METADATA FILE

April 2005

**Name of Observatory** Grand Cayman

**Country** British Caribbean Territories

**Address** Meteorological Department

Airport Authority Box 102777 APO

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Phone 1 345 949 4528

**WMO Index Number** 78384

**Latitude and Longitude** 19º12'N, 81º18'W

Confirmed by GPS

**Altitude of Barometer Cistern** 3.0 Meters above mean sea
level(estimated)

**Altitude of rain gauge** 3.0 meters above msl (estimated)

**Date of this entry** April 29, 2005

**Type of Observatory** Surface and Upper Air Radiosonde

**Hours of operation** 6AM till 10PM

**Surface Observations** 00Z,03Z,12Z, 15Z,18Z 21Z, 17 hourlies

**Upper Air Observations** Normally 12Z and 00Z during hurricanes

Has not been in operation since the observatory was severely damaged by
Hurricane Ivan on September 11, 2004

**Additional Climat Parameters** Sunshine and evaporation

**Description of land and activities within 10 Kilometers of the
observatory**

The observatory is located on Owens Roberts International Airport in the
middle of considerable traffic and construction activities. There are no
tall buildings or high structures close enough to be a problem.

**Instrument Field**

The IF is roughly 30 by 25 feet in area and it is grass covered. There
are no buildings closer that 40 yards to the IF. There is a ten foot
fence surrounding the IF. The instrument shelter is a standard
Simpson-screen type that is painted white and faces north. There is
ample space in the IF and all of the instruments appear to be getting
exposure.

The rain gauge is a standard 8" gauge and is mounted on the ground with
the orifice roughly 20 inches above the surface.

For several years the airport authorities have envisioned moving the
weather office to a different location. The move may not include the
instrument field and may only apply to the upper air facility.

**Historical Record**

The instrument field has been in approximately the same location for 40
years. Apparently there were weather records dating back to 1936 as well
as weather observations performed by the US Navy during 1942-45. These
records may have been lost during moves and construction at the airport.
A more organized weather observation program began during the IGY year
in 1956-57 at a location about 5 miles from the current location at the
airport. In the early 1960s the USA began full support to the surface
and upper air observatory in Cayman at the present location which more
or less continues today. The site meets the Minimum Requirements related
to temperature and precipitation which calls for monthly for the past 20
years. The recent records are homogeneous is terms of continuity without
missing months. The historical records are on paper.

**Instrument Description**

The station uses standard liquid-in-glass thermometers for their wet and
dry bulb as well as standard liquid-in-glass maximum/minimum
thermometers. The thermometers are not aspirated. Comparisons were made
with the Luft E-200, 5220.00 Serial 029-0404-0302.3. The comparison
indicated the liquid-in-glass thermometers were accurate within plus or
minus .3 degrees F. The error of parallax is more of a determining
factor.

Dry and Wet Bulb: Casella M106001 ordinary sheathed

Maximum: Casella M105202 sheathed pattern

Minimum: Casella M106204 Sheathed pattern

The official rain gage is the standard US Weather Service Model: D-100 8
inch. The gauge is favorably located within the instrument field and is
not influenced by an surrounding structures.

The aerovane is a Bendix Corporation Model 120 mounted on a 20 ft tower
and not a ten meter tower. The aerovane is located at the Northwest end
of the runway. The wind recorder is a Belfort Instrument Co. model 141-1
and the Wind speed and direction indicator is a Bendix Friez Model 135.
The station does have the required calibration equipment for this
system. ON July 13, 2004 , the contractor checked the accuracy and
calibrated the system. The system was found to be within the limits of
the specifications. See the technical report for details on all the
instruments and calibration tables.

Caution to the users of this data

none