SEMIAUTOMATIC WEATHER STATION

Aerographers Mate, Module 01-Surface Weather Observations
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either moored in a permanent location or drifting buoys. Routinely deployed by aircraft since 1989, drifting meteorological buoys (fig. 2-6) are sonobuoy-size weather stations that provide wind, air pressure, air and sea surface temperature, wave period, and sea temperature/salinity depth profiles to collection points via satellite. As an observer, you will have little opportunity to see a fully automatic weather station, since no observer support is required. However, you will use observations and data transmitted by these stations. We discuss these products in later modules. REVIEW QUESTIONS Q1. How often are ASOS observations updated? Q2. How does the ASOS system detect precipitation? Q3. What system does SMOOS interface with? Q4. The SMOOS can detect clouds at what maximum height? Q5. How do drifting and moored oceanographic buoys relay information to collection sites? SEMIAUTOMATIC WEATHER STATION LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify the major components and characteristics of the AN/GMQ-29 semiautomatic weather station. At some observing stations, the primary-use weather observation equipment is still the AN/GMQ-29 automatic weather station. Although called the Automatic Weather Station when first introduced, this equipment earned the more popular term semiautomatic weather station after truly automatic weather observations were introduced. First operated in 1975, the AN/GMQ-29 uses electronic and electromechanical sensors to measure temperature, pressure, precipitation, and winds. This equipment was installed at all Naval Meteorology and Oceanography detachments, facilities, and centers. The manual that describes operating procedures for this equipment is NAVAIR 50-30 GMQ-29-2, Handbook of Operation, Service and Overhaul Instructions with Illustrated Parts Breakdown for the Automatic Weather Station (AN/GMQ-29A). There are two major groups of equipment in the system: the display group and the sensor group. Figure 2-7 shows the display group, Figure 2-6.—Drifting buoy. Figure 2-7.—AN/GMQ-29 display group. 2-5

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