Post on 19-Dec-2015
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WMO/TECO 2005 1
Functional Testing of Surface Weather Instruments
and Systems
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Rodica NituRodica NituMeteorological Service of CanadaMeteorological Service of Canada
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Quality Meteorological Data
performance of measurement of the instruments (accuracy, resolution, response time, etc);
variability of measurement within a network;
changes in the data sets when using sensors with different operating principles to measure the same weather element;
how well a sensor operates in the specific environmental and climatological conditions, across the network?
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Functional testing
The testing in the outdoor, natural environment
where instruments are expected to operate over
a wide variety of meteorological conditions and
climatic regimes. (WMO, Guide#8)
Goals:• Data quality
• System reliability
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Challenges
Canadian territory: vast size; Canadian climate: variable and diverse;
Meteorological equipment – rarely approaches a commodity definition.
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Challenges
Monitoring programs are major capital expenditures and the procurement decisions require sound information.
Purchases take place within the Government of Canada procurement system which is highly structured, process-bound.
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Canadian Weather Monitoring Networks
In Canada the meteorological sensors and systems operate in a set of observing networks organized according to the primary purpose of the data collected:Public weather,Aviation,Reference climate,Marine,Upper air.
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Testing Program
Fulfills two critical functions:
determining the best mix of instruments and methods of observation that will meet data quality needs with optimal cost/performance ratios.
developing the knowledge base needed to support an effective life cycle management program – identifying and managing potential risks.
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MSC Test Sites
St. John’s, Newfoundland: heavy precipitation, high wind speeds, fog, and freezing rain.
Iqaluit, Nunavut: arctic conditions such as extreme cold, ice crystals.
Egbert, Ontario: continental climate regime. Wiarton, Ontario: heavy snowfall conditions. Bratt’s Lake, Saskatchewan: continental
climate. Stony Plain, Alberta: operational testing of
upper air systems and radiosondes. Burlington, Ontario: testing marine weather
instruments
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St. John’s Newfoundland
Site of the 1994 WMo intercomparisons of present weather sensors.
very active weather; ideal conditions for testing the
performance and the performance limits of any meteorological instrument;
fog; freezing rainstorms.
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Iqaluit, Nunavut
Established in 2004 South-eastern arctic, on Baffin Island. Strong arctic storms with harsh
temperatures, strong winds, heavy precipitation, blowing snow, low visibility, freezing rain.
Has potential to become a base for major research projects.
2007-2008: Storm Studies in the Arctic project.
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Current Projects
reference climate and surface weather networks: wind, pressure, temperature, and humidity sensors;
marine weather network: wind and pressure sensors;
evaluation of automated systems for Nav Canada and Department of Defense.
development of an algorithm for deriving snowfall amount data from snow depth measurements.
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Summary
Meteorological Service of Canada functional testing program:
A quality management system: Data qualitySystem reliability
Pragmatic approach to managing users’ expectations.