All Sky Photometer for NearSys Station, 26 November 2017

The all sky photometer collected data on Sunday, a cloudy day at NearSys Station.

The sun sort of peaked out twice in the 26th.

Manhattan Water Tower

I collected a thermal image of the Manhattan, KS water tower at zoological garden. I was hoping it would show the amount of water in the tank by indicating where the tank was coldest. As you can see, it appears the tank is full. But it is apparent the support structure is warmer than the tank.

Ground and Sky Thermal Observations

I spent time this week visiting family. While away, I collected several thermal observations of the clouds.

On November 20th in Colby, KS, the ground temperature was 26 *F and the cirrus clouds has a temperature was -59 *F. Assuming a dry adiabatic lapse rate of 5.4 *F, the clouds were at a height of 15,700 feet.

In Casper, WY, the ground had a temperature of 55 *F and the clouds a temperature of -29 *F. That indicated a height of 15,600 feet.

In Manhattan, KS, the ground temperature was 37 *F and the cirrus clouds had a temperature of -14 *F. That indicates a cloud height of 9,400 feet.

Sky and Ground Thermal Observation for NearSys Station, 15 November 2017

At 6:15 PM MDT, it's drizzling at NearSys Station and we're 100% overcast with nimbostratus. The Seek Reveal thermal imager indicated the ground temperature was 24*F and the sky temperature was 14 *F. Assuming a moist adiabatic lapse rate of 3.0 *F, the clouds overhead have a base of 3,300 feet.

There's currently no METAR for the Caldwell airport (KEUL) to cross check this estimate of cloud base height.

This blog entry was updated to correct for the error of using the dry adiabatic lapse rate.

All Sky Photometer for NearSys Station, 14 November 2017

All sky photometer data was collected starting at 5:44 AM MST. Below is a chart of the data collected. It's apparent that a cloud passed overhead starting at about 2:30 PM.

Background Neutron Radiation for NearSys Station, 12 November 2017

After 159 hours of observation, five bubbles appeared in the neutron bubble detectors. That's a thermal background rate of 1.57 microrem per hour of thermal neutron radiation.

Visibility for NearSys Station, 11 November 2017

UAVSonde images were collected over NearSys Station at 8:00 AM MST. The images indicate visibility was in excess of 50 miles.

Looking West

Looking South

Looking East

Looking North

UAVSonde Data for NearSys Station, 11 November 2017

UAVSonde data was collected at 8:00 AM MST. Here are the data.

Altitude: 2,280 feet
Temperature: 57 *F
Relative Humidity: 100%
Pressure: 916.1 mb

Altitude: 2,673 feet
Temperature: 57 *F
Relative Humidity: 100%
Pressure: 927.3 mb

There were a lot of low pressure readings on the ground and those pulled the average low.

Ground and Sky Observation for NearSys Station, 10 November 2017

It's raining at NearSys Station. A thermal observation was taken at 4:30 PM MST that indicated the ground had a temperature of 26 *F and the sky a temperature of 15 *F. Since It was raining, a moist adiobatic lapse rate of 3 *F was assumed.

A temperature difference of 11 *F determines the base of the clouds are at an altitude of 3,700 feet. The Boise METAR reported clouds at 4,000 feet.

Thermal image of nimbostratus clouds over NearSys Station.

All Sky Photometer for NearSys Station, 7 November 2017

The new photometer collected data all day on the 7th and this time without rain interfering. Below is the chart of the data collected.

Spiky variations in the data are due to passing clouds.  

Visibility at NearSys Station, 5 November 2017

At 7:00 AM, the following images were taken at 400 feet AGL. Based on seeing the Boise Mountain Range, the visibility was at least 50 miles. This afternoon it's raining, the visibility has been significantly reduced.

Looking West

Looking North

Looking South

Looking West

All Sky Photometer Data for NearSys Station, 5 November 2017

It rained today, so the photometer was retrieved several hours earlier than normal. As the clouds thickened and lowered. The sky brightness can be seen to decrease.

UAVSonde Data for NearSys Station, 5 November 2017

UAVSonde data was collected at 7:00 AM MST. Here are the data.

Altitude: 2,263 feet
Temperature: 50 *F
Relative Humidity: 100%
Pressure: 917.6 mb

Altitude: 2,647 feet
Relative Humidity: 100%
Pressure: 916.1 mb

It was frosty this morning. I suspect this means I should have left the weather station outside longer before launching the UAVSonde.

Ground and Sky Thermal Observation for NearSys Station, 4 November 2017

Last night at 9:45, the ground temperature was 7 *F and the cumulus clouds has a temperature or -22 *F.

Assuming a dry adiobatic lapse rate of 5.4 degrees per 1,000 feet, that puts the cloud base at 4,800 feet.

The Boise METAR reported broken clouds at 4,200 feet.

Background Neutron Radiation for NearSys Station, 5 November 2017

After 204 hours of monitoring, six bubbles were detected in the neutron bubble detector. That's a background of 1.5 microrem per hour of thermal neutron radiation.

October Weather for NearSys Station

Temperatures are definitely cooling down this month at NearSys Station. After a cold snap that finished off the garden, temperatures moderated enough for me to ripen pumpkins on the back patio.

Precipitation has been scant, only 11/100ths of an inch. So rather dry. There has been no snow yet.

All Sky Photometer Data for NearSys Station, 30 October 2017

Changing the orientation of the photometer makes no difference in the red 660 nm data; it's still spiky. Otherwise, we can see that the sky was cloudy prior to noon.

The sky was clearer in the afternoon at NearSys Station.