Preparing meteorological data for court
cases
Presented by
Dr Harvey Stern
Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Thursday 19 October
6pm for 6.30pm start
Victoria Police Forensic Services Centre,
Forensic Drive, Macleod
The Victorian Branch of the
Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society
(ANZFSS)
Preparing Meteorological
Data for Court Cases
Harvey Stern
Victorian Regional Office
Bureau of Meteorology
Acknowledgements:
Neal Moodie (metadata);
John Cornall-Reilly; Tim Forster; Trish McBride; Chris Kelly.
Presentation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Definition
Introduction
Processing (Certified Extracts)
Illustrative Examples
METADATA applications
Concluding remarks
Definition
Meteorology … is … used by forensic investigators, lawyers, and prosecutors
to look for specific information to be used in court when climate conditions are
of relevance in explaining an event
… Meteorologists may be requested by courts or by companies to give
information necessary for reconstructing ship or airplane accidents, or on wind
chills affecting outdoor workers, or to present a detailed weather reconstruction
for a given area on a particular day.
Meteorologists are sometimes requested to explain events associated with air
pollution and airborne spread of dangerous substances, or to clarify whether a
given meteorological event is abnormal or expected in a certain region and
period of the...
"Meteorology." World of Forensic Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Thomson Gale, 2006. eNotes.com. 2006.
10 Oct, 2006 http://science.enotes.com/forensic-science/
meteorology
Introduction
We usually receive requests for certified extracts {or data or statement or
opinion} – we suggest certification in all cases, via:
1.
Mail.
2.
Telephone.
3.
Email.
In all instances, the first step is to contact the person making the request in
order to clarify exactly what is required. If no file reference and/or postal
address has been provided by the client, it is necessary to obtain one from
him/her.
Certifiable Data
Only data from the Bureau's official data bases may be certified.
Expert Knowledge
Sometimes, a client may desire an analysis to be carried out, or an opinion
given about the data provided. In such circumstances, the results of such
an analysis of the data and/or the opinion should appear in the covering
letter.
Analyses and/or opinion come under the area of "expert" knowledge. If given,
they would likely result in the author of the analysis and/or opinion
attending court as an expert witness and/or sign a witness statement.
Signing Certified Extracts
Certified extracts are usually signed by the Senior Meteorologist (Climate and
Consultancy) (SMCC) "for Regional Director, Victoria". In the event that
SMCC is unavailable for signing a certified extract, the Regional Director
may sign such documents.
Processing …
EVIDENCE ACT 1995 No. 2 of 1995 – SECTION 155
CERTIFIED EXTRACT FROM THE
OFFICIAL METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS OF THE
COMMONWEALTH BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
Appendix 1 shows the official three hourly precipitation observations as recorded by the Bureau’s cooperative
observer at Wonthaggi 86217 from 3am EST on Saturday 20th April 2002 to 9:00pm EST on Saturday 27th April
2002.
Appendix 2 shows the official observations of precipitation for 24 hours ending 9am daily as recorded by the
Bureau’s cooperative observer at Wonthaggi 86217 from Saturday 20th April 2002 to Saturday 27th April 2002.
I, HARVEY STERN, meteorologist in charge of the Climate and Consultancy Section of the Victorian Regional
Office of the Bureau of Meteorology, MELBOURNE, HEREBY CERTIFY that this document consisting of 3 pages
is a true extract from the meteorological observations’ database, of which the said databases are one of the official
meteorological records of the Commonwealth of Australia Australian Data Archive for Meteorology, AND I
FURTHER CERTIFY that I am the Officer to whose custody the said records are entrusted.
SIGNED by the said HARVEY STERN at Melbourne this 11th day of October 2006.
(Harvey Stern)
For Regional Director (Victoria)
11th October 2006
Ph: 9669 4949
Process for Preparing Certified Extracts
Request
Received
From a
lawyer, Police,
Court case,
etc.
Failed QC check
Is it a CE?
QC=
Yes
Clarify by
phone
No
Search for
sites
Quality
Completeness
> 90%?
Data
available?
Control
Yes
AWS?
No
Extract Data
Check data
QC flags
Yes
•Price
•What they need
Yes
Pass
QC
Was instrument in
calibration?
No
•What we can offer
•Delivery date
•Payment process
Send to client
Archive
Get CE
signed
Get CE
checked
Produce CE
document
Processing (cont.) …
Receive Request for Certified Extract
Read Request details received by email, post or fax.
What to look for?

Postal address.

Reference (File) number, or similar, from them.

Check: Date, time, location and description of event.

Date due.

Check: If the request for a Certified was posted, ensure there
is not a faxed copy already being processed here. (Saves
doubling up)
Processing (cont.) …
Ring customer by phone to clarify details

Obtain any details missing from above.

Confirm Court date (for deadline), cost & method of payment.

Advise what we can supply (data elements & resolution).

Be aware of limitations of what can be certified or not.

Confirm that the weekday for the date supplied is
correct. (Just in case the customer has made a mistake with
their request date)

Why do they need weather data? (Help you supply the
appropriate data for their purposes – establish units required)

Advise statement is prepared as per the FEDERAL Evidence
Act 1995, No2 of 1995, Section 155.
Processing (cont.) …
Develop a data presentation plan
(maybe in association with other Sections – e.g Hydro).
Sometimes, a client may desire an analysis to be carried out, or
an opinion given about the data provided. In such
circumstances, the results of such an analysis of the data
and/or the opinion should appear in the covering letter.
Analyses and/or opinion come under the area of "expert"
knowledge. If given, they would likely result in the author of
the analysis and/or opinion attending court as an expert
witness and/or sign a witness statement.
Processing (cont.) …
Search for sites using TCZ Sitefinder:
The Aim is to provide:

Nearest or most representative station with required element.

