Assessment of Airborne Instrument Uncertainty via Measurement Comparisons and Precision Analysis
Abstract
Airborne field campaigns have long understood the importance of well-defined measurement uncertainties and their impact on scientific research. One effective way to assess the uncertainty of different techniques, as well as gain insight into instrument performance, is by comparing measurements of the same parameter made by different instruments or platforms. The primary goal of measurement comparisons is to evaluate whether concurrent measurements are statistically consistent within the combined uncertainties and to explore if the identified measurement differences can be reconciled. The analysis of measurement comparison data is an iterative process. It begins with a statistical characterization of the measurement difference where particular attention is paid to ensure the selected data pair has adequate sampling representativeness. Further analysis is then conducted to examine if the identified measurement differences are dependent on sampling conditions and/or periods of instrument performance issues. Initial results are communicated to the instrument investigators responsible for the measurements. Based on their feedback, the analysis is revised and released to the public. For high resolution measurements (i.e., 1 Hz or higher), a data driven approach is used to analyze the instrument precision. By conducting these types of analyses, we provide insight to users on the quality of measurements reported. A selection of examples showing measurement comparison and precision analysis from DC3, SEAC4RS, and KORUS-AQ will be shown.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFM.A23I2882S
- Keywords:
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- 0394 Instruments and techniques;
- ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE;
- 0399 General or miscellaneous;
- ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE;
- 3394 Instruments and techniques;
- ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES;
- 1990 Uncertainty;
- INFORMATICS