simultaneously
installed June 2005. Training of participants for both equipment was
also done in the very same week after the installations. However
participants felt that scheduling installation and training of the two
systems at the same was not suitable as the same officers had to
participate in the two activities, hence this did not give them enough
time to attend both training activities as they were running
concurrently. It was on these bases that a second training had to be
provided for participants and to eliminate other operational and
malfunction of the two systems, which are indicted to be continuously
recurring.

[PROBLEMS REAISED]{.underline}

-   Weak signal realized in the first few minutes of ascent.

-   TEMP format not matching WMO standard code format

-   Code E-13 error in the hydrogen generator.

Intermet Equipment

![](media/image14.jpeg){width="1.8729166666666666in"
height="1.4048611111111111in"}
![](media/image15.jpeg){width="1.8729166666666666in"
height="1.4048611111111111in"}
![](media/image1.jpeg){width="1.8729166666666666in"
height="1.4048611111111111in"}

*Workstation Decoder & Data Converter Intermet Dish*

*Figure 1*

Proton Hydrogen Generator

![](media/image16.jpeg){width="2.0in" height="1.5in"}
![](media/image17.jpeg){width="2.0in" height="1.5in"}

*Hydrogen Generator Opened Water Deionizer*

*Figure 2*

[CONFIRMATION]{.underline}

*Intermet Equipment*

Two successful ascents were launched with both Intermet sonde and
Sippican Mark II sonde. The third launched with the Sippican sonde
confirmed the problem. The signal was lost some few minutes after
launching. Troubleshooting was done and detected that the receiver in
the antenna was faulty. It was found that moisture had gathered inside
the housing of the receiver and that the gasket had blocked the
breathers. A new receiver was flown in from Cape Town South Africa and
was immediately installed. The system resumed normal operation. With the
TEMP format it was a matter of making changes in the software.

![](media/image18.jpeg){width="2.872916666666667in"
height="2.154861111111111in"}
![](media/image19.jpeg){width="2.872916666666667in"
height="2.154861111111111in"}

*Faulty Receiver Board Mike holding the faulty receiver*

*Figure 3*

*Proton Hydrogen Generator*

The E-13 error code indicated a leakage in the system. Gas leakage
tester was used and no leakage was found except on the balloon-filling
valve. On observation, it was found that the system error comes when the
plant is in the idle mode. When the system is restarted the error
disappears and resurfaces when all the tanks are filled and is back to
idle mode.

TRAINING

As the training, was mainly for operators on the Intermet Upper Air
System it covered the operation of the system, the antenna and IMETOS
software, proper preparation of the Sippican Mark II radiosonde and
manual insertion of headers on the TEMPS. On the Proton Hydrogen
Generator it was resolved that the operators needed no training but
technicians. The technicians who could attend were on field trip and
when they came, seemed reluctant to participate until the very last day
when one technician surfaced after persuasion. The training started on
the 27^th^ March 2006 to 31^st^ March 2006.

[PARTICIPANTS]{.underline}

Participants were mostly operators from Upper Air staff of Namibia Met
office and myself (under the GCOS project for SADC countries). Although
the Namibian Met Office authorities had requested the training,
attendance was very poor especially on the maintenance of the hydrogen
generator.

![](media/image20.jpeg){width="1.8729166666666666in"
height="1.4048611111111111in"}
![](media/image21.jpeg){width="1.8729166666666666in"
height="1.4048611111111111in"}
![](media/image22.jpeg){width="1.9194444444444445in"
height="1.4395833333333334in"}

**Mike showing use of CDU Ben with Mike Releasing balloon Operators
practicing**

***Figure 4***

#### IMETSO Software

This software forms the foundation of the operation of the whole upper
air system. The software generates a number of products including TEMP,
PILOT, T-PHIGRAMS and TRACKING PLOT of the radiosonde. The antenna
controls are also included and hence the antenna can be controlled in
the working station but cannot be started automatically from the working
station. The IMETSO is capable of storing flight records that can be
played back as simulated flights and any other reports of previous
soundings can be retrieved.

***IMS700 Antenna***

The antenna can be controlled in two ways, one of which is with the
receiving computer and the other by a Crew Display Unit (CDU). The CDU
is weather prove handset attached to the arm of the antenna with control
buttons on it. The CDU can also show the strength of the signal, which
is very important. The CDU proved handy in daytime or whenever the
balloon can be seen or the general direction the balloon is known. At
night the use of nightstick attached to the balloon can be useful in
manual tracking of the balloon.

***SIPPICAN MARK II Radiosonde***

The radio sonde plays a vital role leading to a successful ascent. The
Sippican mark II radio sonde comes with a set of instructions on how to
prepare it for the flight. The battery terminal cable if not twisted
creates electro magnetic force (e.m.f) that would hamper the performance
of the transmitter. The operators were strongly encouraged to follow the
instructions on this radio sonde. Some failures of a successful ascent
were as a result of improper sonde preparation. Before launching
communication has to established first between the sonde and the
workstation.

**[PROBLEM REALISED]{.underline}**

-   **Side lobe tracking**

-   **Unsuitable launch site**

-   **Code E-13 error on the generator**

-   **Indicators not reading the same values**

-   **Leakage on the balloon filling hose.**

![](media/image23.jpeg){width="1.8729166666666666in"
height="1.4048611111111111in"}
![](media/image24.jpeg){width="1.9194444444444445in"
height="1.4395833333333334in"} ![](media/image25.jpeg){width="2.0in"
height="1.5in"}

***Product pressure on Gen Pressure on tank 1 Pressure on tank 2***

The figure below show one of the valves suspected not to be closing
hence a leak on the balloon filling. The valve was tried to disassembled
but appeared to be a fixed valve had to open. No spares available.

![](media/image26.jpeg){width="3.5in" height="2.625in"}

***Figure 1***

**Figure 2 shows a new filter immediately after installation. This
filter filters water from the tap before it gets to the water
deionizer**

![](media/image27.jpeg){width="3.5in" height="2.625in"}

Figure 2

On observation, the Hydrogen Generator plant appeared dusty and power
cables hang lose from the wall. It appears no one has been assigned to
take care of the hydrogen equipment.

## [CONCULSION]{.underline}

At the end of the training operators felt that the problems they had are
likely to come to an end. Michael Talbot promised to go and look further
into WMO TEMP reports and try to compare. He would also to urge the
software people to finish the correction in the TEMP as soon as
possible. While still waiting for the correction in the TEMP software,
the operators would manually enter the TEMP headers. As regards the
maintenance technicians for the hydrogen generator they feel they still
need to be trained at factory level.