SGP/ECOR/E16 - Data suspect due to inability to run QC

Some QC checks were unsuccessful due to a communication failure that resulted in 
contaminated QC field data.

All the data that are based on water vapor density and CO2 concentration are "suspect" 
because many of the standard QC checks were not employed.

• number of samples with \IRGA hardware problem\ flag(n_bad_irga)
• latent heat flux(lv_e)
• covariance of qc(cvar_qc)
• kurtosis of variable c(kurt_c)
• rotated covariance uq(cvar_rot_uq)
• rotated covariance vc(cvar_rot_vc)
• mixing ratio(mr)
• number of valid c samples(n_good_c)
• 0=real or 1=dummy value of lv(real_lv)
• specific heat of moist air(cp)
• covariance wq(cvar_wq)
• 0=real or 1=dummy value of rho(real_rho)
• skewness of variable c(skew_c)
• mean value of out of range values and spikes of c -9999 if no spikes(mean_spk_c)
• covariance uq(cvar_uq)
• mean value of out of range values and spikes of q -9999 if no spikes(mean_spk_q)
• number of q samples removed due to spikes(n_spk_q)
• mean co2 concentration (c)(mean_c)
• rotated covariance uc(cvar_rot_uc)
• mean water vapor concentration (q)(mean_q)
• variance of variable q(var_q)
• latent heat of vaporization(lv)
• number of bad or out of range q samples(n_bad_q)
• 0=real or 1=dummy value of mr(real_mr)
• covariance vq(cvar_vq)
• Retrieved water vapor density profile(rho)
• rotated covariance wc(cvar_rot_wc)
• covariance wc(cvar_wc)
• 0=real or 1=dummy value of cp(real_cp)
• average voltage of IRGA cooler(mean_cooler)
• skewness of variable q(skew_q)
• covariance of tq(cvar_tq)
• covariance uc(cvar_uc)
• number of samples with IRGA optical path blocked flag(n_bad_irga_light)
• variance of variable c(var_c)
• rotated covariance wq(cvar_rot_wq)
• average atmospheric pressure (IGRA internal sensor)(atm_pres)
• covariance vc(cvar_vc)
• rotated covariance vq(cvar_rot_vq)
• average temperature (IGRA internal sensor)(temp_irga)
• number of valid q samples(n_good_q)
• number of c samples removed due to spikes(n_spk_c)
• kurtosis of variable q(kurt_q)
• CO2 flux(fc)
• covariance of tc(cvar_tc)
• number of bad or out of range c samples(n_bad_c)

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported(Raw data stream - documentation not supported)

SGP/ECOR/E16 - Missing data

Data are missing and unrecoverable.

