Quality Assurance
This page describes known issues with the AWS and our routine performance monitoring to ensure the highest possible data quality. Although we strive to provide high quality data, you should never base important decisions on the data that we publish. Events or incidents that affect the operation of our PWS and adversely impact on the availability or quality of the data are recorded in our Operations Log.
Measured Elements
Rainfall
The AWS rainfall sensor has a resolution of 0.3 mm and is used for all real-time reporting. The standard rain gauge is read to 0.1 mm and is used for all daily and monthly reporting, and long-term statistics. The daily rainfall from the AWS are routinely compared against the standard rain gauge, with the ongoing comparison able to calculate a software correction for greater accuracy of the AWS rainfall data. The daily rainfall data from the AWS so far compare favourably against the standard rain gauge without the need for a correction.
Temperature
The installation of the radiation shield to protect the AWS thermo-hygro sensor from direct solar radiation has improved the quality of the AWS temperature data. There is now good consistency with nearby PWS, and generally good agreement between the temperature data from the AWS and the thermometers in the Stevenson Screen.
Mean Sea Level Pressure (MSLP)
The AWS MSLP data are routinely compared against the MSLP data from the BoM AWS at Laverton. This ongoing comparison effectively monitors the offset applied to reduce the pressure at station level down to mean sea level.
Wind Speed and Direction
The AWS wind sensors are installed at a height of about 2 m instead of the standard height of 10 m. The wind data should therefore be used with caution.
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Performance Monitoring
The daily rainfall and temperature data from our AWS are routinely compared against the BoM AWS at Laverton. The daily rainfall is also routinely compared against the Melbourne Water rainfall and river level station on Skeleton Creek at Hoppers Crossing.
