Climate Data
Weather Station Record Quality: Siting, Instruments, Moves, and Missing Data
Why weather station quality matters for records, including sensor siting, station moves, instrument changes, and missing observations.
Quick answer: Weather station record quality depends on consistent instruments, good exposure, careful maintenance, and documented station history.
Siting
Thermometers, rain gauges, and wind sensors need proper exposure to avoid heat, blockage, splash, or turbulence errors.
Small siting issues can bias local readings.
Station moves
Moving a station across town or changing elevation can affect long-term comparisons.
Metadata helps analysts understand those breaks.
Missing data
Gaps, sensor failures, and manual observation changes can complicate records.
Quality control flags suspicious values for review.