We want to make sure we are collecting and reporting all the best data
on our website and mobile apps. In order to ensure the best quality
data, we have made some improvements to the PWS dashboard. When the data
from your station appears inaccurate, we now post a message on your
dashboard. If you see the alert, "This station may be reporting
incorrect data", your data has failed our quality control process.
Our quality control process checks your data for the following:
-Neighbor check - Is the temperature at your station reporting significantly different than nearby stations?
-Stuck sensor check - Is the data changing too slow or too fast?
-Range check - Are your values in earth range?
Here are the most common failures:
Temperature (neighbor check):
This is the most common reason that your station gets flagged for bad data. This happens when the temperature at your location is significantly different from nearby stations so it gets flagged and temporarily removed from the maps, apps, and nearby station list. This is the only flag that will remove your station from the site. The other problems will flag your station but will not remove your station from the map, apps, or nearby stations list.
The solution is to compare your temperature data with a calibrated thermometer and adjust the calibration settings in the weather station software if necessary. Or you can send the sensor back to the manufacturer for calibration.
Pressure: (range check) Here are two common issues:
1) The pressure data needs to be adjusted to mean sea level pressure, not absolute pressure. The easiest way to do this is to calibrate your pressure data to match the nearest airport. Check your manual for instructions on calibrating your sensors.
2) The pressure data is coming in as "-999" which means the data does not exist. Many units have an indoor sensor which includes pressure data. Replacing the batteries on your indoor sensor may resolve this issue.
Wind speed/ direction: (range check)
Occasionally, wind speed comes in as valid data but the wind direction data is "-999", which means missing data. To validate your wind direction data, please check your anemometer and weather station software.
Dew point/ humidity: (range check)
Another common problem is the humidity data is coming through as valid data, but dew point is coming in as "-999", which again means missing data. Most often, the weather station software calculates this data based on humidity and temperature. When dew point is not available, but humidity and temperature are, Weather Underground will start calculating this for you. This feature is coming soon.
Our data scientists are continuously improving our quality control algorithms to improve our data quality. We are also building this functionality into the user experience so you can send us the best quality data. So look for more quality control features in the new year!
As always, please feel free to leave your comments, questions and suggestions.
Thanks,
Kari Strenfel
PWS Met
Our quality control process checks your data for the following:
-Neighbor check - Is the temperature at your station reporting significantly different than nearby stations?
-Stuck sensor check - Is the data changing too slow or too fast?
-Range check - Are your values in earth range?
Here are the most common failures:
Temperature (neighbor check):
This is the most common reason that your station gets flagged for bad data. This happens when the temperature at your location is significantly different from nearby stations so it gets flagged and temporarily removed from the maps, apps, and nearby station list. This is the only flag that will remove your station from the site. The other problems will flag your station but will not remove your station from the map, apps, or nearby stations list.
The solution is to compare your temperature data with a calibrated thermometer and adjust the calibration settings in the weather station software if necessary. Or you can send the sensor back to the manufacturer for calibration.
Pressure: (range check) Here are two common issues:
1) The pressure data needs to be adjusted to mean sea level pressure, not absolute pressure. The easiest way to do this is to calibrate your pressure data to match the nearest airport. Check your manual for instructions on calibrating your sensors.
2) The pressure data is coming in as "-999" which means the data does not exist. Many units have an indoor sensor which includes pressure data. Replacing the batteries on your indoor sensor may resolve this issue.
Wind speed/ direction: (range check)
Occasionally, wind speed comes in as valid data but the wind direction data is "-999", which means missing data. To validate your wind direction data, please check your anemometer and weather station software.
Dew point/ humidity: (range check)
Another common problem is the humidity data is coming through as valid data, but dew point is coming in as "-999", which again means missing data. Most often, the weather station software calculates this data based on humidity and temperature. When dew point is not available, but humidity and temperature are, Weather Underground will start calculating this for you. This feature is coming soon.
Our data scientists are continuously improving our quality control algorithms to improve our data quality. We are also building this functionality into the user experience so you can send us the best quality data. So look for more quality control features in the new year!
As always, please feel free to leave your comments, questions and suggestions.
Thanks,
Kari Strenfel
PWS Met
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