A Marine Information System for Ocean Predictions
49
The ARGOS software was originally developed for the World Ocean areas and
their temperature characteristics. In particular, the Mediterranean water masses
were considered as a 'noise' and the quality control included in a such software was
discarding the XBT profiles collected in Atlantic areas with the Mediterranean outflow. It was then necessary to modify all the quality control criteria ofthe software,
in order to retain alI those kind of profiles typical of the Mediterranean area (e.g.
homogeneous vertical profiles, temperature at surface lower than at depth, high
gradients even below the surf ace layer, etc.). Although the software was highly
improved it is stiH not adequate for a controlled decimation ofthe temperature profiles in the Mediterranean.
3.5.2 The data collection procedures and quality control on board
The MFS-VOS programme has implemented a series of quality assurance concepts which assured the success of the programme. Protocols were developed for
the assurance of quality of:
• the measurement programme strategy
• the field work
• the collected data
• the use of data.
The goal of the MFS-VOS was the delivery of data for data assimilation in forecast models. In order to reach this goal, the measurement programme was first
designed to capture the main dynamical features of the Mediterranean, then those
commercial ship tracks which assured a regular sampling of these features were
selected.
AII the technicians on board the different ships assured identical field operations.
For this aim, the protocol on quality assurance of field work provided many information on:
• the acquisition/transmission system and its theoretical framework,
• expected results,
• responsibility,
• working procedures,
• safety instructions,
• data quality control,
• deviations with respect to the sampling design and remedies.
A personnel training was done during an 'ad hoc' meeting. Another training
period was done during the first three months of the MFS-VOS programme (September - November 1999). In this period only one cruise per month was carried out
by each ship and a continuous contact between the programme responsible and the
MFS-VOS participants allowed the correction of other possible error.
49
The ARGOS software was originally developed for the World Ocean areas and
their temperature characteristics. In particular, the Mediterranean water masses
were considered as a 'noise' and the quality control included in a such software was
discarding the XBT profiles collected in Atlantic areas with the Mediterranean outflow. It was then necessary to modify all the quality control criteria ofthe software,
in order to retain alI those kind of profiles typical of the Mediterranean area (e.g.
homogeneous vertical profiles, temperature at surface lower than at depth, high
gradients even below the surf ace layer, etc.). Although the software was highly
improved it is stiH not adequate for a controlled decimation ofthe temperature profiles in the Mediterranean.
3.5.2 The data collection procedures and quality control on board
The MFS-VOS programme has implemented a series of quality assurance concepts which assured the success of the programme. Protocols were developed for
the assurance of quality of:
• the measurement programme strategy
• the field work
• the collected data
• the use of data.
The goal of the MFS-VOS was the delivery of data for data assimilation in forecast models. In order to reach this goal, the measurement programme was first
designed to capture the main dynamical features of the Mediterranean, then those
commercial ship tracks which assured a regular sampling of these features were
selected.
AII the technicians on board the different ships assured identical field operations.
For this aim, the protocol on quality assurance of field work provided many information on:
• the acquisition/transmission system and its theoretical framework,
• expected results,
• responsibility,
• working procedures,
• safety instructions,
• data quality control,
• deviations with respect to the sampling design and remedies.
A personnel training was done during an 'ad hoc' meeting. Another training
period was done during the first three months of the MFS-VOS programme (September - November 1999). In this period only one cruise per month was carried out
by each ship and a continuous contact between the programme responsible and the
MFS-VOS participants allowed the correction of other possible error.