Ocean Weather Station Papa Meteorological Record 1949-1981

33 years of meteorological data were collected at Station Papa (50N, 145W) in the North Pacific Ocean by the Canadian Weathership Program. Researchers from the University of Washington and NOAA later analyzed this historic data, generating daily averaged wind speed and wave height values. The dataset includes the full program record and quality control notes from the 2014 analysis.

Use Cases

• Analyze long-term trends in daily averaged wind speed and wave height from 1949 to 1981.
• Correlate meteorological variables from the full data record with known climate patterns in the North Pacific.
• Validate oceanographic models using the historic, quality-controlled observations from Station Papa.
• Study the efficacy of the Canadian Weathership Program's data collection methods as a scientific tool.

Strengths

• 33-year temporal coverage from 1949 to 1981 provides a long-term climate record.
• Data underwent quality control analysis by researchers from the University of Washington and NOAA in 2014.
• Includes both the full raw data record and a derived dataset of daily averaged wind speed and wave height.

Limitations

• Specific column names, row counts, and data granularity (e.g., hourly vs. daily) are not detailed in the provided input.
• The dataset's age means it may not reflect current oceanographic or meteorological conditions.
• Relies on historic collection methods and instruments which may have different accuracy than modern systems.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, with analysis by University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory and NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory.

Collection Method

Collected by the Canadian Weathership Program at a fixed ocean station.

Time Range

1949 to 1981

Freshness

Data collection ended in 1981; metadata was last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Station Papa in the North Pacific Ocean at coordinates 50N, 145W.