Sections below: Float counts | Meta Files | Tech files | Plots & listings | Surface Pressure | TNPD


Argo file format and Surface Pressure correction compliance Audit


Argo Technical and Meta file compliance Audit

This page is automatically created by code which scans all files in the Argo GDAC.

Previous versions can be accessed via the CSIRO DMQC page

The audit purpose and method is described here

Compliance summary of this audit


Specific comments on this audit, based on Coriolis GDAC at 28 September 2013

I looked more closely at R-files for floats which potentially require SP correction but the PRES_ADJUSTED field had not been populated. We have agreed that in future these floats should have the PRES_ADJUSTED fields populated. An expanded table at the bottom of the Compliance Summary page details this analysis.

A few of these cases had DATA_MODE=A, and a small number of other problems were identified. A listing of these for each DAC can be accessed via the last table on the Plots & listings index page. These listings are tiny compared with previous versions, as I have left out any cases where DATA_MODE=R.



This analysis was based on GDAC as at 28-Sep-2013


Float counts in DACs

DAC details [explanations]
DAC nameAOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDI
# floats47504301577588191229367138300168119
# Projects13664122312312
# PIs20779121853363
# Models15460612054633

Floats in multiple DACS
DACAOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDI
# floats47504301577588191229367138300168119
other dups-----------



Meta files

Meta files [explanations]
DAC nameAOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDI
# floats47504301577588191229367138300168119
# meta files47504301577588191229367138300168119
broken A-----------
broken B-11--------
Bad launch info1--------1-

PLATFORM_MODEL
The strings found in the PLATFORM_MODEL fields
Strings have been converted to lower case and blanks removed to assist match-ups
field contentsAOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDITOTAL
Empty Field-----1-----1
apex------1--11591207
provor--55----27-2663
palace_n/a17----------17
solo_sbe1584----------1584
apex_sbe1918------924--2014
soloof_fsi28----------28
solo_fsi272----------272
apexir_sbe377------26---403
soloir_sbe154----------154
solo2ir_sbe291----------291
apex_seascan10----------10
navisir_sbe88----------88
apex_n/a2----------2
solo_sbe41cp1----------1
provor_seascan1----------1
provor_n/a6----------6
provor_sbe1------12---13
apex-sbe-399-560-889279-2233922391
martec-fsi-21---------21
-sbe-5---------5
martec-sbe-5---------5
provor ctf2--61--------61
apex sbe apf7--91--------91
provor ctf3--38--------38
provor cts2--160--------160
apex sbe apf8--204--------204
nemo--136--------136
nemo 2.5--4--------4
provor cts3--192-19---5--216
apex sbe 41 apf8--7--------7
arvor iridium--19--------19
provor cts3-do--40--------40
arvor--108----83914-169
apex apf8c--9--------9
nemo with sbe 41--17--------17
apex-apf9a--128--------128
apex sbe41 apf8--45--------45
apex apf9a f/w w--6--------6
apex apf9a f/w--55--------55
nova--2--------2
provor cts3-do 9--15--------15
apex apf8 rev da--4--------4
apex-apf8c--12--------12
apex apf8 rey da--2--------2
provor t--30--------30
apex sbe apf8b s--3--------3
apex sbe apf8b--14--------14
apex sbe apf8 s--10--------10
apex sbe apf8 sn--11--------11
apex sbe apf8 2--1--------1
apex sbe apf8--1--------1
apex sbe-43f apf--3--------3
apex apf9a f/w s--3--------3
apex-apf9--19--------19
apex-sbe-apf8c--5--------5
provor bioargo--13--------13
apex-apf9a f/w--13--------13
apex-sbe-apf9a--9--------9
apex-sbe-apf9i--3--------3
apex-apf9i--7--------7
provor cts3-bt--3--------3
arvor-a3--3--------3
arvor-l--8--------8
apex apf9a--19--------19
provor cts3 bt--2--------2
provor cts3-do b--1--------1
arvor deep--3--------3
provor cts3-doir--4--------4
arvor-argos3--2--------2
provor ii remoce--1--------1
apex sbe-41-alac--3--------3
apex sbe-1-alace--1--------1
provor-do--2--------2
apex sbe -41-ala--2--------2
apex sbe-41 ap--2--------2
apex sbe-41 apf--8--------8
apex sbe-41 a--1--------1
provor ct--5--------5
apex sbe -41 apf--1--------1
nemo awi_0092--1--------1
navis---6-------6
s2a---4-------4
r1-sbe---10-2-----12
soloir---3-------3
palace-----3-----3
alace_r1-fsi-----2-----2
r1-sbe profiler-----1-----1
r1-td-----9-----9
provor-sbe-----14931----180
ninja-tsk-----3-----3
ninja-sbe-----15-----15
tem. profiler-----1-----1
apex-sbe-aandera-----7-----7
provor-sbe cts-3-----14-----14
nemo-sbe-----23-----23
arvor-sbe-----98-----98
apex-fsi-----3-----3
pops-sbe-----3-----3
nova-sbe-----155----56
apex-td profiler-----4-----4
pops-provor-sbe-----1-----1
apex-sbe/optode------1----1
provor_fsi--------2--2

