[wxqc] Data errors question

[Mike Albrecht]

Hi folks,

This is kind of along the same lines as Paul de Muinck's question re: 
perceived errors - didn't want to steal that thread so thought I'd start 
a new one.

I've been meaning to ask about this for a while. It seems that during 
the warmer months I will be getting lots of Weather Quality error 
reports but I assume things will settle down during the cooler months of 
the year. Only been at this since early spring and have only lived here 
since January so will have to wait and see, but thought I'd check to see 
if it is anything to be concerned about.

We are very close to the ocean beach, about 800 feet, and frequently on 
warmer days will get what I am assuming is a Sea Breeze effect: wind 
will change or increase from the west and will get a rapid, fairly large 
temp decrease. I've gotten so I can predict accurately whether I'll get 
the email filled w/ errors :)

I have looked at the graphs for another station, CW0799, that is 
similarly situated, just down the coast from me. They seem to follow 
mine fairly closely, usually. But, even that short distance away things 
can be very different on the immediate coast and sometimes we don't 
track so well. Other stations up the coast are a bit further inland (it 
doesn't take much!) so not always a good comparison.

Anyhoo, I've watched my Temp error and std dev get larger and larger and 
am just concerned that at some point it will be considered bad enough to 
throw out the data. The nearest METAR station is KHQM and they are 
inland on the harbor - conditions are MUCH different there.

Should I be concerned? Is there anything I should do? I believe my data 
is good, just doesn't agree with the surrounding stations since there 
really aren't that many located on the beach (or within spitting distance.)

Sorry this is getting so long, but I've got a question re: my pressure 
data. That has consistently been reading slightly high. Very small error 
but very consistent. Does it appear that maybe some calibration 
adjustment is in order?

I raised the anemometer since we have shore pine around the property and 
was getting some attenuation from those. Now the anemometer is about 30 
feet up and slightly higher than most of the tips of the branches. Have 
noticed the error moving toward zero steadily but there is still a 
pretty good std. dev. I'm not a statistics person (lots of math 
background but never got into stats stuff unfortunately), so not sure 
exactly how to interpret that.

Well, didn't mean to write a book here. Sorry for the length, just been 
saving all this up. Any insight or direction where to go (I know, I 
know..) to learn more about any of the above is very welcome.

Kind regards,

Mike
http://home.comcast.net/~starjunkie/index.html
-=-=-
To keep your marriage brimming, With love in the loving cup, Whenever 
you're wrong, admit it; Whenever you're right, shut up. -Ogden Nash, 
author (1902-1971)