t-rex-iss1: Site MISS Messages, 47 Entries..

MISS surface two , solar radiation was down. Restarted it . Also had to cycle power to the 12 v supply in the rack. Possible problem could have been heat related as neither ac or fan was running. Went down approx 2100z on the 19th restarted approx 1800 on the 20th

Changed oil and filled main fuel tank Friday (Apr 14) afternoon.

Since the satellite internet is never up before the laptop boots, the NTP
startup does not synchronize with its servers.  Restarting the ntpd service
always fixes this, so I just added a crontab entry to restart ntpd every
hour.  That seemed harmless enough.  Here's the crontab line:

30 * * * * /etc/init.d/ntpd restart > /dev/null 2>&1

It might be that ntp would eventually synchronize with the servers and I
just wasn't patient enough to notice.  An easy way to check is to run
ntpq and the 'lpeers' procedure:

[iss@iss1 tklog]$ ntpq
ntpq> lpeers
     remote           refid      st t when poll reach   delay   offset  jitter
==============================================================================
 ntp-1.cns.vt.ed 198.82.247.40    2 u   39   64    7  767.470  -13.153  46.794
 ntp-2.cns.vt.ed 198.82.247.40    2 u   37   64   17  790.262   -9.692  26.999
 ntp3.tamu.edu   128.194.254.7    2 u   36   64    7  882.431   -3.500  38.574
 ntp1.tummy.com  132.163.4.101    2 u   34   64    7  784.581  -32.636  43.044
 otc2.psu.edu    18.26.4.105      2 u   36   64    7  854.045   11.158  24.974
 mapr.localdomai .STEP.          16 u    -   64    0    0.000    0.000 4000.00
 iss-mapr.locald .STEP.          16 u    -   64    0    0.000    0.000 4000.00
ntpq>

forgot to take off the pause... 

The script which automatically sets the navigation settings in the POP
radar parameter files now accpets manual overrides of the KVH trailer
bearing and also an altitude.  This makes the following procedure possible
when the KVH is not working:

Read the trailer bearing in degrees from true north (the direction in which
the tongue trailer is pointing).

Stop POP.

Double-click the ruler icon on the left side of the desktop, titled
Navigate Radar Parameters.

This runs a script which prompts for the trailer bearing and the altitude.
The most recent settings will be the defaults.  The altitude (in meters)
can be read from the GPS main screen.

Then allow the script to modify all of the radar par files on the PC and
replace the existing files.

If the KVH is correct, the trailer bearing can be specified as 'auto'.  If
an altitude is not given (ie, it is set to less than zero, like -999), then
the altitude in the par files is not changed, and the correct altitude
must set explicitly with the POP Alt-F3 screen.

MISS at Site F6 - Division Creek Road Water Sampler Site.
Lat 36d 56.397m Lon 118d 16.249m Alt 1259m

System running from around 0200 ut 3/31/06.

Trailer orientation is 232 deg true
(note KVH compass is way off at 193 deg may try another calibration).

The profiler is showing lots of clutter at many range gates,
although the only obivous clutter target is a power line a couple of
hundred meters to the north (we orientated the trailer to
reduce clutter from that) however we must be getting clutter
from scrubs and the nearby mountains.
NIMA reprocessing should be able to clean up some of the clutter.

POPs clutter search from 3km to 5.5km.

strapped down the sides of the clutter screen to see if it will help keep the screen from vibrating and worsening clutter. 

T,RH data no good since 0800 UTC, under investigation

added 30 gals to big generator at MISS base 22 UTC March 28th

Generator serviced before the move at 490 h (see white board for details)

MISS moved to Manzanar site for IOP#7 hooked up to main generator.

2-m tower with p,T,rh set up 20 m north of trailer. Sans anemometer.

Angles

Y38, yvert = 199
X25, xvert = 289
Y26 = 19
X37 = 109

IR data has gone out again (since 1600 UTC, Mar 26)

T,rh data from tower between 0230 and 1930 UTC, March 26, were obtained at 
ground due to tower being overturned.

Bad night for tower!

The 10 m tower was blown over during peak wind event last night.
Highest recorded wind speed was 24 ms-1 (no doubt there were higher
gusts up to 30 m s-1).