Basic MODEL
Grouping PLATFORM_MODEL fields by standard float types
Basic typeAOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDITOTAL
Unknown-5-10-8-----23
apex2307399702560-903281118227154935744
solo2330--3-------2333
provor8-572519163311234-26870
nemo--158--23-----181
ninja-----18-----18
martec-26---------26
palace17----3-----20
arvor--143--98-83914-302
r1---10-12-----22
navisir88----------88
nova--2--155----58

PLATFORM_MODEL field - APF9 Status [explanations]
AOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDITOTAL
Not APEX244331875281932686207314263941
APEX not APF9--419--------419
APEX unknown230739921560-903281118227154935063
APEX APF9--262--------262
Manual list*303--12-------315

SENSOR pressure field
* Sensor names converted to lower case and blanks removed to assist match-ups
*AOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDITOTAL
Empty Field-3897--5367---51277
druck67--509----3-2581
mp40-c-2000-g14----------14
n/a1636-87--------1723
sbe41475-3--641-2641-1150
sbe1----------1
2900psia2093-96----104---2293
sbe41cp451-35--194-833--721
sstd10----------10
3000psia1-8--------9
2000dbar1----------1
1500psia1----------1
sbe-41-381---------381
ectp202mar-21---------21
sbe-41v3.0-8---------8
sbe-41cp-16---------16
sbe41cp-2900psia--61--------61
sbe41cp?2900psia--193-19------212
sbe41cp2900psia--8--------8
xxxx--135--------135
none--6--------6
41--31--------31
41do--1--------1
sbe41do--3--------3
sbbe41v3.0--8--------8
sbe41c--1--------1
1600psia--3--------3
paine---38----1--39
kistler---21----16--37
amatek---20-------20
straingauge_sbe41-----268-----268
straingauge-----26-----26
straingauge_sbe41cp-----88-----88
straingauge_ctd-f01-----3-----3
sbe41,2900psias/n4867-----1-----1
sbe41,3000psias/n2657701518-----1-----1
sbe37-----2-----2
endrow--------235--235
fsi41--------2--2
paine3000psia--------4--4
durck--------2--2
sbecp41---------124112236
sbe41v3.0---------43-43

SENSOR pressure Maker field
* names converted to lower case and blanks removed to assist match-ups
*AOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDITOTAL
Empty Field-3898--9----5915
micron14----------14
paines92----------92
sbe1052-39---3672691681121773
n/a97-81--------178
druck3391-358-19--8528--3881
2900psia67----------67
kistler13-6----27---46
seascan11----------11
ametec12----------12
ametek1-7--------8
seabird-40513588----261-21269
fsi-21---1--2--24
sea-birdelectronics--20--------20
xxxx--137--------137
martec--4--------4
manufacturerdruck--6--------6
none--1--------1
nke--1--------1
kiesler--1--------1
paine--4--------4
sea-birdelectronics,inc._druck-----684-----684
sea-birdelectronics,inc.-----155-----155
sea-birdelectronics,inc.(druck)-----58-----58
sea-birdelectronics,inc._kistler-----237-----237
falmouthscientific,inc.-----4-----4
sea-birdelectronics,inc._paine-----13-----13
sea-birdelectronics,inc._ametek-----62-----62
thetsurumi-seikico.,ltd.-----3-----3
notspecified-----1-----1
sea-birdelectronics,inc-----1-----1
sea-birdelectronics,inc._-----1-----1

