Observational Evidence of Systematic Radiosonde Temperature Sensing Anomalies

Abstract

Observational evidence of systematic thermistor sensing anomalies during radiosonde ascents through cloud layers at subfreezing temperatures is presented. Calculations indicate that the amount of thermistor icing required to produce the anomalous warm temperatures is well within the region of aerodynamic stability for ice-water accretions and that the typical liquid water content of clouds is sufficient to produce this effect. Objective radiosonde analysis schemes to determine mixing depths must be tailored to identify these affected temperature values.