Guidelines to compare datasets
Guidelines to compare datasets |
You wish to compare datasets derived either from satellite imagery, numerical weather models and/or in-situ measurements? Here are a non-exhaustive list of elements that is mandatory to know before any activity of comparison.
| Parameters | Sub-parameters or potential values | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Geographical coordinates | Latitude, Longitude and Altitude | With at least four digits after comma. Altitude can be retrieved using the altitude portlet to get altitude from SRTM database. It helps also to confirm the site selection is correct. |
| Time period | date_begin, date_end | No big issue in general with this info |
| Time reference | UT ? LT? Summer Saving time or not? | Help for time references |
| Hypothesis of integration | Instantaneous or integrated | Very important parameter, that can lead to huge errors if not considered |
| The given instant corresponds to | beginning, middle, or end of interval? | Idem |
| Units | W/m2, Wh/m2, µmol/m2/s... | Very important, permit to confirm or not previous elements |
| Value for missing data? | 65535, NaN, -1, "NA", ... | Detect these specific values and set it to an adequate value in your coding environment (e.g. NaN in Matlab) |
| type of Instruments | name, spectral response,... |