The proper use of Synoptic Data

UNCLASSIFIED

Problem area encountered

•Availability and Timeliness of Data

–Data is usually 3-5 hours old by the time it is available

–Not always available when and where it is needed

•Data Coverage

–Coverage is subject to availability of ships, buoys, and land stations

•Data Errors

–Observer errors (encryption and transcription errors)

–Code conversion errors (Computer errors)

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	Problem areas are substantial. No data is without limitations and no data is always 100% accurate. We have to be aware of these limitations, and take them into account when using this data.
	1. Perhaps the biggest problem with synoptic data is the timeliness of it’s availability. We usually don’t see this data until it is already 3 to 5 hours old. An then it is not always available when and where we need it. This is especially true in ocean areas like the southern Indian ocean.
	2. Data coverage is always subject to the availability to land stations, operational buoys, and ships positioned in the area in concern.Quite often data will not be available when and where you need it.
	3. There is also the problem of erroneous data. Observations are still subject to human error, and instrument error. This is especially true with ship data, because the instruments are not stationary fixed instruments. We also have the problem of codes being converted incorrectly. We still have site specific information that is not correctly interpreted. Some areas still report winds in meters per second, some in knots and some in MPH. Some surface pressures are converted to sea level pressure some in millibars and some in inches of mercury.