Spatial metadata for weather stations and the interpretation of climate data

Abstract

Observations made at weather stations are often assumed to be representative of their surrounding region, but they can be significantly influenced by highly localized forcings associated with the environmental exposure of instruments. The documentation of spatial metadata via digital elevation models, digital orthophotographs, site photographs, and descriptive narratives integrated within a geographic information system can provide key insights to aid the interpretation of climate data. Comparative analyses of climate data from proximate stations with documented spatial metadata help to reveal sources of observational bias associated with instrument exposures and contribute to a better understanding of the historical climate record. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.