Quality Control of Sea Level Data :

Standards Recommendation

Dr. Lesley Rickards (UK BODC and Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level [PSMSL]) introduced this item and moderated discussions. She reviewed the various quality control procedures that exist for verifying sea level observations. She identified the following data values of sea level would be considered:

• Digitised from paper chart records or obtained electronically at higher frequencies
• From bottom pressure recorder data and water level recorders

Quality Control requirements may be different depending on sampling interval, latency and use to which data are put. The scope of quality control includes: (i) information (metadata) to accompany the data; (ii) automatic checks (iii) “scientific” quality control; and (iv) quality flags.

She noted that the following resources are available:

• Manual on Sea Level Measurement and Interpretation, Volume IV: An update to 2006 (IOC M&G 14; JCOMM TD 31; WMO/TD 1339
• Publications Relevant to the PSMSL and GLOSS - Especially the training materials
• Quality Control of Sea Level Observations (ESEAS 1.0)
• GLOSS Reports: National, Regional and Technical Missions
• Manual of Quality Control Procedures for Validations of Oceanographic Data (IOC M&G 26)