Data quality through a web-based QA/QC system: implementation for atmospheric mercury data from the global mercury...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Atmospheric Chemistry
• Geochemistry

Background:

• Global mercury monitoring is crucial for understanding environmental contamination.
• Ensuring the reliability and comparability of atmospheric mercury data is essential for effective global observation.
• The Global Mercury Observation System (GMOS) project aims to establish a worldwide mercury monitoring network.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and demonstrate the GMOS-Data Quality Management (G-DQM) system.
• To showcase the application of G-DQM in assuring the quality of atmospheric mercury datasets.
• To identify and discuss major issues affecting data quality within the GMOS network.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a centralized, web-based data quality assurance and control system (G-DQM).
• Utilizing real-time adaptive monitoring procedures within G-DQM.
• Analyzing atmospheric mercury datasets from the first three years of the GMOS project, with a case study from Longobucco, Italy.

Main Results:

• The G-DQM system was successfully applied to atmospheric mercury datasets.
• Key issues influencing data quality were identified and analyzed across GMOS stations.
• The Longobucco station data provided a detailed case study illustrating G-DQM's effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• The G-DQM system is effective in quality assuring atmospheric mercury datasets.
• The study highlights critical factors impacting data quality in global mercury monitoring.
• Findings contribute to enhancing the reliability of the GMOS network for future research and policy.