• altitude above sea levelaltunits(alt)
• number of samples with \IRGA hardware problem\ flag(n_bad_irga)
• north latitude for all the input platforms.(lat)
• rotated covariance ut(cvar_rot_ut)
• latent heat flux(lv_e)
• number of valid u samples(n_good_u)
• number of samples with bad sonic status flag(n_bad_son_ic)
• 0=real or 1=dummy value of lv(real_lv)
• variance of variable u(var_u)
• covariance wq(cvar_wq)
• 0=real or 1=dummy value of rho(real_rho)
• vw covariance(cvar_vw)
• corrected sensible heat flux(h)
• standard deviation of wind elevation angle(std_elev)
• variance of variable w(var_w)
• wT covariance(cvar_wt)
• Time offset of tweaks from base_time(time_offset)
• mean w (vertical) wind component(mean_w)
• number of valid t samples(n_good_t)
• covariance vq(cvar_vq)
• Retrieved water vapor density profile(rho)
• rotated covariance wt(cvar_rot_wt)
• variance of variable c(var_c)
• vector averaged wind speed(wind_spd)
• covariance vc(cvar_vc)
• momentum flux (dynamic)(k)
• skewness of variable t(skew_t)
• standard deviation of wind direction(std_wind_dir)
• covariance of tc(cvar_tc)
• number of valid q samples(n_good_q)
• number of v samples removed due to spikes(n_spk_v)
• vertical (elevation) wind angle(elev)
• kurtosis of variable u(kurt_u)
• kurtosis of variable c(kurt_c)
• Time offset from base_time(base_time)
• rotated covariance uq(cvar_rot_uq)
• mixing ratio(mr)
• rotated mean v(mean_rot_v)
• number of valid c samples(n_good_c)
• covariance vt(cvar_vt)
• number of bad or out of range v samples(n_bad_v)
• number of bad or out of range u samples(n_bad_u)
• mean value of out of range values and spikes of t -9999 if no spikes(mean_spk_t)
• variance of variable v(var_v)
• mean co2 concentration (c)(mean_c)
• mean water vapor concentration (q)(mean_q)
• rotated mean w(mean_rot_w)
• rotated covariance vt(cvar_rot_vt)
• covariance wc(cvar_wc)
• number of w samples removed due to spikes(n_spk_w)
• skewness of variable q(skew_q)
• covariance of tq(cvar_tq)
• mean horizontal wind speed(mean_rot_u)
• mean value of \spike\ u samples(mean_spk_u)
• number of valid w samples(n_good_w)
• number of t samples removed due to spikes(n_spk_t)
• average atmospheric pressure (IGRA internal sensor)(atm_pres)
• rotated covariance vq(cvar_rot_vq)
• average temperature (IGRA internal sensor)(temp_irga)
• number of c samples removed due to spikes(n_spk_c)
• number of u samples removed due to spikes(n_spk_u)
• covariance ut(cvar_ut)
• friction velocity(ustar)
• covariance of qc(cvar_qc)
• rotated variance v(var_rot_v)
• vector averaged wind direction(wind_dir)
• variance of variable t(var_t)
• mean value of \spike\ v samples(mean_spk_v)
• kurtosis of variable w(kurt_w)
• skewness of variable c(skew_c)
• mean value of out of range values and spikes of c -9999 if no spikes(mean_spk_c)
• number of bad or out of range w samples(n_bad_w)
• mean value of out of range values and spikes of q -9999 if no spikes(mean_spk_q)
• number of q samples removed due to spikes(n_spk_q)
• Vertical angle of wind(phi)
• variance of variable q(var_q)
• rotated covariance uc(cvar_rot_uc)
• skewness of variable w(skew_w)
• number of bad or out of range q samples(n_bad_q)
• kurtosis of variable v(kurt_v)
• rotated variance u(var_rot_u)
• number of bad or out of range t samples(n_bad_t)
• 0=real or 1=dummy value of cp(real_cp)
• average voltage of IRGA cooler(mean_cooler)
• Down-boom wind velocity (u)(mean_u)
• rotated covariance uw(cvar_rot_uw)
• Cross-boom wind velocity (v)(mean_v)
• kurtosis of variable q(kurt_q)
• number of bad or out of range c samples(n_bad_c)
• rotated variance w(var_rot_w)
• mean value of \spike\ w samples(mean_spk_w)
• kurtosis of variable t(kurt_t)
• rotated covariance vc(cvar_rot_vc)
• uw covariance(cvar_uw)
• specific heat of moist air(cp)
• Time offset from midnight of date of file. For CO data, this is identical to
  time_offset and is included for compatibility.(time)
• skewness of variable u(skew_u)
• covariance uq(cvar_uq)
• rotated covariance uv(cvar_rot_uv)
• east longitude for all the input platforms.(lon)
• latent heat of vaporization(lv)
• mean sonic temperature (t), i.e. virtual temperature(mean_t)
• 0=real or 1=dummy value of mr(real_mr)
• skewness of variable v(skew_v)
• rotated covariance wc(cvar_rot_wc)
• covariance uv(cvar_uv)
• covariance uc(cvar_uc)
• number of samples with IRGA optical path blocked flag(n_bad_irga_light)
• rotated covariance wq(cvar_rot_wq)
• rotated covariance vw(cvar_rot_vw)
• number of valid v samples(n_good_v)
• CO2 flux(fc)

SGP/ECOR/E16  - Reprocess: Incorrectly flagged (marked as "bad") H2O/CO2 data

Due to system clock instability on ECOR computers their system time is adjusted 
approximately once per hour; sometimes this adjustment leads to backward time jumps over midnight, 
into the previous day. In this case all the data based on CO2/H2O measurements might be 
erroneously marked as bad. Below is a list of times when that might have happen. 

