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Timely identification and minimization of data quality issues in long-term datasets across multiple instrument deployments at a single site pose a fundamental challenge to cabled ocean observatory operations. Ocean Network Canada (ONC) has developed extensive real-time Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) methodologies, including both automated and manual techniques and workflow. ONC's QA/QC approach was developed with the key objectives of maintaining consistency both within a single dataset and simultaneously among a collection of datasets at each site. This paper highlights a case study of ONC's longest deployment site in Saanich Inlet, BC, Canada which has been continuously instrumented from 2006 through 2016. We focus on real-time QA/QC practices applied to conductivity-temperature depth (CTD) instruments. The methodologies and results presented in this paper have been generalized to other ONC observatory sites, and can serve as a practical guide to others developing real-time QA/QC systems for long-term cabled observatory deployments of CTD instruments.

This study shows how information about climate variability can be valuable to the understanding of wind regime responses and improvement of wind forecasting skill. To this end we demonstrate the use and value of climate information in accurately determining extreme wind recurrences at three locations on the inner south coast of British Columbia (48°‐49°N, 123°W). The methodology is primarily based on approximating a Generalized Pareto Distribution (GPD) to extreme winds in the presence of climate variability covariates. The long‐term hourly wind speed data maintained by the Meteorological Service of Canada are used to evaluate the possible influence of climate variability on extreme wind response. Preliminary results suggest that there are significantly different extreme wind responses to warm and cold El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) modes, with a tendency for high extreme winds to occur during the negative (i.e., cold) ENSO phase.

Sea level responses to climatic variability (CV) and change (CC) signals at multiple temporal scales (interdecadal to monthly) are statistically examined using long‐term water level records from Prince Rupert (PR) on the north coast of British Columbia. Analysis of observed sea level data from PR, the longest available record in the region, indicates an annual average mean sea level (MSL) trend of +1.4±0.6 mm yr−1 for the period (1939–2003), as opposed to the longer term trend of 1±0.4 mm yr−1 (1909–2003). This suggests a possible acceleration in MSL trends during the latter half of the twentieth century. According to the results of this study, the causes behind this acceleration can be attributed not only to the effects of global warming but also to cyclic climate variability patterns such as the strong positive Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) phase that has been present since the mid‐1970s. The linear regression model based on highest sea levels (MAXSL) of each calendar year showed a trend ex...

Cabled observatory installations permit the acquisition of large volumes of continuous, high-resolution data from in-situ instruments. This type of data acquisition presents new challenges and opportunities in the development of data quality assurance and quality control (QAQC) measures. Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) operates the world-leading NEPTUNE and VENUS cabled ocean observing systems in the NE Pacific, and a small seafloor observatory in the Canadian Arctic. ONC collects high-resolution, real-time data on physical, chemical, biological, and geological aspects of the ocean over long time periods, supporting research on complex earth and ocean processes with innovative methods. High quality research depends on high quality data, which in turn depends on robust data quality control practices. For the data to be useful to potential end users, they must be qualified under accepted international standards with additional metadata pertaining to methods of measurement, instrument calibrations, and subsequent data processing included. Ocean Network Canada's QAQC methodology presented here has been developed with the key objectives of maintaining consistency within a single data set and within a collection of data sets. The QAQC model also ensures that the end user has sufficient information on the quality and errors of the data to assess its suitability for their use. The data QAQC procedures and tools have the capability to associate distinctly different but related types of information with data to provide a systematic and timely examination of the measurements. Efforts have been taken to develop efficient and accurate data QAQC techniques and tools to ensure quality data delivery to the end users in a timely manner. The large volume of data coming from extremely complex, diverse, and unpredictable ocean environments has resulted in many challenges as well as opportunities to develop efficient and informative tools for data QAQC at ONC. This paper describes the current and future steps that ONC is undertaking to ensure that data delivered by the observatories are of high quality, easily accessible, and reliable.