The industry's recognized authority for design, engineering and application of equipment and services in the global ocean community
Issue link: http://sea-technology.epubxp.com/i/639963
Mark Bushnell, Technical Coordinator, NOAA/U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System/QARTOD www.sea-technology.com February 2016 / st 7 editorial SEA TECHNOLOGY® I N C L U D I N G U N D E RS EA TEC H N O L O G Y The Industry's Recognized Authority for Design, Engineering and Application of Equipment and Services in the Global Ocean Community Charles H. Bussmann Founder and Publisher 1924-1999 publisher C. Amos Bussmann managing editor Aileen Torres-Bennett assistant editor Christopher Johnson editorial consultant Charles W. Covey production manager Russell S. Conward assistant design/ Joshua Ortega website manager advertising Susan M. Ingle Owen service manager ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES: HEADQUARTERS C. Amos Bussmann 1600 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1010 Arlington, VA 22209 Tel: (703) 524-3136 • FAX: (703) 841-0852 e-mail: seatechads@sea-technology.com NORTH AMERICA, EAST COAST Clive Bullard Bullard Communications 107 Lane Gate Road Cold Spring, NY 10516 Tel: (845) 231-0846 • FAX: (845) 265-9695 e-mail: cbullards@cs.com NORTH AMERICA, WEST COAST John Sabo Barbara Sabo Gregory Sabo John Sabo Associates 447 Herondo St. #305 Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 Tel: (310) 374-2301 • FAX: (310) 400-5635 e-mail: bsabo@jsaboassoc.com EUROPE John Gold John F. Gold & Associates "Highview" 18a Aultone Way Sutton, Surrey, SM1 3LE, England Phone/FAX Nat'l: 020-8641-7717 Int'l: +44-20-8641-7717 e-mail: johnfgold@gmail.com Sea Technology back issues available on microform. Contact: NA Publishing, Inc. P.O. Box 998, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-0998 1-800-420-6272 COMPASS PUBLICATIONS, INC. 1600 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1010 Arlington, VA 22209-2510 Tel: (703) 524-3136 FAX: (703) 841-0852 oceanbiz@sea-technology.com www.sea-technology.com publishers of: Sea Technology Commercial Fisheries News Fish Farming News Commercial Marine Directory Fish Farmers Phone Book/Directory Sea Technology Buyers Guide/Directory Sea Tech e-News Celebrating more than 50 years of serving the global ocean community - Since 1963 - Managing Real-Time Oceanographic QC I n the old days, we deployed instruments in the ocean and returned a year later, hoping they had worked, we could fnd them, and the data were recoverable. We hoarded the data like treasure until the last publication had been extracted. Since then, dramatic improvements have occurred in sensor technology, data communications, batteries and biofouling prevention. We're now awash in real- time data that meet many needs. But, how can we know the quality of the data? In 2003, NOAA's National Data Buoy Center hosted a grass-roots meeting to discuss measuring and reporting data quality. Seventy participants named the event "Quality Assurance of Real-Time Oceanographic Data" (QARTOD) and adopted its frst law: Every real-time observation distributed to the ocean community must be accompanied by a quality descriptor. After meetings spread over six years, partici- pants had addressed quality control (QC) of in-situ wave and current observations, but there was no program to offcially adopt the recommendations. In 2012, Capt. Ray Toll (U.S. Navy, retired) proposed the QARTOD project to the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Program Offce, where it was ac- cepted. U.S. IOOS and a QARTOD board of advisors, comprised of oceanographic experts from the private and public sector, have established a well-honed process to ensure the development, vetting and formal adoption of QC manuals. During this process, a manual is distributed nationally and internationally to subject mat- ter experts from U.S. government agencies, academic and research institutions, manufacturers of the sensors/systems, and data consumers, all of which have the opportunity to provide feedback. A fnal manual is truly a refection of community input but is also a living document. The need for real-time QC is broadly accepted by the ocean observing commu- nity. Critical decisions are made based upon the data, so data providers (operators) and users expect verifed observations. Examples of data application include water levels used to compute vessel under-keel clearance, current observations support- ing search and rescue, optical observations used to regulate offshore dredge ma- terials disposal, and wave thresholds controlling coastal engineering projects. The QARTOD project brings standardized tests for each variable, and the 11 U.S. IOOS Regional Associations must have plans in place to adopt these tests to be certifed as a Regional Information Coordination Entity. The QARTOD manuals focus on real-time data and the need to automate QC to the maximum extent possible—while recognizing the value of skilled operator oversight. In most cases, each new data point must be evaluated, fagged and dis- seminated immediately without the beneft of a subsequent observation in space or time. Although the purpose of the manuals is not to instruct operators on the proper sensor selection, calibration technique or other quality assurance issues, many best practices critical for accurate data are addressed in appendices. Manu- als addressing waves, currents, dissolved oxygen, temperature and salinity, water levels, winds, ocean optics, and dissolved nutrients are posted at ioos.noaa.gov/qa rtod, as well as a document describing the data fagging scheme adopted by IOOS. Legally defensible, real-time data in the public domain requires real-time qual- ity control. Perhaps the most important outcome of QARTOD is the example it can provide to emerging operational observations, such as pH/ocean acidifcation, harmful algal blooms, or whatever an ice-free Arctic may bring. As we expand the use of resources provided by our oceans, these manuals guide the future QC process. The U.S. IOOS Program Offce appreciates the assistance provided by contribu- tors and reviewers. If you are interested in being involved in the QARTOD project, please email mark.bushnell@noaa.gov. ST