TCSP 2005 Tropical Cyclone Genesis Balloon Sounding Data

From June 16 to August量与 24, 2005, this dataset contains four daily atmospheric soundings launched from Juan Santamaria International Airport in Costa Rica. The Tropical Cloud Systems and Processes (TCSP) mission, led by NASA, used Vaisala radiosondes on weather balloons to collect high-resolution profiles of atmospheric conditions. Its primary goal was to document cyclogenesis and improve understanding of how tropical storms and hurricanes form and intensify.

Use Cases

• Analyzing vertical profiles of temperature and dew point to identify thermodynamic conditions favorable for storm development.
• Studying wind speed and direction at various altitudes to understand wind shear's role in tropical cyclogenesis.
• Investigating the relationship between humidity, atmospheric pressure, and precipitation in pre-storm environments.
• Using the high-temporal-resolution data (one sample every two seconds) to examine fine-scale atmospheric structures.
• Validating satellite-derived atmospheric data or numerical weather prediction models with in-situ balloon observations.

Strengths

• Provides a focused temporal series with four daily soundings over a 70-day period during peak hurricane season.
• Data was recorded at a high sample rate of one observation every two seconds, capturing fine vertical resolution.
• Specifies consistent instrumentation, with most ascents using Vaisala RS92-SGP sondes and a DigiCORA MW11 ground station.
• Median termination altitude of approximately 26 km provides data through a significant portion of the upper atmosphere.

Limitations

• Exact row count, file size, and complete column schema are not provided by any source.
• Sources conflict on the 'last updated' date, with one listing 2005-08-24 and another listing 2026-03 12.
• A small number of ascents used different sonde models (RS90-AG, RS80-15G) or were piggybacked with other instruments, introducing minor inconsistency.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

In-situ measurements from weather balloon (radiosonde) soundings launched from a fixed ground station.

Time Range

2005-06-16 to 2005-08-24

Freshness

2026-03-12 21:16:00.251655

Geography

Launch point: Juan Santamaria International Airport, Costa Rica (WMO station 78762, 10°N, 84.2°W).