danielwAdministrator
(Moderator)
Thu Jul 28 2011 10:18 PM
Re: Windshear

It appears that the difference in the NOAA and the Air Force dropsonde pressure reading is 4 millibars.

If I'm reading the drops correctly the NOAA drop recorded 1000mb -41m (-135 ft).
USAF drop reported 1000mb -5m (-16 ft)

135ft - 16ft = 119ft divided by 33.4 constant equals 3.56 or 4 millibars.
One millibar is roughly 33.4 feet or one atmosphere if you are a diver.

As to which one is more correct. I don't know. They both were dropped in a windy area so it appears that they may not have sampled the lowest pressure.

I am not a Met, but the preference for dropsondes is to be in an area with less than 20 knot winds. If my memory serves me correctly. I'll double check.