Quality control method of Argo float position data

Abstract

We explain a method of quality-control (QC) of Argo float positions fixed by Argos system based on checking float speed between the positions considering Argos position errors. The method gives us fairly reasonable QC results which are comparable with those of visual inspection by experts, and several % of position data are identified "bad" in average. This method has been suggested as (one of candidates for) the standard method to International Argo community. An execution program of it was also prepared for Argo community from PARC-JAMSTEC web-site so as that this method is tried widely.