1. Gathering Weather Data “ Know yourself and know your enemy, and victory is guaranteed. Know the terrain and know the weather, and you will have total victory.” Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu, 4th century BC

12. Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) - The National Weather Service (NWS), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense operate this network of 967 stations located throughout the United States [Arkansas (16), Kansas (17), Louisiana (18), Missouri (19), Oklahoma (15), Texas (60)]. The data generally available from ASOS stations includes hourly (and special) observations of air temperature, dew point, wind speed, wind direction, cloud cover, visibility, present weather, and precipitation. The hourly and special observations are included within many data archives. Additionally, data with up to one minute temporal resolution can be obtained from the ASOS stations via modem (password required for access). The most recent 12 hours of 1-minute observations are kept at the stations.

14. Ground-Based Description of Sky Conditions Cloud Observations - Ground-based Description ASOS (NWS) Human Meaning Clear (CLR or SKC) 0to 5% 0 No Clouds Few >5 to <25% 0 to 2/8 Few clouds visible Scattered (SCT) > 25 to <50% 3/8 to 4/8 Partly cloudy Broken (BKN) > 50 to <87% 5/8 to 7/8 Mostly cloudy Overcast (OVC) > 87 to 100% 8/8 Sky is covered by clouds Sky obscured NA NA Sky is hidden by surface-based phenomena, such as fog, blowing snow, smoke and so forth, rather than by cloud cover

26. Visible

27. Infrared Imagery