Quality Assurance - Operational

Last Update: August 30, 2006

Operational QA provides timely confirmation that data processing is proceeding correctly, with valid upstream and ancillary inputs. QA is performed primarily though visual screening of Level 2 products, and is logged for both Terra and Aqua products.

Product Approval Procedures

Each workday, Operational QA staff:

• Examines global mosaic imagery of each selected Level 2 atmosphere parameter from the most recent days of MODAPS forward production and reprocessing, looking for data gaps, excessive striping, or any other sign of corruption.
  
• Examines Cloud Mask flags from a MODATML2 product, randomly selected from the same day - looking especially for nonsensical results that might indicate invalid dynamic or ancillary input.
  
• Updates daily average plots of Cloud Mask flags read from MOD35_L2 metadata.
  

In the event a problem is suspected, Operational QA staff:

• Updates the QA Log to indicate that the granule is "suspect", and notes the nature of the issue;
  
• Notifies Science QA staff that further investigation of the product(s) is needed.

Operational QA procedures are typically completed by the close of the business day following product generation and archive.