**Metadata File**

**June 15, 2005**

**Name of Observatory** Nassau, New Providence

**Country** Bahamas

**Address** located at the Nassau International Airport

**WMO Index Number** 78073

**Date of This Entry** June 15, 2005

**Latitude and Longitude** Lat 25º 02.952 N

Measured at the official rain gauge Long 77º 27.823 W

Measured by GPS June 15, 2005

**Altitude of Barometer Cistern** 23 feet above msl(estimate)

**Altitude of Rain Gauge** 5 feet above msl (estimate)

**Type of Observatory** Surface and Upper Air

**Hours of operation** 24 hours

**Surface Observations** All synoptic and hourlies

**Upper Air Observations** 12Z. (00Z Hurricane Season)

**Additional Climat Parameters measured** Evaporation, Solar Radiation
sunshine

**Description of land and activities within 10 Kilometers of
Observatory**

The observatory is located in the northwest sector of New Providence
Island in the Bahamas. The Atlantic Ocean borders the observatory on the
West, North and Northeast and the shoreline is roughly 1 to 2 miles
distant. Low lying flat land surrounds the observatory from the
Northeast through the South and then to the West. There are no mountains
or high hills on the island that are within 10 kilometers of the
observatory.

The observatory is completely surrounded by commercial and residential
buildings and traffic. Automobile and truck traffic is heavy on the
island, but there are not factories producing columns of smoke or other
pollutants. Shipping industry is the main activity among the islands.

**Description of the Instrument Field**

The Instrument Field (IF) is located within a few hundred feet of the
Nassau International Airport and is roughly 5 feet above mean sea level.
The IF is very large and is probably 75 feet square enclosed within an 6
foot fence. The surface of the IF is thick green grass that is kept
properly mowed, very neat and clean. There are no obstructions such as
buildings or towers that hamper or influence the natural flow of air
over the IF. The IF is level without areas that can retain water and
cause puddling.

There are two standard cotton-region type instruments shelters in the
IF, 3 rain gauges, and evaporation pan w/mile counter, Sunshine
Recorder, and an automatic air sampling system. The aerovane is located
in the center of the runway on a ten meter mast.

Airport Authorities require the Instrument Field to be relocated within
the next year or so, i.e. Summer of 2006. The new location is just less
than a kilometer to the north of the existing field and beside the Upper
Air and Weather Radar facility. There will be ample space and the ground
is covered in thick grass. The Director is planning to begin comparative
observations between the two locations sometime during the summer of
2005.

CAUTION:

The hourly temperature and humidity observations are taken from
different instruments than the 8 primary synoptic observations. The
hourly observation instruments are located on the roof of the airport
terminal building beside the observer's office and approximately 20 feet
above seal level. The floor of the roof is standard near white covering.
It is likely the temperature is strongly influenced by the heat from the
roof and building. A comparison between the temperature of the roof
instruments and the thermometers in the IF shows the roof to be 5
degrees warmer. This is a R.M.Young Temp Tracer that measures
Temperature and Relative Humidity.

**GENERAL STATION HISTORY**

The Department of Meteorology has a wealth of weather observations
dating back to 1905. The observations were taken at a location called
Oaksfield which is approximately 5 miles from the current observatory.
The latitude and longitude at Oaksfield was recorded as 25º 23'North and
77º 22' West. The WMO index identifier was 78074.The observations are
recorded in a paper ledger and cover the period January 1905 thru
December 1936. There is missing data during this period. These
observations have not been digitized or copied on any other form.

Observations continued in this location until Date 1958 when the
official observatory was established at the current Nassau International
Airport with the WMO index identifier 78073.

**INSTRUMENT DESCRIPTIONS**

The instrument shelter is a standard US Weather Bureau Cotton Region
made of louvered wood and painted white.

The official psychrometer and max/min thermometers are properly mounted
inside the shelter. The instruments are standard U.S. Weather Bureau
Kessler liquid in glass.

Maximum Thermometer Kessler Standard US Weather ServiceType / Townsend
Support

Minimum Thermometer Kessler Standard/ Townsend Support

Wet Bulb Kessler Standard (non aspirated) The wick is in water

Dry Bulb Kessler Standard

Rain Gauge Standard US Weather Bureau 8 inch with measuring stick

Sunshine Recorder Standard Campbell-Stokes Glass Ball

Official Barometer Aneroid, Negretti Aviation, Model MK-2, Type 2236
Serial B-1274

Official Wind System Bendix Friez model 120 with double register
recording indicator. Calibrated June 2004

**SEE ACCOMPANING DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHS**