Department for Aeronautical Meteorology Experimentations Vigna di Valle - ITALY The Italian Air-Force observation networks for the environmental and meteorological monitoring: from the Control to the Quality Assurance Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005 Maj. Fabio MALASPINA Cap.Francesco FOTI

Department for Aeronautical Meteorology Experimentations Vigna di Valle - ITALY In the mouth of a volcano

Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005 Brief presentation about the Re.S.M.A.; The Italian Air Force environmental and meteorological observation networks; Which’s the purpose of the measures? Which kind of information would we like to find in a measure? Which kind of problems arise in measuring? Important goal: from the data control to the process quality assurance; Conclusions SUBJECTS:

One century of meteorology on the Lake of Bracciano Experimental Area Head Quarter Meteorological Station Department for Aeronautical Meteorology Experimentations Vigna di Valle - ITALY Mobile Meteo Unit

Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005 It has been designated as Site for the World Rain Gauges Intercomparison promoted by the World Meteorology Organization and planned to develop in Vigna di Valle for two years from 2007.

Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005 Brief presentation about the Re.S.M.A.; The Italian Air Force environmental and meteorological observation networks; Which’s the purpose of the measures? Which kind of information would we like to find in a measure? Which kind of problems arise in measuring? Important goal: from the data control to the process quality assurance; Conclusions SUBJECTS:

OBSERVATION NETWORKS OF ITALIAN AIR-FORCE METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE Men-Controlled Weather Stations: Radiosounding n.6+1Radiosounding n h a day n.4424 h a day n.44 Time reduction n.40Time reduction n.40 Airport Stations n.28Airport Stations n.28 Isolated Stations n.56Isolated Stations n.56 TOT. n.84 Automatic Weather Stations (Data Collection Platform): Installed n.73Installed n.73 Ready to install n.30Ready to install n.30 In maintenance n. 7In maintenance n. 7 TOT. n.110 Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005

Paganella m.2129 Antartic: Antartic: Collabration I.M.S. with Scientific Proget Responsible Andrea Pellegrini PNRA SCrl Operative Unit Responsible for meteorological data acquisition Paolo Grigioni ENEA CLIM-OSS Experimental Analysis and Observations Section Plateu Rosà m.3480 Cimone Mountain m.2165 Some Mountains Meteorological Stations of Italian Air Force

PRECIPITATION COLLECTION OZONE SOLAR RADIATION Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005 SINCE 1957 SINCE 1975 SINCE 1958 Special Stations

CARBON DIOXIDE Operative Station: Monte Cimone m2165 Start measurements: 1979 Instrument: No dissipation Infrared (NDIR) Calibration: Every three years, the last some days ago Operative Stations: Vigna di Valle Messina Sestola TOTAL OZONE Start measurements: 1957 Instrument: Dobson Brewer Calibration: Every two years

Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005 Brief presentation about the Re.S.M.A.; The Italian Air Force environmental and meteorological observation networks; Which’s the purpose of the measures? Which kind of information would we like to find in a measure? Which kind of problems arise in measuring? Important goal: from the data control to the process quality assurance; Conclusions SUBJECTS:

Observation networks purpose is to produce quality data about some atmospheric parameters and to make available such data to the scientific community and not only. The long historical series acquire more and more value with time passing and they constitute a national and humanity patrimony; Every new measure modifies or creates new knowledge. Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005

Two different monitoring networks for two different purposes: Global Pollution: not influenced “directly” from sources connected to the human activity and with a. Both special and meteorological measures must be carried out in stations situated far from polluting sources, measure of least quantity for long periods and in apparently uncontaminated areas like high Mountains; Pollution: not influenced “directly” from sources connected to the human activity and with a mainly climatological impact. Both special and meteorological measures must be carried out in stations situated far from polluting sources, measure of least quantity for long periods and in apparently uncontaminated areas like high Mountains; Local Pollution: collected near to the polluting sources, in speaking of metropolises it is known as “Urban”. Its concentrations are higher, there is a short period impact (overcoming of threshold values) and its measure is mainly carried out for the guardianship of the ;Local Pollution: collected near to the polluting sources, in speaking of metropolises it is known as “Urban”. Its concentrations are higher, there is a short period impact (overcoming of threshold values) and its measure is mainly carried out for the guardianship of the human health; GAW Urban Research Meteorology and Environment (GURME) programme Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005

