Quality Control of Meteorological Observations

Quality control of meteorological observations Is an Integral part of atmospheric analysis and prediction, since erroneous observations can adversely impact the accuracy of these environmental products. The meteorological observations are subjected to various validation and error checks, as described In this report, prior to their storage In an operational atmospheric data base at the Fleet the Numerical Oceanography Center (FNOC). The operational atmospheric data base Is used by the Navy's global and regional prediction systems and by the stratospheric analysis. These models provide direct environmental support for fleet operations worldwide. The same quality control procedures were also used for the preliminary error checking of many of the observations gathered during the TCM-90 (Tropical Cyclone Motion) experiment. This Initiative, sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, was one component of several joint experiments conducted In the tropical western Pacific Ocean during the summer of 1990. The observations that are processed are from a variety of sources. Each observing platform has Its own unique error characteristics, which must be taken Into consideration. These sources Include observation of pressure, wind and temperature from ships, fixed and drifting buoys, and land stations. Satellite-based Instruments infer atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles, tropospheric wind velocity, and sea-surface wind speeds. Commercial aircraft report air temperature and wind velocity. Pod the most Important source of information comes from radiosonde and pilot balloon observations of upper atmosphere temperature, moisture, and wind velocity, profile.