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SHIPBOARD METEOROLOGICAL AND OCEANOGRAPHIC OBSERVING SYSTEM (SMOOS)
SEMIAUTOMATIC  WEATHER  STATION

Aerographers Mate, Module 01-Surface Weather Observations
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electronic sensor that measures the moisture content of the air. Mounted on the exterior of a ship, the sensor is protected   from   heat   and   solar   radiation.   The temperature  measurements  are  accurate  to  within ±1.0°F over the range -40°F to 130°F, while the dew- point temperature is accurate to within ±2.0°F over the range -40°F to 100°F. Cloud-Height  Detector The cloud-height detector is shown in figure 2-4. It is a laser ceilometer that automatically detects cloud layers and provides measurements for up to three cloud- base levels. When the visibility is greater than 3 miles, the detector can measure up to 12,000 feet. It can only measure up to 3,000 feet when the visibility is 1 1/2 to 3 miles or during moderate to heavy rain. Visibility Sensor The visibility sensor is shown in figure 2-5. It determines equivalent visibility by measuring forward scattering of an infrared beam by aerosols. The sensor reports equivalent visibility over the range of zero to 10 nautical miles. Precipitation Sensor The precipitation sensor (fig. 2-5) uses an infrared beam to detect the droplet size and number of droplets falling  through  the  sensor  beam.  The  sensor  reports precipitation rates between 0 and 50 millimeters (mm) per hour and the onset or cessation of precipitation. Seawater Temperature Sensor The seawater temperature sensor is usually located near the ship’s seawater intake valves, below the water line. It measures the seawater temperature in degrees Fahrenheit andhasarange of 25.0°F to 122.0°F. Due to the sensor being located well below the sea surface, hand-held   sea   surface   temperature   measuring instruments may be used in lieu of the SMOOS sensor. METEOROLOGICAL  BUOYS A third type of automatic weather station is the meteorological  buoy.  Meteorological  buoys  may  be Figure 2-4.—SMOOS cloud-height detector. Figure 2-5.—SMOOS visibility sensor (on left and right arms) and SMOOS precipitation sensor (in center). 2-4







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