SUMMARY
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) operates thirty (30) aerological observing stations throughout Canada. These stations complete soundings of the upper atmosphere twice daily for each day of the year. The observations are taken by releasing a gas-filled balloon with an attached instrument which is tracked via one of a variety of electronic navigational methods. This attached instrument transmits meteorological data relating to temperature, humidity, and the height of standard atmospheric pressure levels. In addition, tracking of the balloon allows for computation of winds and wind shear at upper levels of the atmosphere.
Data is collected and processed automatically by sounding equipment and transmitted to the Canadian Meteorological Centre for inclusion in atmospheric models which are used to produce a number of weather forecasts. In addition, the data is shared internationally for use in many global weather monitoring and forecasting programs.
SCOPE
ECCC requires the services of a Contractor to prepare the instruments and release the balloons twice each Saturday, Sunday and all statutory holidays (New Years Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Heritage Day, Labour Day, Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day). The work will involve monitoring the data and messages produced, and to ensure the prompt transmittal of the data. Additional aerological observations may be required for up to twenty-five (25) additional releases at any time throughout the year but the additional releases is not a guarantee.
The Contractor will conduct the scheduling of personnel for observing, recording, encoding and transmitting Aerological at the times specified below as required to comply with the instructions contained in the “MANUAL OF UPPER AIR OBSERVATIONS” (MANUPP) and various other manuals required for the Safety and Health for Meteorological Services of Canada Operations and Supplementary observations.
LOCATION OF THE WORK
The Work must be performed at the ECCC Stony Plain Weather Station and cannot be performed remotely. The site is location at 1417 Highway 16A, Stony Plain, AB T0E 2C0.
