Why the Provenance of Data Matters: Assessing Fitness for Purpose for Environmental Data

While fitness for purpose is the principle universally accepted among scientists as the correct approach to obtaining data of appropriate quality, many scientists or end-users of data are not in a position to specify exactly what quality of data are required for a specific analysis. Agencies that collect environmental observations provide data as is offering no guarantee or warranty concerning the accuracy of information contained in the data, in particular, no warranty either expressed or implied is made regarding the condition of the product or its fitness for any particular purpose. While the increasing implementation of ISO 9002 will benefit users in the future, the reality is that many of the existing databases generally contain data that were not gathered with present standards and protocols, or the same methods over the period of record. Usually, long-term records will contain observations that have been made with several different observation techniques, sometimes several locations, and frequently a progression of quality assurance and workup techniques, and these changes may not be well documented. While it is important that hydrometric and climate services focus on capturing data that are fit for their intended purpose, the burden for assessing the actual suitability for use lies entirely with the user. Some general principles for assessing fitness for purpose are proposed.