Communication of creditable measured data

It is becoming increasingly evident that many users of measured marine data are reluctant to use data acquired by others. This reluctance is based on the feeling that the transfer function characteristics of the instrument system used for the measurements are inadequately defined for the environment in which the measurements were made. It has been estimated that in excess of 50 percent of the marine data presently archived are useless because their quality ("goodness") is unknown. It is far too costly in resources and time on both a national and international basis to continue acquiring data whose questionable credibility severely limits their spectrum of applicability. This paper addresses those key elements that relate to the quantification of data and should be considered when planning and developing a measurement program for the ocean environment.