2nd Important notice to Argo users pressure offset errors

This is to provide an update to the earlier notice (see previous notice), with regard to progress in correcting pressure offset errors.

  1. Pressure offset errors in WHOI/FSI Argo float profiles include a subset (a) that can be corrected exactly using automated procedures and a subset (b) that requires expert examination to produce an approximate correction.
    1. Profiles in subset (a) have now been corrected, and replacement of GDAC files for these profiles will be completed by 20 October. Procedures for real-time correction of these profiles are in place as of 10 October. These floats have been removed from the greylist as of 10 October, meaning the profiles will be available on the GTS.
    2. Profiles in subset (b) are undergoing expert examination and the files are being replaced on the GDAC as they are completed. Errors are noted in the files corresponding to the uncertainty in the pressure correction. Since these profiles cannot be corrected automatically, the corresponding instruments continue to be greylisted (i.e. profiles are not on the GTS).
  2. While studying the pressure offset errors, a related problem was discovered in a group of WHOI/SBE profiles. Reported pressures from these instruments corresponded to the bottom pressure of bins rather than to the mid-bin pressure. This 1/2 bin pressure offset error is generally less than for the profiles noted in (1) above. For the affected WHOI/SBE instruments, all profiles have now been corrected and are available on the GDACS. The real-time data stream for these instruments has been corrected (as of 14 September). These instruments are not greylisted.

WMO ID numbers for the affected instruments in each of the groups discussed above are posted below.

The Argo project will continue to improve procedures for detection and correction of data quality problems, and Argo endeavors to provide data of highest possible quality. Users should note that near real-time data are subject only to automated quality checking, and the best quality data for climate research applications are available only in delayed-mode (“D” files). Users can assist by reporting any data quality problems to support@argo.net and to the AST co-chairs if the problems persist.

Dean Roemmich and Howard Freeland, on behalf of the international Argo Steering Team

WMO# for WHOI/FSI floats correctable by automated procedures (group 1a)

FSI_correctable_wmo_list

1900248
1900249
1900258
1900259
1900260
1900494
1900573
3900149
3900150
3900151
3900152
3900153
3900174
3900175
3900176
3900177
3900184
3900185
3900186
3900187
3900188
3900189
3900190
3900191
3900192
3900193
3900194
3900199
3900200
3900364
3900440
3900442
3900492
3900495
3900797
4900429
4900430
4900431
4900432
4900435
4900436
4900437
4900438
4900439
4900440
4900444
4900445
4900446
4900455
4900456
4900457
4900458
4900459
4900462
4900463
4900464
4900590
6900117

WMO# for WHOI/FSI floats not correctable by automated procedures (group 1b)

FSI_uncorrectable_wmo_list

1900261
1900262
1900359
1900360
1900361
1900366
1900415
1900423
1900424
1900425
1900426
1900427
1900428
1900429
1900430
1900431
1900444
1900446
1900447
1900448
1900487
1900491
1900498
1900500
1900501
1900502
1900503
1900504
1900505
1900525
1900526
1900527
1900529
1900530
1900531
1900533
1900534
1900535
1900536
1900537
1900539
1900560
1900561
1900562
1900563
1900564
1900566
1900567
1900569
1900570
1900571
1900574
1900582
1900583
1900635
1900636
1900637
1900639
1900640
1900641
1900642
1900643
1900645
1900646
1900688
1900690
1900702
1900703
1900704
1900706
1900707
1900709
1900710
1900711
1900712
1900713
1900714
1900715
3900265
3900266
3900296
3900351
3900352
3900353
3900357
3900365
3900368
3900369
3900370
3900399
3900400
3900401
3900415
3900418
3900435
3900437
3900438
3900439
3900441
3900443
3900444
3900445
3900478
3900479
3900480
3900481
3900484
3900485
3900486
3900489
3900490
3900493
3900494
3900564
3900565
3900567
3900568
3900569
3900570
3900577
3900578
3900579
3900581
3900601
3900602
3900608
3900798
4900460
4900461
4900469
4900470
4900471
4900544
4900545
4900546
4900548
4900549
4900552
4900554
4900559
4900561
4900564
4900567
4900572
4900576
4900581
4900582
4900584
4900596
4900599
4900600
4900602
4900604
4900605
4900606
4900612
4900613
4900614
4900615
4900616
4900617
4900618
4900619
4900620
4900621
4900622
4900684
4900685
4900686
4900727
4900728
4900730
4900731
4900732
4900745
4900746
4900747
4900748
4900749
4900750
4900751
4900752
4900753
4900754
4900755
4900756
4900757
4900758
4900759
4900771
4900772
4900778
5901102
5901105
6900123
6900124

WMO# for WHOI/SBE corrected floats (group 2)
SBE_wmo_list
1900263
1900264
1900265
1900362
1900363
1900364
1900365
1900445
1900449
1900488
1900489
1900490
1900492
1900493
1900495
1900496
1900497
1900499
1900506
1900528
1900532
1900538
1900565
1900568
1900572
1900575
1900576
1900577
1900578
1900579
1900580
1900581
1900584
1900638
1900644
1900647
1900648
1900649
1900683
1900684
1900685
1900686
1900687
1900689
1900705
1900708
1900716
1900717
1900718
1900719
1900720
1900721
1900732
1900733
1900734
1900735
1900736
1900737
1900738
1900740
1900741
1900742
1900744
1900745
1900746
1900747
1900748
1900749
1900750
1900751
1900752
1900753
1900754
1900755
1900756
1900757
1900758
1900759
1900760
1900761
1900762
1900763
1900764
1900765
1900766
1900767
1900768
1900770
1900771
1900772
1900773
1900774
1900775
1900776
3900231
3900267
3900297
3900354
3900355
3900356
3900358
3900359
3900360
3900361
3900362
3900363
3900367
3900398
3900404
3900405
3900406
3900417
3900419
3900436
3900455
3900482
3900487
3900488
3900491
3900496
3900566
3900574
3900575
3900576
3900580
3900582
3900583
3900592
3900593
3900594
3900595
3900600
3900603
3900604
3900605
3900606
3900607
3900609
3900610
3900611
3900616
3900617
3900618
3900799
3900800
3900801
3900802
4900465
4900466
4900547
4900551
4900553
4900560
4900562
4900563
4900573
4900578
4900579
4900580
4900583
4900589
4900593
4900594
4900595
4900601
4900687
4900729
4900775
4900776
4900777
4900780
4900781
4900782
4900784
4900785
4900786
4900787
4900788
4900789
4900790
4900791
4900792
4900795
4900796
4900797
4900798
4900800
4900801
4900802
4900803
4900804
4900805
4900808
4900817
4900818
4900819
4900823
4900824
4900825
4900826
4900827
4900828
4900829
4900830
4900838
4900839
4900840
5901103
5901104
5901106
5901422
5901423
5901424
5901425
5901426
5901427
5901429
6900125
6900126
6900308
6900309
6900310
6900311
6900312
6900313
7900043
7900044