SENSOR pressure Serial Number field
S/NAOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDITOTAL
# floats47504301577588191229367138300168119
No decodable number434101372-1920-13210121910


tech files

Tech files [explanations]
FormatAOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDITOTAL
No profiles174181216120867930301
Missing------------
Old-------7---7
Old - Bad------------
New45764121565572181209359125293159899377
New, no Surf Pres4-4111-21--8--85
New, Bad format------------
V 2.34576412203951209359117256159897394
V 2.4--1362-13--837--1420
V 3.0---563-------563

Surface Pressure Offset parameter name
AOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDITOTAL
Old format
Other------------
surface_pressure------------
surface_offset------------
pressure_sensor_offset------------
start_surface_pressure------------
pressure_offset_(counts)------------
pressure_offset_(dbar)-------7---63447
pres_offsetadjustment_dbar------------
pressure_offset_dbar------------
pres_surfacecomplement_dbar------------
New format
Missing4-4111-21--8--587272
pres_surfaceoffsettruncatedplus5dbar_dbar1052245416227-675214441391048918102115
pres_surfaceoffsettruncated_dbar-----2-----14817
pres_surfaceoffsetnottruncated_dbar1399138397330-2631457311741-15317935
pres_surfaceoffsetnottruncatedplus5dbar_dbar------------
pres_surfaceoffsetcorrectednotreset_1dbarresolution_dbar-19---8-----156482
pres_surfaceoffsetcorrectednotreset_1cbarresolution_dbar740----129-----1993240
pres_surfaceoffsetbeforereset_dbar1241----------3388779
pres_surfaceoffsetbeforeresettruncated_dbar------------
pres_surfaceoffsetafterreset_dbar------------
pres_surfaceoffsetbeforereset_1dbarresolution_dbar-41-513-----161020
pres_surfaceoffsetbeforereset_1cbarresolution_dbar---4-97---14-945101
pres_surfaceoffsetafterreset_1cbarresolution_dbar------------
pres_surfaceoffsetbeforereset_5cbarresolution_dbar------------
pres_surfaceoffsetafterreset_5cbarresolution_dbar------------
pres_surfaceoffsetbeforereset_4mbarresolution_dbar------------
pres_surfaceoffsetafterreset_4mbarresolution_dbar------------
pres_descentstart_dbar29----------30985
pres_offsetadjustment_dbar111----------201153
pres_surfaceoffsetcorrectednotresetnegative_1cbarresolution_dbar-5260----825--1937901
pres_surfaceoffsetcorrectednotresetnegative_1dbarresolution_dbar-1450-13---4--2658925
pres_surfaceoffsettruncatedplus3dbar_dbar-----1-----7411
Multiple SP names per profile [probably intentional and correct]1254----------1254
SP name changes thru float lifetime------------
% ok SP values [explanation]979798981009798999910094-

Surface Pressure Offset parameter name vs model
apexsoloprovornemoninjamartecpalacearvorr1navisirnovaUnknownAll models
Other-------------
surface_pressure-------------
surface_offset-------------
pressure_sensor_offset-------------
start_surface_pressure-------------
pressure_offset_(counts)-------------
pressure_offset_(dbar)--7---------7
pres_offsetadjustment_dbar-------------
pressure_offset_dbar-------------
pres_surfacecomplement_dbar-------------
Missing214131915------1372
PRES_SurfaceOffsetTruncatedplus5dbar_dBAR3193-------12---3205
PRES_SurfaceOffsetTruncated_dBAR-----------2-
PRES_SurfaceOffsetNotTruncated_dBAR240312646161--3189845122901
PRES_SurfaceOffsetNotTruncatedplus5dbar_dBAR-------------
PRES_SurfaceOffsetCorrectedNotReset_1dBarResolution_dBAR--8--19------27
PRES_SurfaceOffsetCorrectedNotReset_1cBarResolution_dBAR-732134-3-------869
PRES_SurfaceOffsetBeforeReset_dBAR-1241----------1241
PRES_SurfaceOffsetBeforeResetTruncated_dBAR-------------
PRES_SurfaceOffsetAfterReset_dBAR-------------
PRES_SurfaceOffsetBeforeReset_1dBarResolution_dBAR--19--4------23
PRES_SurfaceOffsetBeforeReset_1cBarResolution_dBAR-34----107---1114
PRES_SurfaceOffsetAfterReset_1cBarResolution_dBAR-------------
PRES_SurfaceOffsetBeforeReset_5cBarResolution_dBAR-------------
PRES_SurfaceOffsetAfterReset_5cBarResolution_dBAR-------------
PRES_SurfaceOffsetBeforeReset_4mBarResolution_dBAR-------------
PRES_SurfaceOffsetAfterReset_4mBarResolution_dBAR-------------
pres_descentstart_dbar12-----17-----29
pres_offsetadjustment_dbar-111----------111
PRES_SurfaceOffsetCorrectedNotResetNegative_1cBarResolution_dBAR--126----167---5293
PRES_SurfaceOffsetCorrectedNotResetNegative_1dBarResolution_dBAR--461--1-4--2-468
PRES_SurfaceOffsetTruncatedplus3dbar_dBAR--------1---1