Only data from the Bureau's official data bases may be
certified.
Data from other authorities {Government astronomer, EPA,
Melbourne Water}: Could be included on an attachment
(suggest client contact other authority for certification).
Processing (cont.) …
Only select sites that meet the following criteria:

Check: Is data >90% complete.

Check: Low instances of accumulated values.

Check: Has been quality controlled and doesn't have, wrong
or low quality values, eg. High/Low values, spikes or missing
data.

Check: If site is an AWS, check the calibration history from
Sitedb.
Processing (cont.) …
Extract Data from EVE, TCZ or AIFS:
Consider the following special circumstances:

"Derived" data or "Forecasts/warnings" should be presented
as "Attachments".

Consider providing a short period each side of requested
period; e.g. an hour each side of requested period of time, or
an issue of forecast each side of what is requested.
Format Data

Check: Clearly understood labelling of weather
variables. Station Number of data supplied is indicated.

Check:Use local times and include days of the week.
Processing (cont.) …
Forecasts

Locate required forecast from web archive.

Copy text of required forecast from webpage, which becomes
an Attachment.
Producing the CE documents
CE computer files are saved.
Select next available file number from certifieds’ directory and
save . Name the file with that file number and include the
client's name for ease of reference etc.
Processing (cont.) …
Covering Letter should include synopsis of:

Stations supplied, e.g. Melbourne Airport 86282

Why the site(s) were chosen. i.e. Distance of 4km from
requested location, etc. (keep all distances to rounded km,
we cannot be more precise with our search facility)

Reason a site was not used. e.g. Site 86071 was not chosen
because it did not meet quality checks, calibration checks, or
wind is not representative of the area, etc.
Processing (cont.) …




Date supplied
Check: Include in covering letter descriptions of included data
and how observed or obtained,
And explanations of Meteorological terminology.
Add in extra paragraphs for any additional data sources
supplied (ie. forecasts, maps, etc). Label them as
Attachments.
Processing (cont.) …
Actual Certified Letter

Copy paragraph from covering Letter, explaining data
supplied, into 1st paragraph of certificate and also paste into
Appendix 1 on the following page.

Copy the data from the prepared Excel file and paste below
the paragraph for Appendix 1. (A table of data will appear on
the page)

Highlight the table.
Processing (cont.) …
For long tables, you may need to re-format the table of data
in Excel to include headings at the appropriate intervals.

Change dates of preparation below signature area.
Record Keeping

Original sent to client.

CCS CE folder:
Copy of full document and include the
original request and any other
data or info used in preparation, for our records.

Cost: Standard Certified $110, but higher for complex
requests and urgent requests.

Processing (cont.) …
Check Certified Extract (CE)

Someone other than the person who prepared the document should sign
"Checked by".

Check: Continuity of observations, correct conflicting
data, inappropriate data supplied for requested purposes, typographical
errors, dates, etc.
Sign CE
Certified extracts are usually signed by the Senior Meteorologist (Climate and
Consultancy) "for Regional Director, Victoria".
Send CE

By Normal Post, if not urgent (may be faxed prior).

By email as pdf, if urgent (post original) – note urgency fee.

By courier if necessary.
Illustrative Examples








Observations (manual or automated)
Sea State, Swell (water police)
Special clothing
Children / pets in cars on hot days (or)
left in exposed situation in cold weather
RSPCA
Fires (sparks from a train?)
Fire ban days (arson/carelessness)
Trees falling on campers (wind speed)
Illustrative Examples (cont.)







Strategy to “put off” the other party,
when they hear Bureau will attend
Dew (observations)
Slipping (3rd party Insurance Claims)
Pong Su
Expert witness statements
Fixing time of death
Witness vs weather conditions
(credibility)
Illustrative Examples (cont.)







Car accidents
Cloud types
Weather phenomena e.g fog, frost,
(black) frost
Completeness of record
Data sparse regions
Forecasts
Validating witness/suspect statements
Illustrative Examples (cont.)






Linton fires
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Sydney hailstorm
Observations via electronic measure
Snowboarders (lost in snow) – rain vs
snow (AWS)
Thredbo – landslide (prepared data and
then outside consultants were involved)
METADATA Application
LORD HOWE ISLAND - DIURNAL TEMPERATURE RANGE
Diurnal Temperature Range (degC)
8.0
7.5
7.0
6.5
6.0
5.5
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
Year
1970
1980
1990
2000
METADATA Application (cont.) …
Site Surroundings Metadata may explain inconsistencies in the data
Ulladulla in 2001
METADATA Application (cont.) …
Where did those bushes go?
Ulladulla in 2002
METADATA Application (cont.) …
Ulladaulla 69138, Annual Max. Temp
22
21.5
21
20.5
Shrubs removed in July 2002
20
19.5
19
18.5
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
METADATA Application (cont.) …
Instrument Metadata may explain inhomogeneties in data
METADATA Application (cont.) …
Monthly rainfall over 2004, Newcastle
200
180
Rainfall (mm)
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul
Aug Sep Oct
Newcastle Nobbys
Nov Dec
METADATA Application (cont.) …
Basic Level Metadata for rainfall instrument
METADATA Application (cont.) …
Medium Level Metadata for rainfall instrument
METADATA Application (cont.) …
Monthly rainfall over 2004, Newcastle
200
180
Rainfall (mm)
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Newcastle Nobbys
Jul
Aug Sep Oct
Nov Dec
average of surrounding sites
Concluding Remarks


We undertake many checks and
balances; and,
We are thorough with our data-quality
assessment.
Contact by email: climate.vic@bom.gov.au
Contact by phone: 96694956
THANK YOU
Any Questions?