Guide to wind profiler and RASS measurements.
| Product | Variables and abbreviations (if in use) |
Units and abbreviations (if in use) |
Availability |
| Radar and temperature map |
Precipitation Temperature |
radar reflectivity factor (dBZ) degrees of Celsius |
WWW WAP |
| Temperature map | Temperature | degrees of Celsius | WWW WAP |
| Relative humidity map | Relative humidity | percentage | WWW WAP |
| Wind speed map | Wind speed | meters per second | WWW WAP |
| Wind direction map | Wind direction | degrees | WWW |
| Air pressure map | Air pressure at sea level | hectopascals (hPa) | WWW |
| Dew point map | Dew point | degrees of Celsius | WWW |
| Stability map | Approximation of stability | degrees of Celsius per 100 meters | WWW |
| Helsinki city map | Temperature (T) Wind speed (WS) Wind direction (WD) Relative humidity (H) Rain intensity (R) |
degrees of Celsius (C) meters per second (m/s) degrees (deg) percentage (%) millimeters per hour (mm/h) | WWW WAP |
| Ceilometer display | Backscatter amplitude | Researcher's Interface (WWW) | |
| Sounding display | Temperature Wind speed Wind direction Relative humidity |
degrees of Celsius meters per second degrees percentage |
Researcher's Interface (WWW) |
| Time series graphs | Temperature Humidity Wind speed Wind direction Air pressure Rain intensity |
degrees of Celsius (deg-C) percentage (%) meters per second (m/s) degrees (degree) hectopascal (hPa) millimeters per hour (mm/h) |
WWW |
| Wind profiler display | Wind speed with wind barbs Wind direction with wind barbs Signal strength (SNR) |
meters per second degrees decibel (dB) |
WWW |
| RASS display | Virtual temperature (Tv) | degrees of Celsius | WWW |
| LAPS temperature and wind map |
Temperature (Sfc temperature), wind direction and speed |
color filled and contoured plots in degrees of Celsius (C), wind barbs with knots (kt) |
WWW |
| LAPS relative humidity and wind map |
Relative humidity (Sfc rel humidity), wind direction and speed |
color filled and contoured plots in percentage, wind barbs with knots (kt) |
WWW |
| LAPS clouds and precipitation map | Cloud cover, Precipitation |
black for no clouds (0%) and white for clouds (100%), Low LVL Ref i.e. precip iso-lines with dBZ intensity (Anlyzd/dBZ; 0 = no or weak and up to 50-60 dBZ very strong precip). |
WWW |
| LAPS cross section display | Cloud cover, Precipitation, Precipitation type, Temperature, Wind speed and direction |
black for no clouds (0%) and white for clouds (100%), purple-blue-green-orange-red scale with purple for weakest and red for strongest precip, 'R' for rain and '*' for snow, light blue isolines, wind barbs with knots (kt) |
WWW |
Due to smaller graphics displays, contents of mobile products are more limited than the corresponding web products.
Radar data presents precipitation regions. The greater the value in dBZ units, the heavier the precipitation is.
On maps, station specific information is obtained by pointing and clicking over a station. Also, one can browse the latest observations by selecting time step and moving the pointer over desired time and date, or over "PLAY" icon for animation loop. Wind measurements are made at the highest available location, usually at mast top level (60-100 m). Other variables are measured near ground (usually 2 m).
In time series graphs, sensors are located at the heights as indicated, either above ground (m) or above sea level (m a.s.l.). Station altitude means height above sea level. Coordinates are given in degrees.
Wind profiler display shows observation time on x-axis and height on y-axis. For each time step, wind barbs show wind speed and direction in several vertical levels. The latest observation is always on right on x-axis. Key for wind barbs is given in the following figure.
Guide to wind profiler and RASS measurements.
LAPS (Local Analysis and Prediction System) produces a high resolution meteorological analysis. The analysis process is done by taking into account a large amount of observational data and also, as a first guess, fields from a background model. Here ECMWF model is used, more information at www.ecmwf.int. For the LAPS area covering southern Finland, the following input data have been used:
About 40 surface observations stations (winds, temperature, pressure etc.)
Satellite information; NOAA polar orbiter with AVHRR instrumentation
5 weather radars; C-band doppler radars
1 radio sounding (temperature) from Jokioinen
Corner coordinates in degrees and decimal fractions for the LAPS maps:
Lower left: 59.38 18.80
Top left: 70.36 18.10
Lower right: 58.91 30.26
Top right: 69.59 35.98
For the LAPS cross section display: The vertical plot shows variable values through the middle of the domain at almost constant latitude (61N), longitude extending from 20.8E to 28.2E. In the image the left y-axis is pressure level (hPa) and right y-axis is height (km). Note: This and other cloud products are only available for a specific time interval due to reduced satellite coverage during night time. In "Clouds & Precipitation" plots text "CONSTANT FIELD - VALUE IS -10" indicates no precipitation.
Times are expressed in local time unless otherwise specified.
See some product examples with explanations.