Voluntary Observing Ships (VOS) Climate Subset Project (VOSCLIM) - Project Document, Revision 2.

Abstract

This project document lists the primary objective is to provide a high-quality subset of marine meteorological data, with extensive associated metadata, to be available in both real time and delayed mode. Eventually, it is expected that the project will transform into a long-term, operational programme. Specifically, the project gives priority to the following parameters: wind direction and speed, sea level pressure, sea surface temperature, air temperature and humidity. Data from the project will be used: to input directly into air-sea flux computations, as part of coupled atmosphere-ocean climate models; to provide ground truth for calibrating satellite observations; and to provide a high-quality reference data set for possible re-calibration of observations from the entire VOS fleet.