Weather sensor TP320

The TP320 is a present-weather sensor that measures visibility and identifies and quantifies precipitations. It can also be used to assess present and past weather conditions. It is made up of a laser-based disdrometer and a forward scatter sensor. The « all in one » Visibility and Present Weather sensor TP320 is designed foraeronautical applications in accordance with ICAO recommendations and WMOdefinitions. It can also be used for synoptic networks and road meteorology. Principle The TP320 sensor uses two dedicated instrumental bases : - A forward scattermeter, very reliable sensor, used in major national Meteorological Service Networks, which discriminates obscurations (smoke,haze, fog). It measures visibility (MOR, AV and RVR) in conformity with WMO and ICAO requirements up to category III; - A real laser disdrometer which detects and distinguishes precipitations (drizzle, rain, nows, snow grains, hail, mixtures) following strictly WMO definitions. Implemented algorithms merge data and allow a very reliable analysis of different phenomena. Unique performances The sensor provides: - Accurate visibility measurements of AV and RVR for aeronautical messages coding, and of MOR for synoptical messages coding. - Present and past weather diagnosis (more than 50 WMO codes 4680 and 4678, including the critical « freezing » characteristics). - An accurate quantification of precipitation intensity measurement, thanks to a unique calibration procedure.