PC based new software developed to create an input pilot balloon data file to an alternative to Hand Held Data Logger (HHDL) for using PC based SAMEER Pibal computation software
Pilot balloon observatories of India Meteorological Department (IMD) are using Hand Held Data Logger (HHDL), manufactured by SAMEER, to compute upper air data since 2007. The HHDL, which is a sleek and microcontroller based battery operated unit, accepts all information through the numeric keypad pertaining to the PB ascent for raw file generation and pilot balloon data processing. The raw file can be transferred to computer system as an input file to PC based Pibal computation software. This software generates Pibal messages similar to HHDL in addition to National Data Centre (NDC) data format and monthly climate. In case of any failure of hardware, both HHDL & PC based Pibal computation software cannot be used. Therefore to overcome this problem, a PC based Pibal data keying software has been developed using visual C sharp. The new software, what is developed, creates an input file similar to HHDL; it was tested with PC based Pibal computation software which works successfully as an alternate in case of failure of HHDL & it’s hardware accessories