The metal post connecting the anemometer to the tower was sheared off, 
with bottom piece still in the tubing. Front piece of prop vane was driven 
into the ground and is badly damaged - though the directional sensor appears
to be working.

TRH tubing also got smashed, amzaingingly the fan and sensors are still working,
housing may be salvageable with plumber glue and duct tape.

Pictures of the damage were taken.

Generator refueled at 19 UTC on the 26th of march


tank was just about empty after 42 hours

Generator refueled at 00 UTC on the 25th of march

Picking up some rf interference this afternoon.

I am also starting to notice the +/-17 ms-1 signal again.

IR data reading too low. Started rapid downward trend around 16 UTC
around 16 UTC.

Tried disconnecting and reconnecting.

Also cleaned sensor domes.

MISS moved to Location D for IOP #6. This site is located
 0.7 miles west on dirt road off 395 to REAL. The site is shielded
from the highway by mounds of dirt to the east.

Photos of sight taken.

All systems up and running without a glitch. 

Generator will need to be refuelled tomorrow.



Angles

Y38, yvert = 192
X25, xvert = 282
Y26 = 12
X37 = 102

Moving MISS to 'D' location for IOP#6

Everything appears to have operated normally overnight at MISS.

Brief period of light northerlies at surface between 16 and 17 UTC
this morning. Netrad never got less than -10 W m-2 due to
persistent cirrus cloud deck.

Donkeys seem to like the trailer, they have congregated all around it.

Turned on AC as it looks like it will get warm in here today.

I took 5 or 6 photos of the site this morning as well.

Moved MISS to BASE station this morning. All systems appear operational.

Set profiler with following headings

y38 = 209
x25 = 299
y26 = 029
x37 = 119

One RASS connector was busted during tear down.

Note: Met tower is located on a ~5 m high pile of dirt to the
south of the trailer.

generator serviced at OV2 site before moving MISS

Generator refueled

Brief period of interference encountered at 16 UTC, 20 March. Also, some
noisy wind vectors in lowest range gates, may be due to cars passing by.

Otherwise, all systems performed normally during IOP.

Plan to move MISS back to base tomorrow (TUES) morning.

MISS set up at Onion Valley Site about 1.6miles west of 395.

Teardown and setup took about 3 hrs, with some time after to
watch the data. Had to reposition anemometer to get correct wind
direction.

Entered new heading for trailer.

Y38, yvert = 150
x25, xvert = 240
y26 = 330
x37 = 60

Also updated altitude (1326 m) and lat/lon (36.79, 118.22).

Data transfer to the data manager ok.

All met data looks reasonable.

Crew: Pinto, Martin, Brian P and Brian B.

Good work by all on short notice.

Got request today at 2 PM to move MISS.

Will tear down MISS today and move to new site. Will complete
setup tomorrow morning by 9 AM..

Generator refueled

Filled generator tank with diesel.

Thursday March 16.
Profiler was experiencing some type of interference - Mike thinks. 
This lasted from about 20:30 UTC to 22:45 UTC.

I assumed it was still occurring and restarted the system
at 0030 UTC - appearantly un-necessarily.

All data appears to be ok now.

Thursday March 16.
Brian serviced the generator this morning. MISS was left off in anticipation of a move to OV2 at noon. However, the PI called with a nowcast of a wave/rotor cloud and asked us to turn MISS back on. We will hear by 1pm about a move this afternoon.

Off: approx 17Z (9am). On approx 19Z (11am)

refueled generator 5pm Wednesday Mar 15 (21Z Mar 13). We will move MISS tomorrow and want a light load.

refueled generator 1pm Tuesday Mar 14 (21Z Mar 13). Was at 1/16 tank on the main.

Ran for 44 hours on Main. Probably the longest it should be let go without a refill.

Charlie wrote the data_store to a DVD at 7pm Monday March 13 (03Z Mar 14). I will bring this DVD ack to Boulder

refueled generator 5pm Sunday Mar 12 (01Z Mar 13). Was at 1/2 tank.
Also added 25 gallons to truck transfer tank.

