Introduction to The LTPP Information Management System (IMS)

Previous | Table of Contents | Next

Automated Weather Stations (AWS) have been installed near almost all SPS-1 , -2, and -8 project sites. This equipment measures site-specific climatic information. The data in the AWS module contains some data parameters that are also stored in the climatic tables. The significant exception is that AWS data include solar radiation. The AWS tables are structured to provide users with monthly, daily, and hourly climate statistics. LTPP regional contractors are responsible for equipment maintenance, data collection, review, and processing.

Every request for AWS data should include AWS_LINK.

4.1 IMPORTANT FIELDS

AWS_ID is a key field in the AWS data tables used to link the data to SPS project sites and other nearby test sections. At locations where multiple SPS projects are co-located on the same site, such as in Delaware, Nevada, and Ohio, since AWS_ID is not always the same as the combined STATE_CODE and SHRP_ID (project ID for SPS projects), AWS_LINK should always be used to find AWS data for a given SPS project or GPS section.

4.2 AWS TABLES

AWS_LINK: This table provides the link between the weather station identification used in the AWS tables and the associated SPS project ID or GPS SHRP_ID.

AWS_LOCATION: This table contains information regarding the coordinates for the location of each weather station. Because of logistical factors regarding the availability of electricity and communications, AWS may be located a relatively short distance from the project site. Users should evaluate the potential impact of this displacement on their analytical objectives.

AWS_HOURLY_DATA: This table contains hourly climate statistics, including air temperature, humidity, precipitation, solar radiation, wind speed, and wind direction. This is the smallest unit of time for which AWS data are available.

AWS_DAILY_DATA: This table contains daily statistics for the AWS sites. When possible, the information is provided by the data logger at the AWS site without the need for further computation. When data from the data logger are unavailable or otherwise problematic, the values in the daily table may be computed from the corresponding hourly data, if available.

AWS_HUMIDITY_MONTH: This table contains monthly humidity statistics from LTPP AWS. These statistics are calculated from daily data for months where 24 or more days of data are available.

AWS_PRECIPITATION_MONTH: This table contains monthly precipitation statistics from LTPP AWS. These statistics are calculated from daily data for months where 24 or more days of data are available.

AWS_SOLAR_MONTH: This table contains monthly solar radiation statistics from LTPP AWS. These statistics are calculated from daily data for months where 24 or more days of data are available.

AWS_TEMP_MONTH: This table contains monthly air temperature statistics from LTPP AWS. These statistics are calculated from daily data for months where 24 or more days of data are available.

AWS_WIND_MONTH: This table contains monthly wind statistics from LTPP AWS. These statistics are calculated from daily data for months where 24 or more days of data are available.

Previous | Table of Contents | Next