The quality and availability of surface weather and climate observations are of primary interest to NOAA and its many data customers. Ensuring a high level of both requires ongoing attention as observing systems, data collection, quality control and information systems continue to mature.

With a focus on improved climate data services and protecting the integrity of the nation's climate record, NOAA has developed several new data collection, quality control, and dissemination tools. Some of the tools support internal end-to end inter-agency activities while others allow partners to provide feedback on data problems for evaluation, tracking, and resolution. Formal agency policy is needed to ensure adequate institutional implementation of these improvements and changes in operations. Coordination and integration of data quality control practices amongst NOAA's different surface data offices and its partners is also being strengthened.

The new tools and procedures are described and their impact on data quality and availability are discussed.