Atmospheric measurements from the Geodetic Observatory Wettzell during the CONT-17 VLBI campaign (Nov 2017 - Dec 2017)

Continuous Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations are designed to obtain highly accurate data for detailed studies of high frequency Earth rotation variations, reference frame stability and daily to sub-daily site motions. During the CONT-17 campaign that covered a time span of 15 days between Nov. 28 and Dec. 12, 2017, a comprehensive data set of atmospheric observations and weather model data were acquired at the Geodetic Observatory Wettzell, where three radio telescopes contributed to three different networks which have been established for this campaign. The data set is made available to all the interested users in order to provide an optimal data base for the analysis and interpretation of the CONT-17 VLBI data. In addition, it is an outstanding data set for validation and comparison of tropospheric parameters resulting from different space techniques with regard to the establishment of a common atmosphere at co-location sites. The regularly recorded atmospheric parameters comprise all meteorological quantities (pressure, temperature, humidity, wind, radiation, precipitation) taken from the local meteo station close to the surface, solar radiation intensity, temperatures up to 1000 m above the surface from a temperature profiler, total vapour and liquid water content from a water vapour radiometer, and cloud coverage and -temperatures from a nubiscope. Additionally, vertical profiles of pressure, temperature and humidity from radiosonde balloons and from numerical weather models were used for comparison and validation.