The goal of the upper air data acquisition program is to provide accurate and timely data on the vertical and horizontal distribution of temperature, wind, pressure (geopotential height) and water vapor. These data, together with simultaneous surface, satellite, and radar observations, provide forecasters with a complete three-dimensional picture of the atmosphere.
We use the MicroART System which collects and processes upper air data from radiosondes and allows the observer to interactively display, edit, and transmit these data. The standard times of observations are 0000 and 1200 GMT. The actual times of observations (release times) are scheduled as close as possible to 2300 and 1100 GMT.