User Guide

 

Using the CRPAQS Meteorological Representativeness site

This site provides tools for the user to determine how representative nearby meteorological observations are to any particular area in the San Joaquin Valley and surrounding area.  The maps are useful for seeing the general representativeness over the whole domain and determining what data to trust for any arbitrary location. The site search page is useful for quickly determining the Representativeness Index for any observation point in the CCAQS database at different layer heights and times of day.

 

The Representativeness Index

Our method for determining “representativeness” is detailed on the background page.  All locations within the domain have been classified into one of three representativeness indices.  In addition, the Representativeness Index was determined for four layer heights during three times of day for the winter months.  Representativeness Index categories give a qualitative sense of the applicability of the observed meteorological data to nearby locations. The details of how the indices were assigned can be found on the methodology page.

 

 

Using the maps

The maps on this website can be used to determine at any location within the domain which meteorological observation site provides the most representative data.  To use the maps

·        Select the relevant map – maps are specific to season, time of day, and layer height. Currently, the site only has wintertime maps.  Time of day is either morning (6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.), afternoon (12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or night (6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.).  Note that for the highest two layers there is no time-of-day selection, only a single map for the entire day.  

·        Determine your location of interest.  Blue outlines on the maps show county boundaries to aid orientation. 

·        Locate your site.

·        Determine the Representativeness Index and see what monitoring location is the best to use.

 

Using the meteorological site search page

The meteorological site search page is the quickest way to get representativeness information about any monitor location in the CCAQS database. You either search by site name (site code) or select a site from the drop-down list.  Submitting this search creates a table that shows, at a glance, all the representativeness information for all times of day and layer heights for the best available meteorology site.  Pointing your mouse over a site code reveals more information about the site.