Thursday 4pm (00Z Mar 10)
Weak clear air, but some snow and ice crystal reflectivity aloft showing vertical motions. The consensus is failing but I bet winds could be pulled out of this data.

Brian refueled the MAIN tank overnight. All running well.

Wednesday morning:

Breezy and a fair bit of ground clutter this morning.
17:50 Shutting down for generator service and a day of rest and recovery

Brian did the 100-hour Kubota service at noon today.

Restarted at 23:30 UT (3:30pm) in anticipation of IOP#3 unexpectedly called for 11UT tomorrow (i.e. 3am)

All systems came up fine.

NOTE: Fuel just above half in the Main tank. Will need fuel by 8am or swidch to day tank for a few extra hours.

(Tuesday)
MISS running well. Switched to the day tank until Brian arrives with the fueling truck.

Now:
Refueled MAIN, topped off DAY, and running from MAIN

Monday mroning check up.

Seems to be running well.  Now that we have a little weather,
(lots of low clouds, occasional drizzle) we'll getting good signal
with manageable clutter.

Main tank is just over half full, and day tank is full.

Saw some RFI on the 18:30 UT RASS run, although generally RASS looks
to be doing okay (the last few runs have got to 700m), this run
only got consensus to 300m.

Winds mode is not showing any obivous RFI.

MISS at Site F6 - Division Creek Road Water Sampler Site.
Lat 36d 56.397m Lon 118d 16.249m Alt 1259m

System running from around 21:30 UT

Brisk southerlies.  A line of rotor clouds almost directly overhead
from a couple of miles south of here, and runs off to the north.
Should be a good site to study these rotor clouds.
(The east edge of the clouds currently runs direectly over the site).

Trailer orientation is 214 deg true
(note KVH compass is way off at 149 deg despite calibration circle
run on the way to this site).

The profiler is showing lots of clutter at all range gates,
although the only obivous clutter target is a power line a couple of
hundred meters to the north (we orientated the trailer to
reduce clutter from that) however we must be getting clutter
from scrubs and the nearby mountains.
NIMA reprocessing should be able to clean up some of the clutter.

Mike tried removing some of the underside panels from about 22UT.
(per per Paul Johnston's suggestion) however it is not clear if that helps.


Increased POPs clutter search from 3km to 5.5km at 23UT - seems to help
a little.

23:35 UT Let air out of antenna shocks as the antenna seems to be
bouncing up and down with the wind.
Need to refill these before moving MISS.

Clear easterlies on MISS profiler from around 2:15 UT persisting for at
least 30 minutes.  They are from the lowest gate, nearly up to 1 km.
Surface south-easterlies, might be usual valley flow.

Also probable easterlies showing up is SOAP 10 minute analysis around
1:15 - 1:30 UT (we'll reanalyze with NIMA to confirm).

Had some Motosat problems after the power down for  reorientating MISS.
Did stow the sat while moving, and powered up as per instructions, 
but it hung not responding to buttons nor web page.

Eventually powered off the Motosat power strip,
stowed dish, then did search again.
This time it worked and link now is okay.

Briefly turned off profiler to check K drive still connected around 0UT

Generator Service 2 pm local.
Will also service ISS2

Re-orientate MISS at Base Site

Profiler down 21 - 23 UT.

We were getting lots of clutter - mainly in east and west beams so we decided
to orientate the system to point nulls at the power lines.
This will put a main lobe towards ISS2 - but it doesn't seem to be
getting RFI so this appears to be okay.

Trailer is now orientated to 289 degrees true (as measured by compass
and confirmed by a map reading).  
KVH reading is 313 and Motosat reading is 307 true
(but Motosat is having trouble locking to satellite).

Clutter appears to be much better.
(run briefly at 22ut to test new orientation, but antenna directions
not yet corrected nor system leveled).

Running correctly from about 23 UT

Some RFI again up to 2130.

Very weak RASS so moved dishes from north (downwind) to south end of
trailer - brisk southerly.

.
For some reason surface two stoped at approx 2300 on the 25th It was restarted at approx 2030 of the 26th

There is also no radiation and both of these measurements are on the second campbell, so I need to ask gary about that data.