SITE    YEAR    MONTH   DAY     HOUR    MINUTE
16      2004    02      23      00      00
16      2004    02      28      00      00
16      2004    03      01      00      00
16      2004    03      09      00      00
16      2004    03      15      00      00
16      2004    03      17      00      00
16      2004    03      22      00      00
16      2004    03      30      00      00
16      2004    04      02      00      00
16      2004    07      22      00      00
16      2004    08      06      00      00
16      2004    09      05      00      00
16      2004    09      20      00      00
16      2005    03      13      00      00

• latent heat flux(lv_e)
• covariance of qc(cvar_qc)
• rotated covariance vc(cvar_rot_vc)
• mixing ratio(mr)
• number of valid c samples(n_good_c)
• 0=real or 1=dummy value of lv(real_lv)
• specific heat of moist air(cp)
• covariance wq(cvar_wq)
• 0=real or 1=dummy value of rho(real_rho)
• skewness of variable c(skew_c)
• mean value of out of range values and spikes of c -9999 if no spikes(mean_spk_c)
• covariance uq(cvar_uq)
• mean value of out of range values and spikes of q -9999 if no spikes(mean_spk_q)
• number of q samples removed due to spikes(n_spk_q)
• mean co2 concentration (c)(mean_c)
• rotated covariance uc(cvar_rot_uc)
• mean water vapor concentration (q)(mean_q)
• variance of variable q(var_q)
• latent heat of vaporization(lv)
• number of bad or out of range q samples(n_bad_q)
• 0=real or 1=dummy value of mr(real_mr)
• covariance vq(cvar_vq)
• Retrieved water vapor density profile(rho)
• rotated covariance wc(cvar_rot_wc)
• covariance wc(cvar_wc)
• 0=real or 1=dummy value of cp(real_cp)
• skewness of variable q(skew_q)
• covariance of tq(cvar_tq)
• covariance uc(cvar_uc)
• variance of variable c(var_c)
• rotated covariance wq(cvar_rot_wq)
• covariance vc(cvar_vc)
• rotated covariance vq(cvar_rot_vq)
• number of valid q samples(n_good_q)
• CO2 flux(fc)
• covariance of tc(cvar_tc)
• number of bad or out of range c samples(n_bad_c)
• number of c samples removed due to spikes(n_spk_c)

SGP/VCEIL/B4 - Detection optics degrading

Backscatter plots exhibited horizontal striping due to electronic ringing of either the 
detector or the associated amplification electronics.  The instrument was changed out on 
May 10.

The ceilometer continued to correctly detected clouds during this period, though users 
should be aware of the degraded performance.

• Aerosol volume backscattering coefficient at 355 nm(backscatter)

SGP/THWAPS/B4 - Minor biases in humidity and saturation vapor pressure

The THWAPS humidity sensor output was scaled so that the instrument output voltage range 
(0-1VDC) represented 0-100 %RH. Comparisons with the co-located chilled mirror sensor at 
the CF suggested that the THWAPS RH sensor was reading artifically low at high humidities 
because of this 100 %RH maximum. 

The scaling of the system was changed so that 0-1 VDC now represents 0-110 %RH. This 
resulted in a slight loss of precision in the measurements, but since the RH measurement is 
only accurate to 2-3 %RH at best, this isn't a significant problem.

The saturation vapor correction when temps are below 0C contained an error in the 
multiplier.  The incorrect multiplier only equates to an error of 0.01 kPa which is less than the 
stated uncertainty of the measurement (+/- 0.035 kPa).

