Immler, F.J. and Dykema, J. and Gardiner, T. and Whiteman, D.N. and Thorne, Peter and Vomel, H. (2010) Reference Quality Upper-Air Measurements: guidance for developing GRUAN data products. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 3 (5). pp. 1217-1231. ISSN 1867-8548

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Abstract

The accurate monitoring of climate change im- poses strict requirements upon observing systems, in partic- ular regarding measurement accuracy and long-term stability. Currently available data records of the essential climate vari- ables (temperature- T , geopotential- p , humidity-RH, wind, and cloud properties) in the upper-air generally fail to fulfil such requirements. This raises serious issues about the abil- ity to detect, quantify and understand recent climate changes and their causes. GCOS is currently implementing a Ref- erence Upper-Air Network (GRUAN) in order to fill this major void within the global observing system. As part of the GRUAN implementation plan we provide herein funda- mental guidelines for establishing and maintaining reference quality atmospheric observations which are based on prin- cipal concepts of metrology, in particular traceability. It is argued that the detailed analysis of the uncertainty budget of a measurement technique is the critical step for achieving this goal. As we will demonstrate with an example, detailed knowledge of the calibration procedures and data process- ing algorithms are required for determining the uncertainty of each individual data point. Of particular importance is the careful assessment of the uncertainties introduced by correc- tion schemes adjusting for systematic effects.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Reference Quality; Upper-Air Measurements; GRUAN; data products;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Institutes > Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units, ICARUS
Item ID:	6538
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-3-1217-2010
Depositing User:	Peter Thorne
Date Deposited:	05 Nov 2015 11:09
Journal or Publication Title:	Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Publisher:	European Geosciences Union (EGU)
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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