Radiosonde Replacement System March 3, 1999 1.0 Background and
Purpose The National Weather Service (NWS) has begun an effort
to replace its current network of obsolete radiosonde observing
systems with a modern system that improves data availability and
accuracy, operates within a reduced frequency spectrum, and is
more efficient to operate and maintain. This network of 102
stations reaches from the Caribbean to Pacific islands, and from
Alaska to south of the equator. The network includes systems
located at NWS offices, contractor-staffed stations, stations
staffed by other agencies, and stations staffed by other
countries. Approximately 75,000 to 80,000 radiosondes are flown
annually in twice-daily releases throughout the NWS-supported
network. The observations are distributed on various domestic
and international telecommunications systems. The data are also
archived by the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville,
North Carolina. The radiosonde data set is one of the most
critical observational tools f