Assimilation of station level pressure and errors in station height

Abstract

Surface pressure is one of the most basic meteorological parameters and it is measured at thousands of synoptic stations. For general use it is usually reduced to sea level (or another standard level). The difficulties with this process are outlined and the alternative (within data assimilation systems) of using station level pressure more directly is advocated. Unfortunately, in practice, direct use of station level pressures can be detrimental at some stations, because of wrong station heights in the international station list. -from Author