NWS Team Relocates Upper Air System in Key West

Mechanical Engineer Terry Brisbin observes as crane hoists protective upper air dome atop support structure behind Key West forecast office (Photo: WFO Key West)

Hats off to the National Weather Service team responsible for a flawless and timely transfer of the upper air system from the Key West International Airport to the site of the new Weather Forecast Office. Shortly after the last scheduled 6:00 a.m. weather balloon launch at the airport site, the crew went to work executing a very complex, but well organized move.

During the next 12 hours, they removed the protective upper air dome; disassembled the Automatic Radar Theodolite (ART1) tracking system; disconnected the electronic cabling and system controls; transported all of the equipment; reassembled it atop the support structure behind the forecast office; replaced the dome; and reconnected, tested and activated the entire system. And they did it all in time for the scheduled 6:00 p.m. launch - the first official weather balloon release from the three-story tower adjacent to the new forecast office.

The Key West site is one of more than 900 weather balloon release locations worldwide. Balloons are launched almost simultaneously, twice a day every day of the year. Flights generally last about two hours, during which time the balloons can drift 100 miles or more and rise to 100,000 feet before bursting. Each balloon trails a Radiosonde package with instruments that measure pressure, temperature and relative humidity. The data is transmitted back to the ART1 and serves as the primary source of atmospheric weather data, which provides valuable input for weather forecasters worldwide, research scientists and computer forecast models.

Key team members included Facilities Technicians Al Ruffin, Steve Davis and John Moss; Regional Maintenance Specialist Mike Hughes; Southern Region Systems Specialist Charlie Lake, Program Manager Mike Asmus; Mechanical Engineer Terry Brisbin; and, the electronics staff at Key West.

NWS Southern Region Systems Operations Division Chief Ken Graham noted, "They did all that difficult, complex work without a hitch and without missing a single upper air observation. That's just an outstanding example of the team's 'Can do' attitude."