# Presentation: 083271

## The Water Temperature Metadata Pilot Project(META-T)

*Etienne Charpentier*
*Observing and Information Systems Department*
*World Meteorological Organization*

## Why [instrument] metadata ?

- Understand the measurements made
- Characteristics of the instruments
- Sensing technology
- Accuracy, resolution
- Understand the conditions under which the measurements are made
- Platform siting
- Installation of the instruments (e.g. height)
- Data processing methods
- Understand specificities of instruments
- Calibration information
- Manufacturer information (e.g. batches)

## Requirements for metadata

- Data assimilation and operational models
- Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP)
- Ocean modeling (and validation)
- SST analysis and Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment (GODAE)
- High Resolution SST Pilot Project (GHRSST)
- Data assimilation and ocean field analysis
- Operational activities
- Weather and marine forecasters
- Disaster response
- Climate
- Seasonal to decadal climate variability
- Climate forecast
- Satellite
- Validation
- Bias correction
- Quality assurance activities serving above applications
- Diagnostic by platform operators
- Instrument quality evaluation
- Bias correction

## Accessing metadata is difficult

- Sometimes impossible (records lost)
- Programme manager retired, or left position
- Agency restructured, disappeared
- Metadata available in paper form only
- Owner of the data reluctant (confidence in the data; wants to publish)
- Regarded as low priority; costs involved
- Data on-line but not the metadata

## Establishment of META-T

- JCOMM Workshop, March 2006
*“**Distributing the metadata with the data in real time should facilitate access to them”*
- Established Pilot Project
- Limited to SST and Water Temperature
- Proposed categories and methodology
- Wide range of observing systems
- Steering Team established

## Observing systems to consider

- Argo
- SOOP
- VOS
- Drifters
- Moored buoys
- OceanSITES
- Tide Gauges
- ODAS
- Research Vessels

## META-T workplan

- Categories of metadata (done)
- Categorization (done)
- Data streams (partly done)
- List of metadata to be included in BUFR templates (partly done)
- Metadata servers (in progress)

## Categories

- Category 1: metadata distributed along with the real-time observational reports
- _1.a_: Metadata transmitted directly by the ocean platform (e.g. from the deck of the ship for a VOS)
- _1.b_: Metadata not transmitted directly by the platform but known by the platform operator
- Category 2: metadata made available via dedicated servers
- Category 3: Other delayed mode metadata

## Categorization

- Two steps:
- For each type of applications, list in each category what type of metadata are required
- Do a synthesis, prioritize and produce a generic lists of metadata types to be included in each category whatever the application

## Categorization (step 1 example)

|  | Category 1 | Category 2  | Category 3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NWP  | (SST related only) 
• Platform type 
• Instrument type 
• Instrument height/depth 
• Quality information 
• Data QC’ed indicator (y/n) 
• Data modified indicator (y/n) 
• Sampling intervals and schemes 
• Averaging schemes 
• Unique tag  | Any metadata useful for programme management 
• Operational state of platform 
• Assumed instrument performance/resolution/precision 
• Platform characteristics 
• Instrument calibration status 
• Instrument location information 
• Instrument behaviour 
• Type of algorithm used to convert the data 
• Period of validity of metadata 
• Information regarding data centre processing the data 
• Location of further information 
• Data management information 
• Housekeeping parameter 
• Data telecommunication system  | • Operator of platform or instrument 
• Global programme  |

## Categorization (step 1 example)

|  | Category 1 | Category 2  | Category 3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  diagnostic by platform operators | • Platform type 
• Instrument type 
• Operational state of platform 
• Instrument height/depth 
• Quality information 
• Data QC’ed indicator (y/n) 
• Data modified indicator (y/n) 
• Unique tag 
• Instrument behavior 
• Housekeeping parameter 
 | • Platform characteristics 
• Instrument calibration status 
• Instrument location information 
• Assumed instrument performance/resolution/precision 
• Sampling intervals and schemes 
• Averaging schemes 
• Type of algorithm used to convert the data 
• Period of validity of metadata 
• Information regarding data centre processing the data 
• Location of further information 
• Data management information 
• Data telecommunication system 
 | • Operator of platform or instrument 
• Global programme in which platform is participating 
• Date of last useful transmission 
• Post-calibration information 
 |

