Great Plains Irrigation Experiment

Ceilometers are ground-based remote sensing sensors that measure cloud ceilings and vertical visibility. They utilize a laser or another light source to detect backscatter from clouds, precipitation, and aerosols. Ceilometers provide detailed and precise measurements under all weather conditions and are cost-effective to operate. They are commonly used in boundary layer and cloud research.

Generic-Atmospheric State (Gen-AtmsState) refers to non-specific instruments on a platform used for measurements of atmospheric state parameters. These are typically in situ sensors that measure temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind speed/direction. Types of atmospheric state instruments include thermometers, hygrometers, barometers, and anemometers.

The Radio Acoustic Sounding System (RASS) is an active ground-based acoustic sounder that provides profiles of virtual temperature. It uses radar techniques to measure acoustic disturbances and derive the virtual temperature. RASS is typically used alongside radar wind profilers (RWPs) and operates at frequencies of 915 MHz and 1290 MHz. It has a sampling rate of approximately 5 to 15 minutes, a vertical resolution of 150 m, and a horizontal resolution of 60 m.

Soil moisture probes are in situ ground-based sensors that measure soil water content. The most common type of soil moisture probes used for scientific research use dielectric permittivity techniques, such as capacitance or time-domain reflectometry sensors. These types of probes measure the charge-storage capacity of the soil to determine the soil moisture content. They typically operate at frequencies around 50 MHz and above to reduce sensitivity to salinity. Soil moisture probes provide continuous measurements and are relatively easy to deploy.

Rain gauges are ground-based instruments that measure liquid precipitation amounts directly over a specified period. Different rain gauges, such as tipping buckets and weighing gauges, collect and record data in various ways. Because of their small size and easy setup, rain gauges can be placed in different locations and are often used alongside other precipitation instruments like disdrometers to gather more details, such as precipitation rate and size distribution.

Generic-Chemistry Related Sensors (Gen-Chemistry) refers to non-specific instruments on a platform used for atmospheric chemistry measurements. These are typically in situ analyzers that measure various chemical compounds such as trace gases, halocarbons, volatile organic compounds, nitrates, aerosols, and other chemical species. Measurements can include mixing ratio, composition, particle size, optical properties, and particle size distribution.

Eddy Covariance Flux Towers are in situ micrometeorological surface towers. They are equipped with gas sensors to continuously measure the trace gas fluxes between the land surface and the atmosphere. Eddy Covariance Towers are typically used to measure fluxes for carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapor (H2O). These towers are also equipped with various meteorological sensors to measure air temperature, precipitation, winds, radiation, and soil temperature.

Generic-Radiometers refer to non-specific radiometers on a platform. These are typically passive microwave radiometers that measure brightness temperature. Radiometers can be used to retrieve temperature and water vapor profiles, soil moisture content, ocean salinity, precipitation and cloud properties, and vegetation.

Soil temperature sensors are in situ ground-based sensors used to measure and monitor soil temperature. They measure soil temperature by using thermistors or thermocouples to detect changes in resistance to calculate the temperature. Soil temperature sensors are used for agricultural purposes, environmental monitoring, and ecological research.

The Doppler on Wheels (DOW) is a network of mobile Doppler radars operated by the Center for Severe Weather Research (CSWR). DOW includes three dual-frequency, dual-polarization radars that operate in the X-band frequency range (9.35-9.55 GHz). They feature a narrow beam (0.8-0.9 degrees), rapid-scan capabilities, and a gate spacing of 15 to 600 meters. DOW radars are mounted on 7500 series International Workstar Trucks and can be easily deployed to various locations to gather radar measurements of meteorological phenomena such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and microbursts. Since its inception in the 1990s, the DOW has participated in numerous research and educational programs. It has been part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Lower Atmospheric Observing Facilities (LAOF) program since 2008.

Rain gauges are ground-based instruments that measure liquid precipitation amounts directly over a specified period. Different rain gauges, such as tipping buckets and weighing gauges, collect and record data in various ways. Because of their small size and easy setup, rain gauges can be placed in different locations and are often used alongside other precipitation instruments like disdrometers to gather more details, such as precipitation rate and size distribution.

Generic-Atmospheric State (Gen-AtmsState) refers to non-specific instruments on a platform used for measurements of atmospheric state parameters. These are typically in situ sensors that measure temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind speed/direction. Types of atmospheric state instruments include thermometers, hygrometers, barometers, and anemometers.

Soil temperature sensors are in situ ground-based sensors used to measure and monitor soil temperature. They measure soil temperature by using thermistors or thermocouples to detect changes in resistance to calculate the temperature. Soil temperature sensors are used for agricultural purposes, environmental monitoring, and ecological research.

Soil moisture probes are in situ ground-based sensors that measure soil water content. The most common type of soil moisture probes used for scientific research use dielectric permittivity techniques, such as capacitance or time-domain reflectometry sensors. These types of probes measure the charge-storage capacity of the soil to determine the soil moisture content. They typically operate at frequencies around 50 MHz and above to reduce sensitivity to salinity. Soil moisture probes provide continuous measurements and are relatively easy to deploy.

Radiosondes are a balloon-borne instrument package used to collect profile measurements of pressure, temperature, humidity, and winds. These sensors are connected to a radio transmitter that sends the measurements to a ground receiver typically operating in the 400-406 MHz range. They typically provide measurements at 1-6 seconds, depending on the type and manufacturer of the radiosonde. Radiosondes are used for weather forecasting, ground truth satellite data, atmospheric research, and input for weather prediction models.