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 page of this audit - with *NEW* diagnostic plots.


Specific comments on this audit, based on Coriolis GDAC at 28 July 2012

PRES_ADJUSTED not filled when SP = 0

We do not have agreement on whether the PRES_ADUJSTED field should be populated if the values will be identical to those in PRES. That is, some DACs compute and record adjusted pressure except if SP=0, in which case they do not supply PRES_ADJUSTED values. This audit still reports an error if PRES_ADJUSTED is not populated, even if SP=0.

Action 1: reach agreement on SP=0 cases

missing PRES_ADJUSTED

Still huge numbers of these. New plots show the time evolution of these for each DAC. A small number of cases arise where PRES_QC=3 and the DAC may be treating these the same as for PRES_QC=4. However we require a PRES_ADJUSTED vector if any PRES_QC<4.

New Platform

New platform model "Navisir". 32 of these floats at AOML. None have ADJUSTED fields populated. All use "PRES_SurfaceOffsetNotTruncated_dBAR", which should mean the floats are not auto-correcting.

Note: the SurfacePressureCorrectionTable implies particular float behaviours and processing treatments for each TECHNICAL_PARAMETER_NAME. It is important that the correct name is chosen for new float types. If there is no exact match then we need to modify the table or even add a new name.

Surface Pressure Correction

New plots accessed from the Compliance Summary page show the degree of SP correction agreement over tme ("agreement" for these plots is regarded as a difference between estimated and actual correction <0.1 dbar). The percentages are computed for groups of 500 profiles in time order, so that the statistics are not effected by sample size.


Jeff Dunn, September 3 2012 CSIRO

This analysis was based on GDAC as at 28-July-2012

Float counts in DACs

DAC details [explanations]
DAC nameAOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDI
# floats42393791355517191129317117263156119
# Projects10654122212322
# PIs19673121652462
# Models15456311854642

Floats in multiple DACS
DACAOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDI
# floats42393791355517191129317117263156119
other dups3-22-15---4--


Meta files

Meta files [explanations]
DAC nameAOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDI
# floats42393791355517191129317117263156119
# meta files42393791355517191129317117263147119
broken A-----------
broken B--17--------
Bad launch info1--------10-

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---------9-9
apex------2--9993194
provor--176----19-2668
palace_n/a17----------17
solo_sbe1559----------1559
apex_sbe1788------794--1871
soloof_fsi28----------28
solo_fsi272----------272
apexir_sbe283------18---301
soloir_sbe119----------119
solo2ir_sbe120----------120
apex_seascan10----------10
navisir_sbe32----------32
apex_n/a2----------2
solo_sbe41cp1----------1
provor_seascan1----------1
provor_n/a6----------6
provor_sbe1------12---13
apex-sbe-351-501-860279-22139-2251
martec-fsi-21---------21
-sbe-2---------2
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--87--------87
nemo 2.5--4--------4
provor cts3--158-19---9--186
apex sbe 41 apf8--7--------7
arvor iridium--6--------6
provor cts3 do--16--------16
arvor--53----889-78
provor cts3 4.82--20--------20
provor cts3 v4.8--6--------6
provor cts3_4.84--1--------1
apex apf8c--8--------8
provor cts3-do--24--------24
nemo with sbe 41--11--------11
apex sbe41 apf8--45--------45
apex apf9a f/w w--6--------6
apex apf9a f/w--55--------55
apex-apf9a--81--------81
provor cts3 do 9--14--------14
apex apf8 rev da--4--------4
provor cts3-do 9--1--------1
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--4--------4
provor bioargo--1--------1
apex-apf9a f/w--9--------9
apex-sbe-apf9a--6--------6
apex-apf9i--5--------5
provor cts3 bt--3--------3
arvor-a3--3--------3
arvor-l--8--------8
apex apf9a--5--------5
provor cts3-do b--1--------1
apex sbe-41-alac--3--------3
apex sbe-1-alace--1--------1
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
r1-sbe---10-2-----12
palace-----4-----4
alace_r1-fsi-----2-----2
r1-sbe profiler-----1-----1
r1-td-----9-----9
provor-sbe-----14731----178
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-----12-----12
arvor-sbe-----41-----41
apex-fsi-----3-----3
pops-sbe-----3-----3
apex-td profiler-----4-----4
pops-provor-sbe-----1-----1
p-alace------4----4
apex-sbe/optode------1----1
provor_fsi--------2--2

