Comparison of Radiosonde and Acoustic Echo Sounder Measurements of Atmospheric Thermal Strata

Abstract

The thermal structure of the atmosphere is observed through simultaneous use of the acoustic echo sounder and standard radiosonde. Radiosonde temperature data and graphic recordings from the acoustic sounder are compared mostly above the 80 m level since below this height radiosonde data are not sufficiently reliable. The acoustic sounder and radiosonde instruments show good agreement in defining the structure of early morning temperature inversions. The discrepancies between these two methods of observing thermal layers become evident as the vertical temperature structure undergoes rapid change.