SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Conduct and interpret upper air observation data 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
246536  Conduct and interpret upper air observation data 
ORIGINATOR
Task Team - Weather 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences Environmental Sciences 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  6 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
The person credited with this Unit Standard will be able to prepare and conduct upper air observations and to provide quality upper air data timeously and cost effectively. The learner will be able to plot the information received correctly to produce the required visual representation.

A person credited with this Unit Standard will be able to:
  • Initialise and use all upper air instruments.
  • Generate data according to upper air instruments.
  • Plot and interpret upper air data. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners accessing this Unit Standard are competent in the following:
  • Communication at NQF Level 4 or equivalent.
  • Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 4 or equivalent.
  • Unit Standard: Explain Basic Meteorological Concepts at NQF Level 5.
  • Unit Standard: Code and Decode Meteorological Messages at NQF Level 5. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Initialise and use upper air instruments. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Upper air instruments include but are not limited to digicora and prescribed radiosondes in use. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Radiosondes and the digicora are initialised according to the procedures as set out in the instrument Guidelines for radiosonde preparations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The necessary safety checks for the hydrogen generator are explained and conducted according to manufacturers specifications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The upper air balloon room safety measures are explained according to the Occupational Health and Safety Act. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Generate data according to upper air instruments. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    The upper air instruments include the digicora and prescribed radiosondes in use. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Specified weather balloons are filled according to manufacturer guidelines. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Specified weather balloons may include but are not limited to the 350g and 500g balloons.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The radiosonde is attached to the weather balloon and released into the atmosphere. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Data being received is monitored visually. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Temperature and humidity spikes are identified in order to rectify or discard data. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Plot and interpret upper air data. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Upper air data must be plotted within the standard time. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Coded upper air data is manually decoded according to World Meteorological Organisation regulations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Coded upper air data includes meteorological data at standard, significant and fixed regional levels.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Upper air data is manually plotted onto an aerogram according to WMO regulations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    An Aerogram includes but is not limited to tephigram or skewlog-T diagram.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    An aerogram is interpreted in order to explain the vertical characteristics of the atmosphere. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The vertical characteristics include but are not limited to levels of moisture, temperature inversions, heights of standard levels, the height of the freezing level, wind speed and direction at all levels.
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this Unit Standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this Unit Standard or will assess this Unit Standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • The learner must be able to communicate (orally and written) in English.
  • The learner must be able to operate a computer and the Windows Operating System. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems pertaining to the use of upper air instruments, the generation of data and with plotting of upper air data. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities to have all the required data at hand when plotting and implementing upper air data. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively with users on weather related data. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology to gather, generate and plot weather related data. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems where the accurate gathering and interpreting of weather related data leads to a more effective weather service. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  65649   National Certificate: Official Statistics  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  PSETA 
    Elective  58995   National Certificate: Weather Observation  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  TETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. South African Weather Service 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.