Plots and listings analysing the Surface Pressure Offset correction for all floats for each DAC are accessed through the Plots Index Tables. Separate tables link to all floats, or only floats with apparent SP correction anomalies, or only floats with apparent TNPD.


Note: The following analyses were based on assumptions about behaviour of different types of floats, where "type" was here primarily defined by the Surface Pressure Offset parameter name. Some of these assumptions will be wrong, and some types are not analysed at all because I am unsure of their behaviour. It is probably necessary to also take basic float model (eg Apex or SOLO) into account to fully determine the pressure correction treatment required for a float, but it would be better if this could be fully determined by just the parameter name. My assumptions are recorded in this table.

Surface Pressure Offset

We have attempted to test for correct Surface Pressure (SP) correction of profile pressure.

The difference between PRES and PRES_ADJUSTED is the DAC-applied pressure correction (assuming PRES is the raw P as reported by the float.)

Correct application of this test depends on being able to deduce the correct float type and P adjustment from the meta and tech files. However this is not always possible due to missing or non-standard entries in these files.

Our computed pressure correction is

     p_calc = PRES - (SP - adjustment)
where adjustment is the known SP adjustment for a given float type (usually 5dbar). For Apex floats the SP reported with a profile actually relates to the previous profile, because it was recorded just as the float begins to descend. RT profile pressure can only be adjusted with the SP reported with the same profile, but in DM profiles the correct SP is used (ie for profile N,
     p_calc(N) = PRES(N) - (SP(N+1) - adjustment)
So, in the provided plots , for floats which do not auto-correct, the "Calculated Correction" (CC) is
     For DM profiles:     CC = SP(N+1) - adjustment
     For RT profiles:     CC = SP(N) - adjustment
For this reason, CC will differ from Raw Surface Pressure by the "offset", and will be displaced by one profile for DM profiles. The "DAC adjustment" should however agree with the CC.

Interpretting the plots: For complete agreement in pressure correction, the "DAC Adjustment" (blue squares), should agree with the CC (red stars). Missing "DAC Adjustment" symbols can occur where there is no PRES_ADJUSTED profile (eg if QC=4). Missing CC symbols can occur where the DAC has provided an SP estimate (possibly by interpolation) but the automated process has not [due to different processing or because the tech files are not quite up-to-date.]

Disagreement is likewise visible where "MPP minus CC" (cyan diamond) does not overlay "Min Corrected Pressure" (magenta square). The latter quantity is just the near-surface PRES_ADJUSTED value.

Note that the raw SP symbols (blue diamond) are shown exactly as found in the tech files. That is, their x-coordinate is the cycle number corresponding to that value in the tech files.

A light gray background is used where disagreement is between 0.1 and 1.0 dbar. This occurs frequently due to DAC smoothing of the SP series, or for other reasons.

A dark gray background indicates disagreement greater than 1.0 dbar. Some of these cases are due to deficiencies in our automatic procedures, but some others appear to be related to processing faults at the DACs.

An olive green background behind the CC value indicates an alternative correction method (such as allowed for SOLO floats) gives better agreement with the DAC value than the primary method. The CC value shown is then as derived by the alternative method. For example, SOLO floats are auto-correcting, so the primary method is "no correction". However, a secondary method - the normal SP(n+1) correction - may be applied in DM if there is evidence of strong drift.