Brief presentation about the Re.S.M.A.; The Italian Air Force environmental and meteorological observation networks; Which’s the purpose of the measures? Which kind of information would we like to find in a measure? Which kind of problems arise in measuring? Important goal: from the data control to the process quality assurance; Conclusions SUBJECTS:

“Natural phenomena are written in this big book that it is always opened in front of our eyes …It is written in mathematical language, and the characters are triangles, circles, and other geometric figures… without these it is a vainly wandering for a dark labyrinth.” Galileo Galilei, Il Saggiatore (1623) What kind of information would we like to find in a measure? Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005 Natural Phenomenon: What happens around us. We want to describe in the most complete way and to save it for present and future studies. We sometimes make measures only for mathematical model analysis

Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005 Brief presentation about the Re.S.M.A.; The Italian Air Force environmental and meteorological observation networks; Which’s the purpose of the measures? Which kind of information would we like to find in a measure? Which kind of problems arise in measuring? Important goal: from the data control to the process quality assurance; Conclusions SUBJECTS:

Machine cannot completely replace man From: “Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement” International Organization for Standardization 1993 Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005 “Although this guide provides a framework for assessing uncertainty, it cannot substitute for critical thinking, intellectual honesty and professional skill. The evaluation of uncertainty is neither a routine task nor a purely mathematical one; it depends on detailed knowledge of the nature of the measurand and of the measurement. The quality and the utility of the uncertainty quoted for the result of the measurement therefore ultimately depend on the understanding, critical analysis, and integrity of those who contribute to the assignement of its value.”

Main problems of the observation networks which effect measures of long historical series Technological changes;Technological changes; Measure of least quantity;Measure of least quantity; Necessity of personnel highly specialized - training;Necessity of personnel highly specialized - training; Remote and uncomfortable site of measure;Remote and uncomfortable site of measure; High management costs;High management costs; Not homogeneous global network (instrumentation, calibrations, methods of measure, exposure).Not homogeneous global network (instrumentation, calibrations, methods of measure, exposure). Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005 “I affirm that when you can measure and express in numbers what about you are speaking, you know indeed something” Lord Kelvin,

Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005 Technological changes: Technological changes: A thermometer screen intercomparison Comparison among several thermometer screens. During a 24 h sampling, differences in temperature more than 1.5 °C have been found especially at the dawn and the sunset (A thermometer screen intercomparison – Jitze P. van der Meulen, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute) Minimum Temperature

Technological changes: Technological changes: “Radiosounding: possibile change in aerological data due to instrument change” 2003 RS RS90 Eight launches, time sampling 2 s A systematic error of 0.2 °C has been found (known from Article Luers, problem of the RS90 solved in the RS92). (F.Malaspina, F.Foti, E.Vuerich and G.Casu – “Radiosounding: possible change in aerological data due to instrument change” – Il NUOVO CIMENTO volume 27C n.5, sett-ott 2004) RS92 is the reference Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005

X X { H=1.25 ÷2m snow For CLIMATE studies in particular, temperature measurements are affected by the state of the surrounding, by vegetation, by presence of buildings and other objects, by ground cover, by condition and changes in design of the radiation shield or screen, and by other changes in equipment. Temperature is one of the meteorological quantities whose measurement are particularly sensitive to exposure. (Guide 8 WMO-1996) It is important that should be kept not only the meteorological measurement values, but also the circumstances in which the measurements are made. Such information is known as metadata - data about data.

Measure of least quantity: Measure of least quantity: simple item of the air temperature Sensor Accuracy ±0.08°C Screen or shelter or shield Measurement System Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005 Data Logger RESOLUTION=a quantitative expression of the ability of an indicating device to distinguish meaninfully between closely adjacent values of the quantity indicated, for display presentation tenth, hundredth,... System ACCURACY= the closeness of the agreement between the result of measurement and the true value of the measurand.

