Western Regional Climate Center
Nevada Test Site Web Site Data Information Dislaimer and User Notice

Provisional Data Notice

ARL/SORD approves the unlimited dissemination of the locally collected meteorological data known as "MEDA" (MEteorological Data Acquisiotion). The users need to be apprised that these data are "raw", and have not been quality checked. The observing sites' equipment is checked for calibration about twice a year. 2004 data has not had as much calibration due to installing newer (replacement) systems. The sensor most vunerable to calibration is the relative humidity, which probably should not be used for 2004, but is presented for user decision. Additionally the precipitation data (collected by tipping buckets) has occasional "glitches" in the data that report precipitation when none is present. SORD reccommends that the precipitation data be utilized in conjunction with the storage gauge network data that is available on SORD's Web Page (www.sord.nv.doe.gov).

Other considerations in utilizing these data are to check the battery voltage, especially if the data seems out of range. Normal battery voltage should be above 11.0 volts. Any wind observations where the average speed exceeds the peak wind speed should be thrown out. Also observations with the average speed 5 (knots) or greater when the minimum, average, and maximum are equal, should be thrown out. Occasionally an observation will show a wind direction of 226 and the speed as 99. These values usually indicate that the station has "locked up" and needed to be reset manually.

Some general rules of thumb for temperatures on the NTS are as follows:

Jan -25 F to 80 F (maximum range allowed)
Feb -25 F to 90 F "" ""
Mar -10 F to 95 F
Apr 0 F to 100 F
May 10 F to 110 F
Jun 20 F to 115 F
Jul 25 F to 118 F
Aug 25 F to 118 F
Sep 15 F to 115 F
Oct 0 F to 105 F
Nov -15 F to 90 F
Dec -25 F to 80 F

Some exceptions to the above temperatures are for the Tonopah Test Range location, which is station 35. The ranges in winter need to go down to -35 F, and the summer ranges can be dropped about to about 108 F. Other historic sites include Tonopah FAA, Ella Mountain, Kawich Valley, and Hayford Peak. All of these "off-site" locations need their own individual ranges for temperatures. Kawich Valley (33) and Tonopah Test Range are similar.

As these data are evaluated by WRCC, questionable data that is deemed erroneous and obviously bad data will be removed. Other QC checks will also be performed, but the provisional nature of the data will continue to apply. The user of this data is solely responsible for any decision involving the use of the data or any derived product based on the dataset.

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