A very pale green background indicates that the DAC has explained how their adjustment is correct, or pointed out that the CSIRO audit software has made a mistake. Any disagreement in these profile is ignored when collating statistics.

Extra information in upper frame on plots
Name Colour/Where Meaning
P Adj QCtop halfprofile minimum PRES_ADJUSTED_QC for each DM profile, value indicated by scale on left of frame
DMLower middleDM processed profiles
No P ADJLower middlePRES_ADJUSTED or PRES_ADJUSTED_QC profiles not fully populated
TNPD CommentNear bottom Has correct pressure SCIENTIFIC_CALIB_COMMENT for a TNPD profile
P ERR 2.4bottomprofile min PRES_ADJUSTED_ERROR==2.4
P ERR 20bottomprofile min PRES_ADJUSTED_ERROR==20

See the table which summarizes the results of this pressure correction audit for all DACs.

Lists: for each DAC a text file (accessable through the Plots Index Tables) lists the result of checking the surface pressure correction for every float. The floats are grouped by PI. The lists give the number of DM profiles, total number of profiles, assumed surface pressure offset, and counts of profiles which agree exactly or disagree with my automated correction. Please note that in many cases the disagreement is because your DAC correction is a better choice than my automated one.

Format example:

     5900033 DM 264/295 SPoffs=5 Diffs(dbar) =0[271] <1 [0] >1 [ 1 *]  

Of 295 profiles for this float, 264 have been DM processed. 271 profiles exactly agree with my automated correction, 0 disagree by a small amount, but 1 disagrees by more than 1 dbar.


TNPD

Truncated Negative Drifting Pressure (TNPD) is a term used to describe Apex floats which truncate negative surface pressure values (all firmware prior to APF9) and the pressure sensor develops a strong negative drift. The usual cause of strong negative drift in these sensors is the "microleak" fault associated with Druck sensors. The pressure in profiles affected by TNPD cannot be corrected for surface pressure offset.

The first step in detecting TNPD is to determine if a float is of the type where such an fault might occur. We have attempted to do this using the tech and meta files alone, but this is not always possible.

The next step is to find where the reported SP (corrected for 5dbar adjustment if necessary) has "flat spots" on zero, indicating that negative values are being truncated. Previously a float with 80% SP=0 was declared to be TNPD. We now say that any susceptible float is in a TNPD state after the last believable positive SP value. This is because the strong negative drift condition is typically monotonic, so if such a condition has commenced then typical variability will not give rise to small positive SP values.

The main difficulty of this approach [assuming the basic assumptions are correct] is determining when isolated positive values are natural perturbations about a small negative value, or when they are just sensor error spikes. In the present analysis I have used (for the first time) the crude test that a positive value > 1dbar which has 2 zero values immediately either side of it, is a spike that can be ignored. [This differs to the standard despiking process used to prepare the SP series for pressure correction because here we just want a simple way of assessing where an SP series is devoid of true +ve values.] Obviously this is very imperfect - there is no substitute for skilled DM analysis, and in very many cases the DAC will be right and our algorithm will be wrong.

Another deficiency of our algorithm is that is [apparently] extremely unlikely that microleaking will start after years of correct operation. For example, if SP is 0 for the last 5 of 200 profiles then the algorithm says TNPD commenced at profile 196. The time of onset of TNPD is examined in this set of TNPD plots. That page also includes plots which examining whether, for different sensor types, a large negative drift can be followed by recovery to plausible positive SP values.

"Start of TNPD" in the surface pressure plots provided indicates where TNPD appears to commences, according to the above algorithm, if that is at least 6 months before the last DM profile. If the condition is met with less than 6 months of subsequent DM profiles, then 'Potential TNPD' is displayed. Where some of the float series has been DM processed, extra information is provided for the DM profiles in an extra frame at the top of the figure.

See the table which summarizes the results of this TNPD treatment audit for all DACs.

Lists: for each DAC two text files (accessable through the Plots Index Tables) list the result of checking for TNPD. The floats are grouped by PI. The "short" list gives the cycle number ("pn") where TNPD appears to start, and counts of profiles which appear to require the TNPD comment string and do not have it ("missed"), or do have the comment string ("good"), or have a comment string which is not precisely the standard string ("imperfect"). The list also notes where we have NOT detected TNPD but have found the TNPD comment string.

 

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