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)

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01 Dec 97:    No data.

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02 Dec 97:    No data

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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
 
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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 

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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

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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

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07 Dec 97:    No data

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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

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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


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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

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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

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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

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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

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14 Dec 97:    No data

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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

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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.                  

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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 

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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23 Dec 97:    Scattered, unorganized convection throughout the day.

              Data processed:    0003-2357 Z

              QC notes:  no problems

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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

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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

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26 Dec 97:    No data

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27 Dec 97:    No data

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28 Dec 97:    No data

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29 Dec 97:    No data

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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

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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

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