• Relative humidity scaled, by total column amount from MWR(rh)
• Vapor Pressure (kiloPascals)(vap_pres)

SGP/THWAPS/B4 - RH values exceeding 105%

RH measurements were reaching the max value of 105% on a consistent basis.  Spider web 
internal to the sensor housing was found and removed.

• Relative humidity scaled, by total column amount from MWR(rh)
• Standard deviation of Vapor Pressure(sd_vap_pres)
• Vapor Pressure (kiloPascals)(vap_pres)
• Standard deviation of Relative Humidity(sd_rh)

SGP/ECOR/E16 - LI-7500 Pressure and Temperature missing

The pressure and temperature measurements were not recorded; the LI-7500 serial datastream 
was not being captured by the ECOR system because of a serial port failure.

Some degradation of the latent and sensible heat fluxes may have occurred during high 
summer temperatures.  The error in the fluxes would be no more than 5 to 10% of the 
measurement, still well within the measurement error of the system.

• latent heat of vaporization(lv)
• latent heat flux(lv_e)
• corrected sensible heat flux(h)
• average atmospheric pressure (IGRA internal sensor)(atm_pres)
• Retrieved water vapor density profile(rho)
• average temperature (IGRA internal sensor)(temp_irga)
• specific heat of moist air(cp)

SGP/ECOR/E16 - Latent Heat and CO2 Fluxes Incorrect

The LI-7500 CO2/H2O water vapor sensor was removed during this period.

• latent heat flux(lv_e)
• covariance of qc(cvar_qc)
• kurtosis of variable c(kurt_c)
• rotated covariance uq(cvar_rot_uq)
• rotated covariance vc(cvar_rot_vc)
• number of valid c samples(n_good_c)
• specific heat of moist air(cp)
• covariance wq(cvar_wq)
• 0=real or 1=dummy value of rho(real_rho)
• skewness of variable c(skew_c)
• mean value of out of range values and spikes of c -9999 if no spikes(mean_spk_c)
• covariance uq(cvar_uq)
• mean value of out of range values and spikes of q -9999 if no spikes(mean_spk_q)
• number of q samples removed due to spikes(n_spk_q)
• mean co2 concentration (c)(mean_c)
• rotated covariance uc(cvar_rot_uc)
• mean water vapor concentration (q)(mean_q)
• variance of variable q(var_q)
• number of bad or out of range q samples(n_bad_q)
• covariance vq(cvar_vq)
• Retrieved water vapor density profile(rho)
• rotated covariance wc(cvar_rot_wc)
• covariance wc(cvar_wc)
• 0=real or 1=dummy value of cp(real_cp)
• skewness of variable q(skew_q)
• covariance of tq(cvar_tq)
• covariance uc(cvar_uc)
• variance of variable c(var_c)
• rotated covariance wq(cvar_rot_wq)
• covariance vc(cvar_vc)
• rotated covariance vq(cvar_rot_vq)
• number of valid q samples(n_good_q)
• kurtosis of variable q(kurt_q)
• CO2 flux(fc)
• covariance of tc(cvar_tc)
• number of bad or out of range c samples(n_bad_c)
• number of c samples removed due to spikes(n_spk_c)

SGP/THWAPS/B4 - Temp and RH data incorrect

After sensor replacement the temperature values are too low.  The range of the sensor was 
incorrectly set at -40 to 80 instead of -30 to 70.  RH values are also suspect.

• Standard Deviation of Air Temperature(sd_temp)
• Environmental Temperature (hybrid-b grid)(temp)
• Relative humidity scaled, by total column amount from MWR(rh)
• Standard deviation of Vapor Pressure(sd_vap_pres)
• Vapor Pressure (kiloPascals)(vap_pres)
• Standard deviation of Relative Humidity(sd_rh)

SGP/THWAPS/B4 - Reprocess: RH% values 9% High

After replacement of the THWAPS T/RH sensor the span was incorrectly set to 0-100 instead 
of 0-110.  This caused the RH values to be 9% higher than actual values.

• Relative humidity scaled, by total column amount from MWR(rh)
• Vapor Pressure (kiloPascals)(vap_pres)