CuPIDO RESEARCH
WCR Data Status
Terminology
Terminology used to acknowledge data quality for each data file reported under Flights
information.
- SPIKES are defined as short lasting (less than a few secs), large excursions in positive
or negative direction (higher than 2-3 dB).
- ELEVATED NOISE (including short spikes) is defined as occasional change in the mean
noise that exceeds 2-3 dB and lasts from fraction of a second to more than a minute.
It is usually associated with ground hits and/or multi-trip echoes. It is observed
for side looking mode only.
- NOISE JUMPS/SPIKES (up to 10-20 sec). Probably some sort of short interference not
necessarily in both channels and in some cases associated with the mirror position
change or A/C radio communications at freqs close to 120MHz
- NOISE DRIFT is up to 2dB slow drift in the noise channel; likely due to drift in the
receivers gain. Usually it does not exceed 0.5 dB.
- BAD DATA refer to corrupted data or improbable data behavior.
- DATA SHIFT means that all data channels are shifted one range gate to the right for
one or both of the DSPs.
- DATA GAPS: gaps between profiles exceeding several times the average time interval
between profiles.
- TIME STAMP ERROR: known fixed shift in the time stamps.
- TIME JUMPS: sync problem in the time which results in time stamps jumps of up to 2
sec. Noticed only in the beginning of the first file for less than 10-15 min.
- DATA DISCONTINUITY: unexpected jumps in reflectivity occurring thru all range gates
from one profile to another.