IMOS - Ships of Opportunity - Air-Sea Flux : Meteorological and SST Observations collected on the Research Vessel Aurora Australis

This dataset contains environmental observations as well as ship parameters (such as speed and direction).

As part of the Ships of Opportunity - Research Vessels Real-Time Air-Sea Flux (ASF) Sub-Facility, R.V. Aurora Australis collects underway meteorological and oceanographic observations during scientific and Antarctic resupply voyages in the oceans adjacent to Australia.

Data streams are fed into the existing ship data management system, and broadcast via satellite back to Australia 30 minutes. The observations are quality controlled at the Bureau of Meteorology and air-sea fluxes calculated using the COARE Bulk Flux algorithm.

A daily file of 1-minute averages of the observations are generated shortly after 0000UTC and provided to the AODN.

The data is contained in NetCDF format files and consists of environmental observations as well as ship parameters (such as speed and direction). Wind is observed with two different sensors, and the relative (observed) and true (relative to fixed earth) wind speed and direction provided. Air temperature and humidity is observed on the port and starboard of the main mast. Short-wave (sunlight) and long-wave (infra-red radiation or heat, from sky and clouds) is also observed on the port and starboard side. Precipitation is observed with an optical rain-gauge and traditional siphon gauge from the foremast. Instrument meta-data and QC flags are also contained in the files.