**Proposed Updates to FMH-3**

**December, 2007**

Input received October 2007

[Page]{.underline} [Chapter/Subsection]{.underline} [Change]{.underline}

14 Appendix E Definition for vbvb should read:

> "Absolute value of the vector difference between the maximum wind and
>
> the wind blowing at 1 km [below]{.underline} the level of maximum
> wind, in units
>
> indicated by YY."

28 Appendix E Definition for vbvb should read:

> "Absolute value of the vector difference between the maximum wind and
>
> the wind blowing at 1 km [below]{.underline} the level of maximum
> wind, in units
>
> indicated by YY."

25 Appendix E In section E-II, 2.2 under the heading Regulations:
(Continued), include a

paragraph (c) that reads "Refer to Table 5300 on page E-62 for coding of

PnPnhnhnhn."

Input received from NWS Observing Services Division in 2005

[Page]{.underline} [Chapter/Subsection]{.underline} [Change]{.underline}

2-3 Para 2 Remove the entire paragraph.

2-4 2.3.3.1 Remove sentences referring to a hypsometer.

2-7 2.4.1.1 Replace this sentence:

"A Radio Direction Finding (RDF) antenna is designed to track a

radiosonde transmitting in the 1680 MHZ Meteorological Aids band."

With this sentence:

"A Radio Direction Finding (RDF) antenna is designed to track a

radiosonde transmitting in the 1675-1700 MHZ Meteorological Aids

band. Because of possible interference with GOES downlinks, sites

should transmit/receive no higher than 1683MHZ."

2-8 Table 2-2 Eliminate the lines in the table for transponders and VLF
and add in a

line for NAVAID GPS 1680 MHZ ± 1 MHZ.

3-1 3.2 Eliminate mention of natural gas.

3-5 3.6 Add this note: "NWS sites are allowed to release up to 60 min
prior to

the 00 and 12 UTC synoptic times to ensure all messages are received

for models run at NCEP.

4-8 4.5.1.4 Eliminate section 4.5.1.4 titled Transponder-Related
Problems.

5-3 5.2.2.2 Replace this sentence: "There are three cases where a
reascending level

***shall not*** be selected following a descending level:"

With this sentence: "There are two cases where a reascending level

***shall not*** be selected following a descending level:"

> Remove this bullet: "If the reascending level coincides with a

standard pressure, the standard level ***shall*** be selected because
these

levels have higher priority."

5-5 5.2.3 Replace this sentence: "The data between standard and
mandatory

> significant levels ***shall*** be examined for the additional levels
> and
>
> included in the coded message in Parts B and D. \[E-II.1\]."
>
> With this sentence: "The data ***shall*** be examined for additional
> levels
>
> independent of standard and mandatory significant levels and included
>
> in the coded message in Parts B and D. \[E-II.1\]."

5-5 5.2.3.2 Replace this sentence: "A temperature level ***shall*** be
selected if the GDL

> exceeds ± 1.0°C for pressures from surface to 100 hPa and ±2.0°C for
>
> pressures from 100 hPa to termination. A relative humidity level
> ***shall***
>
> be selected if the GDL exceeds ± 10% for all pressures."
>
> With this sentence: "A temperature level ***shall*** be selected if
> the GDL
>
> exceeds ± 0.5°C for pressures from surface to 100 hPa and ±1.0°C for
>
> pressures from 100 hPa to termination. A relative humidity level
> ***shall***
>
> be selected if the GDL exceeds ± 5% for all pressures."

5-9 5.4 [Update this section with WMO description of defining tropopause
levels.]{.mark}

6-1 6.2 Replace this sentence: "In a pilot balloon observation (pibal),
a balloon

which is inflated with either hydrogen or helium to provide a fixed free

lift is tracked visually with an optical theodolite."

With this sentence: "In a pilot balloon observation (pibal), a balloon

is inflated with helium to provide a fixed free lift, and is tracked
visually

with an optical theodolite."

6-2 Table 6-1 [Update note at bottom of Table 6-1]{.mark}

7-1 7.2.2 Replace each instance of AFOS with AWIPS

7-2 7.3.2 Change organization code from W/OSO242 to W/OCI011.

7-3 7.4 [Add 06 and 18 UTC times and get wording for before and after
times]{.mark}

8-3 Table 8-1 [Update table.]{.mark}

A-1 5. Remove "Amendment 101-5, 56 FR 65662, 17 Dec 1991."

> And replace it with "26 November 2001."

A-1 9. Replace "Vols. 1 & 2, 1995." with "Vol 1, 1995, and Vol 2, 1998."

[B-1 B.2 Add the following paragraph at the end of section B.2 "For
those units]{.mark}

[using GPS tracking, determing the location of the antenna to the
nearest]{.mark}

[meter for height and second for location of baseline and release
point.]{.mark}

[Resolution should be to the nearest 0.1 second."]{.mark}

[Question for WG/MC: Does anyone still use radar tracking?]{.mark}

[C-1 Table C-1 Update with new NWS info. Request USAF, USA, and Navy
update]{.mark}

[their data.]{.mark}

[D-1 Entire Appendix Replace with RWS of August 2000. (WHAT IS
RWS?)]{.mark}

E-58 Table 3845 Change Code Figure 2 to 9.