Surface In situ Datasets for Marine Climatological Applications

Abstract

Climatological products are required for monitoring and studying global climate change and accurately identifying secular trends over the past two centuries. These products require consistent and wellcharacterised observational data and metadata from the earliest ship observations and from the modern ocean observing system. Maintaining and developing longterm surface marine climatological datasets requires a different approach to data management than for operational applications.The current management of climatological datasets is discussed and specific modernization steps recommended. The status of relevant in situ observing systems is reviewed in the context of available satellite data. The extent to which requirements for maintaining sampling, redundancy, and consistency are met by existing data delivery mechanisms is considered. Recommendations include: data and metadata rescue; maintaining consistency with the historical record; modernization of data flow and climatological products; for observations with added-value through improved metadata, quality control and uncertainty characterization; and improved dataset construction methods.

The Data Management System for the Shipboard Automated Meteorological and Oceanographic System (SAMOS) Initiative

“… Establish two international DACs, similar to the JCOMM structures used both by Argo [9], and by VOS via two Global Collecting Centers (GCCs, [14]). This approach would provide redundancy for data preservation and validation of operational procedures.…”

“…All three options might benefit from the development of new working relationships or agreements at the JCOMM level, and in particular-due to increasing technological similarities developing between VOS and SAMOS data-the potential for closer cooperation and synergies with a planned modernization of the two GCCs [14].…”

“…the International Comprehensive Ocean Atmosphere Data Set, ICOADS, [16]). VOS (and many other types of in-situ marine) data are contributed to ICOADS either through real-time data exchange on the GTS or through delayed-mode data transfer [14]. It is critical that SAMOS observations be clearly identified in climate archives so they can be excluded for archive comparison and model validation studies.…”

The Role of the International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set in the Sustained Ocean Observing System

“… Nations and organizations taking and holding marine surface observations, both historical and contemporary, should consider the value of adding their data to ICOADS [40].…”

“…Furthermore, all delayedmode VOS and VOS Climate (VOSClim) data from contributing maritime nations [22] are critical components for ICOADS. A planned modernization of the delayed-mode VOS system under JCOMM could lead to multiple benefits: increasing the quantity of full meteorological reports from ships [22], providing a secure environment for the handling of time-sensitive information such as ship identifiers, creating more accurate marine reference data and products, and potentially even better observational data as new quality control schemes are initiated [40].…”