Basic MODEL
Grouping PLATFORM_MODEL fields by standard float types
Basic typeAOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDITOTAL
Unknown-2---74--9-22
apex2083351627501-87428297225138935271
solo2099----------2099
provor8-556619161311230-26849
nemo--102--12-----114
ninja-----18-----18
martec-26---------26
palace17----4-----21
arvor--70--41-889-136
r1---10-12-----22
navisir32----------32

PLATFORM_MODEL field - APF9 Status [explanations]
AOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDITOTAL
Not APEX215628728161925535203818263339
APEX not APF9--417--------417
APEX unknown208335121501-87428297225138934665
APEX APF9--189--------189
Manual list*303--12-------315

SENSOR pressure field
* Sensor names converted to lower case and blanks removed to assist match-ups
*AOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDITOTAL
Empty Field-3834--5317---51164
druck67--441----182--690
mp40-c-2000-g14----------14
n/a1601-86--------1687
sbe41413-3--606-2641-1053
sbe1----------1
2900psia1678-90----83---1851
sbe41cp453-18--129-813--621
sstd10----------10
2000dbar1----------1
1500psia1----------1
sbe-41-346---------346
ectp202mar-21---------21
sbe-41v3.0-4---------4
sbe-41cp-5---------5
sbe41cp-2900psia--45-----4--49
sbe41cp?2900psia--132-19------151
sbe41cp2900psia--6--------6
xxxx--71--------71
none--6--------6
3000psia--8--------8
41--24--------24
41do--1--------1
sbe41do--3--------3
sbbe41v3.0--8--------8
1600psia--3--------3
paine---38-------38
amatek---19-------19
paine3000psia---2----21--23
kistler---17-------17
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
fsi41--------2--2
endrow--------37--37
sbecp41---------124114238
sbe41v3.0---------22-22

SENSOR pressure Maker field
* names converted to lower case and blanks removed to assist match-ups
*AOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDITOTAL
Empty Field-3835--9----5852
micron14----------14
paines92----------92
sbe991-32---3172691471141636
n/a96-81--------177
druck2943-276-19--7512--3325
2900psia67----------67
kistler13-4----16---33
seascan11----------11
ametec12----------12
seabird-3559517----240--1121
fsi-21---1--2--24
martec--4--------4
sea-birdelectronics--4--------4
xxxx--73--------73
manufacturerdruck--6--------6
ametek--7--------7
none--1--------1
nke--1--------1
kiesler--1--------1
paine--4--------4
sea-birdelectronics,inc._druck-----648-----648
sea-birdelectronics,inc.-----155-----155
sea-birdelectronics,inc.(druck)-----58-----58
sea-birdelectronics,inc._kistler-----173-----173
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
# floats42393791355517191129317117263156119
No decodable number43391242-1920513119121791

tech files

Tech files [explanations]
FormatAOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDITOTAL
No profiles1681917611956101732300
Missing------------
Old-------7---7
Old - Bad------------
New40713601338511181110312104253139878303
New, no Surf Pres4-21--214----50
New, Bad format------------
V 2.340713601338511181110312104253139878303

