About Interpretation of QC Test Codes and Results

The GTSPP Quality Control (QC) test codes and results are stored in a eight-byte hexadecimal number, which can represent up-to 32 different tests and the test results. Each byte of the hexadecimal number has four (4) bits. A bit represents either 1 (one: test performed or failed) or 0 (zero: test not performed or passed) only.

The steps of interpretion of GTSPP QC test codes and results are as follows:

1. Convert the QC test codes ( or results) from hexadecimal to decimal number.
2. Convert the decimal number to binary number.
3. Reverse the binary number in accordance with the order of the GTSPP QC test numbers.
4. Map the reversed bit numbers to the cooresponding numbers of the QC tests in the ascending order and identify the test names and results, accordingly.

For example, the following table is a sample list of data quality control tests code (QCP$=41E1FFD) and results (QCF$=0000004) performed by the Integrated Scientific Data Management in Canada. The table indicates:

1. The first test, 'Platform Identification Test", was performed (1=Y) and the test result showed "Passed" (0=P)
2. The second test, "Impossible Date/Time", was not performed (0=N).
3. The third test, "Impossible Location", was performed (1=Y) and passed (0=P).
4. and so on...

Test Number	Stage Number	Test Name	Index Number	QCP$=41E1FFD (0=N/1=Y)	QCF$=0000004 (0=P/1=F)
01	1.1	Platform Identification	1	1	0
02	1.2	Impossible Date/Time	2	0	0
03	1.3	Impossible Location	4	1	0
04	1.4	Position on Land	8	1	0
05	1.5	Impossible Speed	16	1	0
06	1.6	Impossible Sounding	32	0	0
07	2.1	Global Impossible Parameter Values	64	1	1
08	2.2	Regional Impossible Parameter Values	128	0	0
09	2.3	Increasing Depth	256	1	0
10	2.4	Profile Envelop	512	1	1
11	2.5	Constant Profile	1024	0	0
12	2.6	Freezing Point	2048	0	0
13	2.7	Spike	4096	1	1
14	2.8	Top and Bottom Spike	8192	1	0
15	2.9	Gradient	16384	1	1
16	2.10	Density Inversion	32768	0	0
17	3.1	Levitus Seasonal Statistics	65536	1	1
18	3.2	Emery and Dewar Climatology	131072	0	0
19	3.3	Asheville Climatology	262144	0	0
20	3.4	Levitus Monthly Climatology	524288	0	0
21	4.1	Waterfall	1048576	0	0
22	5.1	Cruise Track	2097152	1	0
23	5.2	Profiles	4194304	0	0
24	2.11	Bottom	8388608	0	0
25	2.12	Temperature Inversion	16777216	0	0
26	3.5	Levitus Annual Climatology	33554432	0	0

The list of data quality control tests and results but sorted by the test stage numbers is available here