Francis Bacon ( ) “If a man will depart from certainties he will find himself at the end with doubts; if instead he will be satisfied with departing from doubts, it will reach certainties.” Francis Bacon ( ) Prob{T(t o )=  (t o )±1.96  (t o ) }  0.95  = 1.96  (t o Prob{T(t o )=  (t o )±1.96  (t o ) }  0.95  = 1.96  (t o )  instrumental error }   instrumental error Randon process generally non stationary with high accurancy Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th

Measure of least quantity: Measure of least quantity: simple item of the air temperature ACCURACY …. The statistic error has to be consistent with the precision with which the measures have been performed as also the average and standard deviation Data-elaboration must respect: Resolution  accuracy Example: the choice of the average meaningful digits must be consistent with the accuracy of the measuring system “The true problem for the climatologist to settle during the present century is not whether the climate has lately changed, but what our present climate is, what its well-defined features are, and how they can most clearly be expressed in numbers” Cleveland Abbe, 1889 – Chief scientist in the weather service of the Army Signal Office

An open sky laboratory The accumulations under the Stevenson Screen change the albedo

Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005 Remote and often uncomfortable site of measure By Claudio Rafanelli Cnr- Isac, Rome

Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005 Remote and often uncomfortable site of measure By Claudio Rafanelli Cnr- Isac, Rome

Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005 Remote and often uncomfortable site of measure

No homogeneity among instruments: UV-A radiation Different spectral response for similar instruments produce very different results. (Rafanelli-CNR ISAC-Rome) Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005

Brief presentation about the Re.S.M.A.; The Italian Air Force environmental and meteorological observation networks; Which’s the purpose of the measures? Which kind of information would we like to find in a measure? Which kind of problems arise in monitoring background pollution? Important goal: from the data control to the process quality assurance; Conclusions SUBJECTS:

“good quality data” not necessary excellent: Data are of good quality when they satisfies the requisite dictated by the purpose for which they have been produced. Data are not necessarily excellent, but it is essential that their quality is known and demostrable. Without a quality system, data must be regarded as being of uncertain or unknown quality, and their usefullness is diminished (Guide n.8 WMO 1996) Only the “well defined” information turns the uncertainty into Measurable Risk and can engrave in the decisional process. I want to be sure of the quality of your data Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16 th 2005

MAIN PROBLEMS: -Lost data irrecoverable and of no use cost, and control can be made after long time; - -Generally the Statistical description of the past is not the probability evaluation of future (David Hume) we can exclude the most meaningful data; -Data absence during a period makes not representative the historical series. Quality Control is the best known component of quality management system, and it is the irreducible minimum of any system. It consists of examination of data in stations and in data centers to detect errors so that the data may be either corrected or deleted. (Guide n. 8 WMO- 1996) Measure method Signals Measure equipment Variable of influence Operator ONE MEASURE : number, uncertainty, Measure unit ONE MEASURE : number, uncertainty, Measure unit Measure process Measuring InputOuput What means “Quality Control”? It consists of examination of final data

The provision of good quality meteorological data is not a simple matter, and it is impossible without a quality management system. The best quality systems operate continuously at all point in the whole observation system, from network planning and training, through installation and station operations to data trasmission and archiving, and they include feed-back and follow-up provisions on time scales from near-real time to annual reviews. Measure method Signals Measure equipment Variable of influence Operator ONE MEASURE : number, uncertainty, Measure unit ONE MEASURE : number, uncertainty, Measure unit Measure process Measuring InputOuput Without a quality system, the data must be regarded as being of uncertain or unknown quality, and their usefullness is diminished (Guide n.8 WMO 1996) What means “Quality Assurance”? It consists of examination in the whole process

In climate studies it is important to know the circumstances in which the measurements are made (exposure, calibration, etc); The main purpose of monitoring networks must be to describe natural phenomena in the most complete way; Machine cannot completely replace man, the choice of the meaningful digits must be consistent with the uncertainity in measurement; “Good quality data” need examination in the whole measurement process: quality is not a cost, but an investment; Every new measure modifies or creates new knowledge, long historical series constitute an humanity patrimony. CONCLUSIONS: “ Not all numbers are data” Mountains, witnesses of the global changes Rome November 16th 2005

it is required besides that everywhere it is observed and investigated with the same understanding and with the same equipments, which means with unity of method and with well compared instruments among them”. “But, in order that the meteorological studies give a real advantage for the human consortium, it is not enough that many observatories are established on a vast extension of the country, and that in everyone of these the observations are made with intelligence and accuracy; it is required besides that everywhere it is observed and investigated with the same understanding and with the same equipments, which means with unity of method and with well compared instruments among them”. Father Francesco Denza, Italian Meteorological Society For further informations: THANK YOU