Surface Pressure Offset parameter name
AOMLBODCCORIOLISCSIRONMDISJMAMEDSCSIOINCOISKMAKORDITOTAL
Old format
Other1--1-6131-2841
surface_pressure-1---------1
surface_offset------------
pressure_sensor_offset------------
start_surface_pressure------------
pressure_offset_(counts)1----------1
pressure_offset_(dbar)-------7---7
pres_offsetadjustment_dbar------------
pressure_offset_dbar------------
pres_surfacecomplement_dbar------------
New format
Missing29-3141294----98
pres_surfaceoffsettruncatedplus5dbar_dbar1052245415227-67521544139104-3116
pres_surfaceoffsettruncated_dbar-----2-----2
pres_surfaceoffsetnottruncated_dbar112089290281-22165529726872328
pres_surfaceoffsetnottruncatedplus5dbar_dbar------------
pres_surfaceoffsetcorrectednotreset_1dbarresolution_dbar-19294--8-----321
pres_surfaceoffsetcorrectednotreset_1cbarresolution_dbar719----127-----846
pres_surfaceoffsetbeforereset_dbar1052----------1052
pres_surfaceoffsetbeforeresettruncated_dbar------------
pres_surfaceoffsetafterreset_dbar------------
pres_surfaceoffsetbeforereset_1dbarresolution_dbar-5--713--1--26
pres_surfaceoffsetbeforereset_1cbarresolution_dbar-2-3-43--39-60
pres_surfaceoffsetafterreset_1cbarresolution_dbar------------
pres_surfaceoffsetbeforereset_5cbarresolution_dbar------------
pres_surfaceoffsetafterreset_5cbarresolution_dbar------------
pres_surfaceoffsetbeforereset_4mbarresolution_dbar------------
pres_surfaceoffsetafterreset_4mbarresolution_dbar------------
pres_descentstart_dbar29----------29
pres_offsetadjustment_dbar101----------101
pres_surfaceoffsetcorrectednotresetnegative_1dbarresolution_dbar--152-11---3--166
pres_surfaceoffsetcorrectednotresetnegative_1cbarresolution_dbar--167----812--187
pres_surfaceoffsettruncatedplus3dbar_dbar-----1-----1
pres_surfaceoffsetnottrancated_dbar-----1-----1
pressure_offset_dbar------28----28
Multiple SP names per profile1065----------1065
SP name changes thru float lifetime0*----------0*
% ok SP values [explanation]969698999997979999100--

* "SP name changes thru float lifetime" field corrected 14/9/2012

Surface Pressure Offset parameter name vs model
apexsoloprovornemoninjamartecpalacearvorr1navisirUnknownAll models
Other7133--------41
surface_pressure1----------1
surface_offset------------
pressure_sensor_offset------------
start_surface_pressure------------
pressure_offset_(counts)-1---------1
pressure_offset_(dbar)--7--------7
pres_offsetadjustment_dbar------------
pressure_offset_dbar------------
pres_surfacecomplement_dbar------------
Missing1913201915--3-1890
PRES_SurfaceOffsetTruncatedplus5dbar_dBAR3104-------12--3116
PRES_SurfaceOffsetTruncated_dBAR----------2-
PRES_SurfaceOffsetNotTruncated_dBAR20441271895--4-93012327
PRES_SurfaceOffsetNotTruncatedplus5dbar_dBAR------------
PRES_SurfaceOffsetCorrectedNotReset_1dBarResolution_dBAR--301--19-1---321
PRES_SurfaceOffsetCorrectedNotReset_1cBarResolution_dBAR-711132-3------846
PRES_SurfaceOffsetBeforeReset_dBAR-1052---------1052
PRES_SurfaceOffsetBeforeResetTruncated_dBAR------------
PRES_SurfaceOffsetAfterReset_dBAR------------
PRES_SurfaceOffsetBeforeReset_1dBarResolution_dBAR--21--5-----26
PRES_SurfaceOffsetBeforeReset_1cBarResolution_dBAR--12----46--258
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-101---------101
PRES_SurfaceOffsetCorrectedNotResetNegative_1dBarResolution_dBAR--163----3---166
PRES_SurfaceOffsetCorrectedNotResetNegative_1cBarResolution_dBAR--105----82---187
PRES_SurfaceOffsetTruncatedplus3dbar_dBAR--------1--1
pres_surfaceoffsetnottrancated_dbar1----------1
pressure_offset_dbar--28--------28

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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