NOAA's Deployment of the Water Vapor Sensor System (WVSS II)

Background: Through a partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, United Parcel Service (UPS), and SpectraSensors, NOAA is developing a new water vapor sensor which will eventually fly along with the packages and passengers of many of the Nation's commercial air carriers.

The Water Vapor Sensing System (WVSS II) sensor, contained in a cigar box-sized housing, consists of a diode laser which samples the air and reports environmental humidity to meteorologists every six seconds. Installation of the first 25 WVSS units is projected to be completed by May 31 with a field assessment scheduled for mid June. A national installation of WVSS sensors on UPS and other commercial aircraft is planned, contingent on field test results and program funding. WVSS will provide the first operational, climate quality, water vapor sensor information available routinely in between the 12 hour intervals when NOAA launches its radiosonde weather balloons. This weather sensor development activity is part of NOAA's contribution to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).

Poster Focus: Our poster will highlight WVSS II system operation, preliminary field test and assessment results, and anticipated contribution to NOAA's Integrated Observing System.