The “Best” Interpolation Technique for Atmospheric Datasets

Atmospheric datasets characterize conditions at a physical location during a specific length of time. Geostatistical analyses frequently require conversion of discretized data to contiguous using an interpolation technique. Many techniques exist and can be used on atmospheric data. A common question is, “which interpolation method is the best?” Unfortunately, there is no one “best” method. A technique that works well in one analysis may work poorly in another.

This presentation includes an overview of two-dimensional and three-dimensional interpolation techniques, how to choose the “best” method for a given analysis, and problems to avoid when interpolating atmospheric data.