For instance, a station's daily average (mean) temperature is calculated by averaging the minimum and maximum temperatures for the day: daily average = (minimum + maximum) / 2.
The most common processing steps used to turn daily weather data into climate data products involve straightforward mathematical operations such as averaging or adding measurements. The data can then be processed to generate climate products such as maps and graphs. Once the COOP data has passed quality control, it becomes part of the larger data record known as the Global Historical Climate Network-Daily (GHCN-D) database. At this point, original data values may be flagged as incorrect, and excluded from further processing, but they are never changed or edited, unless the error was due to incorrect transcriptions by volunteers. For example: does one station report sunshine and warm temperatures in December, while a neighboring station shows windy sub-zero temperatures and snow? If they find inconsistencies, meteorologists methodically track down the source of the inconsistent data. Scientists observe data sets from comparable stations to see if the data makes sense for the region and time of year. Weather data are also checked for consistency across a region. The computer checks patterns in each record for issues such as spikes, flatliners, outliers, excessive ranges, and change points. Meteorologists at NCEI use computers to perform a basic check of all incoming data. Observers submit their raw data to NOAA’s National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI) on a daily or monthly schedule for further quality checks. If they notice something amiss, they can recheck their instrument or discuss the issue they notice with an expert at their local National Weather Service office. Right after making their observations, observers check the records for quality and accuracy themselves. Data Processing Begins with Quality Control
At a minimum, each station records the minimum and maximum temperature of the day and the amount of any precipitation that fell. In some cases, observers record their data on handwritten forms, while in other cases, digital automated instruments record the data. Every day COOP observers follow a consistent and prescribed procedure to check (validate) their instruments and record their data. Started in 1890, the COOP network now spans all corners of our nation: from mountaintops to meadows, urban to rural regions, and from seashores to suburbs.Įach COOP weather station has a set of precise scientific instruments to measure climate variables including temperature, precipitation, evaporation, and snow depth. This program, which includes more than 11,000 stations, is key to obtaining accurate observations across the country. One volunteer weather observer program in the United States is the Cooperative Observer Program (COOP). Image source: COOPĪround the globe, millions of weather observations are recorded each day, by both human observers and automated instruments. In the United States, daily observations at stations that meet specified criteria, methodically collected by volunteer observers and automated weather stations, are used to document our weather and climate. Cooperative Observers Program (COOP) Stations in the lower 48 states.
0 kommentar(er)
