Abstract
Comparability techniques have been applied operationally to processing meteorological measurements. Examples of comparability statistics are presented for both typical and atypical (instrument problem) situations. The comparability techniques have been successfully applied to provide the basis for realtime validation of data. The application has particular advantage in the support of emergency response.
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has been developing a standard recommended practice for determining the operational comparability of meteorological measurements. This standard is based on the work of W. Hoehne of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). We have adapted some of the techniques of this practice here for realtime application in an operational monitoring program.
NUS Corporation has incorporated the adapted techniques into the data processor at a meteorological tower. The original NOAA techniques were aimed at assessing the precision and accuracy of an instrument under field conditions. This adaptation is aimed at assessing the realtime comparability of observations from dual colocated instruments in order to detect malfunctions or questionable data. The adaptation is used as the primary basis to make realtime decisions to keep or reject data every 15 minutes.
