DATA QUALITY MONITORING

[ Introduction ] [ Participating Centres ] [ Lead Centre Monitoring ] [ Procedures and Formats ] [ Report Types ] [ Focal Points ] [ Related Links ]

Report Types

1. Monthly monitoring

• Land surface observations (SYNOP). Lists are produced for synoptic stations considered to have reported suspect observations of mean sea level pressure (MSLP) and station level pressure. The monitoring of suspect station level pressure observations is optional. Precipitation monitoring is conducted in accordance with Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC) procedures, as given in section 6.3.3.1. of Guide on the GDPS.
  
  
• Surface marine observations. Reports for 'suspect' platforms for ship and buoy data are currently produced for the variables mean sea level pressure (MSLP), wind speed, wind direction and sea surface temperature (SST). Air temperature and relative humidity are not mandatory but should be included where possible.
  
  
• Upper-air observations. Reports include both land stations, ships and profilers. The variables currently monitored for suspect values are geopotential height, wind speed and wind direction. The inclusion of temperature monitoring at standard levels is planned, as is the addition of radiosonde humidity monitoring.
  
  
• Aircraft data. Monthly reports are produced of suspect aircraft temperatures and suspect wind observations.
  
  
• Satellite data. Various elements are monitored, depending on the satellite type and onboard instrumentation. For examples of satellite monitoring see:
   
   https://www.nwpsaf.eu/site/monitoring/nrt-monitoring/
  

2. Six-monthly monitoring

• Upper-air observations. ECMWF, the lead centre for monitoring upper air data prepares quarterly reports of suspect upper-air stations. The reports include suspect geopotential height, wind speed and wind direction. 
  
  
• Surface marine observations. The UK Met Office produces a six-monthly Marine Monitoring Report that identifies consistently low quality platforms, both ships and buoys, and includes supporting time-series plots for each suspect platform.
  
  
• Aircraft data. RSMC Washington is responsible for preparing six-monthly reports of aircraft reporting suspect observations of temperature and wind. 
  
  
• Land surface observations (SYNOP). The six lead centres for monitoring land surface data prepare six-monthly consolidated reports of stations consistently reporting suspect mean sea level data and geopotential height

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