## Category 1 (real-time with obs)

**Operational state of platform (e.g. state of ship)**** **
**Platform type** (e.g. moored buoy, drifter, VOS ship, **SOOP** ship, Research Vessel, profiling float, ODAS)
**Instrument type (e.g. manufacturer) **
- Instrument height or depth (e.g. relative to agreed standard)
- Quality information
- Data QC’ed indicator (y/n)
- Data modified indicator (y/n)
- Sampling intervals and schemes
- Averaging schemes
- Unique tag (e.g. CRC)
**Instrument behaviour (e.g. fall rate equation)**** **
- Housekeeping parameter (e.g. battery voltage)

## Category 2 (pull via server)

- Platform characteristics (e.g. size, dimensions, manufacturer)
- Assumed instrument performance/resolution/precision Instrument calibration status
- Instrument location information
- Period of validity of metadata
- Information regarding data centre processing the data
- Location of further information (e.g. photos, drawings)
- Data management information (e.g. creation date, update date)
- Data telecommunication system (e.g. Argos, Iridium, Code 41)
- Type of algorithm used to convert the data

## Category 3

- Operator of platform or instrument
- Global programme in which platform is participating (e.g. Argo, VOS)
- Date of last useful transmission
- Post-Calibration information

## Data streams

- _Done_
- VOS
- SOOP
- Argo
- Buoys
- _To do_
- OceanSITES
- ODAS
- Tide gauges
- Reserch Vessels

## SOOP Data Stream

- Information currently recorded on a quarterly basis
- Observed variables: T, S, depth or pressure; TSG
- Metadata (http://www.jcommops.org/doc/metadata/submission_format.html):
- Line number
- Cruise ID
- Transect number
- Operator
- Name of telecommunication system
- Recorder type
- Instrument type
- Fall rate equation coefficients
- Software version
- Drop number
- Unique tag
- Date of probe batch
- Argos ID (if any)
- Quality of profile
- Ship name
- Ending points
- National programme name
- Total depth
- WMO Publication No. 47

## List of metadata to be included in BUFR templates

- VOS: a list has been proposed
- SOT, buoys, Argo: work remains to be done
- XBT fallrate Workshop can provide advice

## Existing metadata from XBT BUFR template

| Descriptor  | Name  |
| --- | --- |
| 001011  | Ship call sign  |
| 001019  | Ship name  |
| 001080  | Ship line number according to SOOP  |
| 005036  | Ship transect number according to SOOP  |
| 001036  | Agency in charge of operating the observing platform  |
| 007030  | Height of station above MSL  |
| 002040  | Method of removing platform direction and speed from current  |
| 022067  | Instrument type for water temperature profile measurement  |
| 022068  | Water temperature profile recorder type  |
| 033050  | Global GTSPP quality class For global water pressure profile as qualified above  |
| 033050  | Global GTSPP quality class For global water temperature profile as qualified above  |
| 033050  | Global GTSPP quality class For global water salinity profile as qualified above  |
| 033050  | Global GTSPP quality class For global water conductivity profile as qualified above  |
| 025100  | XBT/XCTD fall rate equation coefficient a  |

## Metadata servers

- Mirror servers in development
- NMDIS, China
- also runs the JCOMM ODAS metadata centre
- NOAA/NDBCP, USA
- Daily updates (XML)
- Format proposed
- Metadata from SOOP operators to be submitted to the servers once the system in place

## Recommendations expected form the workshop

- What XBT related metadata
- In category 1 ?
- In category 2 ?
- Other recommendation if required

## Thank you!