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Show The Sampler, Jan. 17, 1885 fi . ...i u .A .! m iYj :. 3 'V li". ...!sjwe i j - . 1 ... .. .."r v'jr Jt'?-;'3 Sill ' f . DON BULLARD is checking the maximum wind speeds recorded for the month of January. ' ' RALPH WOODLOCK takes a wet bulb reading to check on the relative humidity. Despite sophisticated machinery and computers spilling out data sheets, video screens displaying information on weather developments, the weather predictions still come from people. By using three computer models and four out of eight weather stations called stations in operation, forecasters for meso-meteorologi- cal the Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory, Dugway Meteo- rological Team collect data, discuss it among themselves and then issue a forecast. "Every successful forecas- ter programs his own personal computer in his head, said forecaster Steve Bieda. The longer .you've been here, you'll be able to feel what the weather will do." ' The responsibility of th team is to provide forecasts for test purposes and residents of Dugway . Testers make decisions, based on .the information received from the team. Staff Sgt. Paul B. Rich, meteorological observer explained. "We give them information on the conditions that1 will probably .exist and then observe what really happens and do it as accurately as To aid in collecting of per air data, the Met team uses a computer system called a Bueker Loran-Navaid system, which has been in operation for about a year. It replaces an older system that had been WL-200- 0 The weather here can be difficult to detect," added Bieda. Most of our weather comes from the Northwest. and direction, - start .speed and amount stop times, the of precipitation and long and "This will provide more back-u-p. . -- team or the National Weather Service knows . nothing about." Dugway's weather also varies in each location. Dugway has the largest number of environments withjn one testing aresy said Rich. The mountains, desert, and salt flats are examples of this. "The weather here does strange things," said Bieda. Both systems transmit temperature, humidity, pressure and altitude. However, the Navaid system can process more precise information in less time, according to Rich. "The Modernization Plan will provide things for the Met Team that will further aid forecasters in the future," said Rich. One major item included in this plan will be a Geo Stationary Orbital Environmental Satellite receiver which will allow the collection of satellite data, wind finding radar at the northwest Decon Pad. There is still, room for manpower among all this modern machinery. The computers can't do everything, and most of all, they can't predict the weather. "I've discovered through "For instance, the south Another addition will be a Vaisala Milos 200 Environ- wind can blow twice as strong in English Village as mental Measurement , sys- tem. This system will mea ex- perience," said Rich, "that - "I "A & :: .'rv predicting the weather is r 'v IPftr- 'ft--- -f state-of-the-a- rt ers a . SO - V i percent better chance to do their jobs more effectively, and perhaps cut down some of the gut level science part. : , v : ' : 'v.? . . x .:wfv; i:;NV i ;. .. : ... -y . . ' ' .V. .. '-- ; ;::- intuition and bring up the T "!xm-- . just 10 percent science and 90 percent intuition." According to Rich, this new equipment will give the forecast- not available now. - me- teorological data than we can presently gather," said Rich. There are also plans to place a new tower with a which is used now used as a . solar radiation. short-wav- e used for about 45 vears. Problems can arise because the closest manned station in that direction is 420 miles, away, Rich said. "This makes it possible that something could generate and come in that the Met . -- C possible." it does in Ditto." sure temperature, humidity, barometric pressure wind up- - v :.-:- ; A :t -- 'r , t-- A Si i I '4 IHJSWAY WEATHER . SfATIOII '..,.. , 'i-i'i;- .v .;S. - - : :' ' Arnie Villarreal TIIE CHIEF OF THE ASL MET TEAM, device radiosonde that, when disnlavs an Improved new automated to the information Punched, transmits In device the background. meteorolosical data gathering v F ,..r ifif jiff . V; V'.:;v::v;1 -- - :.'::..: -;. ... t:-p4'V':.- - STAFF SGT. PAUL RICH prepares to launch a weather balloon attached to a radiosonde outside the Upper Air Operations Building. : ) ' " lr' STEVE BEIDA stands In front of current, and projected forecast maps at the weather station. i - s ' - : |