International Workshop on Rescue and Digitization of Climate Records in the Mediterranean Basin Data Rescue Activities at Slovenian Meteorological Office Mojca Dolinar, Boris Pavčič, Mateja Nadbath Tarragona, 29 th November 2007

Outline Present meteorological networkPresent meteorological network Structure of national meteorological archiveStructure of national meteorological archive Description of DARE activities and resultsDescription of DARE activities and results Data inventoryData inventory

Present meteorological station network 13 Synoptic stations 26 Climatological Stations 176 Precipitation stations 32 Automatic Weather Stations

Meteorological Database Classical measurements: 3 measurements per day (7 a.m., 2 p.m., 9 p.m.)3 measurements per day (7 a.m., 2 p.m., 9 p.m.) From 1961 all data have been systematically digitizedFrom 1961 all data have been systematically digitized Automatic measurements: Half an hour data (mean, max, min, terminal)Half an hour data (mean, max, min, terminal) Precipitation: 5 min.Precipitation: 5 min. Up to 14 years long recordsUp to 14 years long records

Graphical catalogue Systematic gaps: first and second world war break-line is the year 1961 (the beginning of systematic digitization process) Station did not measure Precipitation data Climate data Climate data with gaps Precipitation data with gaps Nondigitised data Missing data

Data preservation 9 locations with temperature and precipitation 21 locations with precipitation Old paper data is stored: EARS Archive of Slovenia (better conditions for storing) Precipitation data are stored in boxes and arranged by stations. Old climate data are bound and stored in logbooks and arranged by stations.

Digitization Historical units and instruments Pressure and precipitation in Paris lines (’’’) = 2.256mm Pressure and precipitation in Paris lines (’’’) = 2.256mm Max/min temperature: Six’s thermometerMax/min temperature: Six’s thermometer The first preserved meteorological measurements started in 1850 in the capital city Ljubljana. AMEBA: application for data digitalisation (basic logical control)

Digitization Observational time In first years after 2 nd world war observation time at climatological stations was not at regular hours. These data are stored in separate tables in database. General mistakes Often have to deal with unreadable data

Quality control and validation Few datasets available for comparisonFew datasets available for comparison Few additional data and resources available for checkingFew additional data and resources available for checking Larger distances – worse correlations between available data setsLarger distances – worse correlations between available data sets Quality control – validation ?Quality control – validation ?

Metadata rescue Digitization of paper card-file archive (gaps, missing data)Digitization of paper card-file archive (gaps, missing data) Filling gaps and missing metadataFilling gaps and missing metadata Stations sites visiting/measuring/describing/photographingStations sites visiting/measuring/describing/photographing Reconstruction of data after the old field logbooksReconstruction of data after the old field logbooks Reconstruction of data after the knowledge of elderly colleagues, residents and from historical resources like chronicles and journalsReconstruction of data after the knowledge of elderly colleagues, residents and from historical resources like chronicles and journals

Homogenization Different methodes for inhomogenities detection, comparison and correction were tested and used: For daily adjustments the correction factors were downscaled using periodical functions

Results - LJUBLJANA Begun to operate in 1850 Standard observation time from 1866 with a gap around 1929 Meteorological station location changed six times (some locations have not been chosen properly). Same location from 1948 on. Main problems with data series: non- standard observation time, non-standard measurement units (Paris line), insufficient documentation of metadata

Results - LJUBLJANA Temperature Mean annual temperature Number of cold and freezing days Number of warm days and tropical nights

Long data series - Digitized 5 locations with temperature and precipitation (93 – 151 years) 13 locations with precipitation (79 – 112 years) 1 mountainous location (2565 m, 52 years) Availability: not restricted Contact EARS

Long data series - Potential 9 locations with temperature and precipitation 21 locations with precipitation More than 70 years long Few gaps Original data available 1359 years to digitize Availability: not restricted Contact EARS

Future Problems: DARE activities need a lot of resources (Experts, Time, Money) Low priority in NMS Good experience -Interreg project FORALPS Data digitization and validation Metadata rescue Homogenization During FORALPS project data years were digitised, quality controlled or validated

Future Missing data from W part of the country: According to metadata some stations were operating Monthly data for some stations were digitized from yearbooks (University of Milano) Potential sources for daily data: Rome, Belgrade

Thank You!