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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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Summary

Principles

Test facilities

Current projects

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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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Reference Climate Network

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Canadian Marine Weather Network

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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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After the freezing rainstorm…

St. John’s, February 2005

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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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Iqaluit 2004

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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.

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Questions?