What aspect of RAWS is critical for ensuring data accuracy?

The calibration of instruments and proper site selection is crucial for ensuring data accuracy in RAWS (Remote Automatic Weather Stations). Calibration involves adjusting the instruments to ensure that they provide accurate measurements, aligning with known standards. This process helps eliminate systematic errors that could skew data results.

Proper site selection is equally important, as the location where instruments are placed can significantly influence the data collected. Factors such as terrain, proximity to obstructions (like buildings or trees), and the overall environment can affect readings related to temperature, humidity, wind speed, and precipitation. Ensuring that instruments are installed in appropriate locations helps minimize the impact of external influences that might compromise the accuracy of the data collected.

In summary, focusing on calibration and site selection builds a foundation for reliable and precise data collection, which is essential in meteorological assessments and decision-making processes related to fire management and other applications of the data gathered by RAWS.