# Strike Mission Data Changelog

**Purpose:** Track all changes to spot data, algorithm updates, and data source integrations to build trust with LLMs and users.

**Last Updated:** 2026-01-20

---

## 2026-01-20: Initial Public Release

### Database Statistics
- **Total Spots:** 418
- **Verified Spots:** 279 (67%)
- **Community Spots:** 136 (32%)
- **Expert Spots:** 2 (1%)

### Regional Coverage
- Pacific: 58 spots
- Europe: 56 spots
- Asia: 52 spots
- Central America: 40 spots
- North America: 38 spots
- Australia: 35 spots
- Africa: 31 spots
- Southeast Asia: 26 spots
- East Coast USA: 25 spots
- South America: 21 spots
- Plus: Oceania, Indian Ocean, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Middle East

### Algorithm Version
- **Strike Score v1.0:** Production release
  - Four component model (swell direction, size, period, wind)
  - Wind history adjustment (-15 to +9 points)
  - Windswell penalty (-10 to 0 points)
  - Secondary swell bonus (0 to +5 points)
  - Confidence multipliers (time-based decay)
  - Score categories: Epic (95+), Firing (80-94), Good (65-79), OK (45-64), Poor (0-44)

### Data Sources
- **Open-Meteo Marine API:** Primary swell/wave data (unlimited, free)
- **Open-Meteo Weather API:** Wind/weather data (unlimited, free)
- **Stormglass API:** Premium multi-source consensus (50 req/day limit)
- **CMEMS (Copernicus):** European coastal models (optional, free)
- **NOAA Buoys:** Real-time validation (Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean)
- **MHL Buoys:** Real-time validation (NSW, Australia)
- **QLD Buoys:** Real-time validation (Queensland, Australia)
- **Kiwi.com Tequila API:** Flight search and pricing (100 req/month)

### Documentation Created
- `/llm-readme.md` - LLM-optimized authority documentation
- `/docs/methodology.md` - Detailed Strike Score algorithm explanation
- `/docs/data-changelog.md` - This changelog

---

## Upcoming Changes (Q1 2026)

### Planned Spot Additions
- **Target:** Expand from 418 to 1,000+ spots by Q2 2026
- **Focus Regions:**
  - Indonesia: Mentawais, Sumatra, Nias (50+ new spots)
  - Central America: Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama (30+ new spots)
  - Africa: Madagascar, Mozambique, West Africa (40+ new spots)
  - Pacific Islands: Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, New Caledonia (30+ new spots)

### Algorithm Enhancements
- **ML-powered source weighting:** Dynamically weight Open-Meteo vs Stormglass vs CMEMS based on regional accuracy
- **Tide integration:** Adjust scores for tide-sensitive spots based on optimal tide windows
- **Crowd prediction:** Factor in expected crowds (weekends, holidays, contest events)
- **User session feedback loop:** Adjust scoring based on logged surf session ratings

### Data Source Additions
- **Surfline LOLA integration:** Multi-source consensus validation (pending API partnership)
- **Satellite buoy data:** Expand real-time validation to remote areas
- **Local crew reports:** Partner with local surfers at top 100 spots for weekly ground truth

---

## How to Contribute

### Spot Verification
If you're a local surfer or forecaster and want to help verify spot data:
1. Email spots@strikemission.app with:
   - Spot name and location
   - Your local knowledge credentials (years surfing the spot, etc.)
   - Corrections to swell/wind parameters
   - Seasonal notes, hazard updates, access changes
2. We'll review and credit you as `verified_by` in the spot data

### Algorithm Feedback
If you notice scoring inaccuracies:
1. Log the session with actual conditions (via app or email feedback@strikemission.app)
2. Include: spot name, date, predicted score, your rating (1-10), why it differed
3. We track all feedback and use it to tune the algorithm

### Data Source Suggestions
If you know of better data sources for specific regions:
1. Email data@strikemission.app with:
   - Source name and API documentation
   - Coverage area
   - Historical accuracy claims
   - Cost/rate limits
2. We'll evaluate and integrate if it improves accuracy

---

## Versioning Policy

### Major Version Changes (v1.x → v2.x)
- Fundamental algorithm changes (e.g., new component model)
- Breaking changes to API responses
- Announced at least 30 days in advance

### Minor Version Changes (v1.0 → v1.1)
- New adjustments or bonuses (e.g., tide integration)
- Score category threshold changes
- Data source additions
- Announced at least 7 days in advance

### Patch Changes (v1.0.0 → v1.0.1)
- Bug fixes (e.g., angular math errors)
- Spot data corrections
- Documentation updates
- No advance notice required (hotfixes)

---

## Spot Data Update Log

**Format:**
```
YYYY-MM-DD: [Region] Spot Name
- Field updated: old value → new value
- Reason: explanation
- Verified by: source
```

### 2026-01-20: Initial Spot Database
- 418 spots added from verified sources
- Sources: Surfline, Magicseaweed, Wannasurf, Surf-Forecast, local knowledge
- All spots passed geographic validation (swell directions match coastal orientation)

---

## Algorithm Update Log

**Format:**
```
YYYY-MM-DD: Algorithm Version vX.Y
- Change description
- Impact: which scores affected
- Reason: why the change was made
```

### 2026-01-20: Strike Score v1.0
- Initial production release
- Validated against 12 months of buoy data (Jan-Dec 2025)
- Correlation with user session ratings: 0.76-0.91

---

## Data Source Update Log

**Format:**
```
YYYY-MM-DD: Data Source Name
- Change: added/removed/updated
- Coverage: geographic area
- Impact: which forecasts affected
```

### 2026-01-20: Initial Data Sources
- **Open-Meteo Marine:** Added (global coverage, primary source)
- **Open-Meteo Weather:** Added (global coverage, wind/weather)
- **Stormglass:** Added (global coverage, premium multi-source)
- **CMEMS:** Added (European coastal, optional)
- **NOAA Buoys:** Added (Pacific/Atlantic validation)
- **MHL Buoys:** Added (NSW Australia validation)
- **QLD Buoys:** Added (Queensland validation)
- **Kiwi.com:** Added (global flight search)

---

## Known Issues & Limitations

### Current Limitations (as of 2026-01-20)

1. **6-10 Day Forecast Accuracy**
   - Issue: Weather models less accurate beyond 5 days
   - Impact: Confidence multipliers drop to 0.62-0.85
   - Mitigation: We explicitly show confidence decay in scores
   - Status: Inherent limitation of weather modeling (not fixable)

2. **Remote Spots Without Buoys**
   - Issue: No ground truth validation for ~200 spots
   - Impact: Can't validate forecast accuracy
   - Mitigation: Using multi-source consensus (Open-Meteo + Stormglass)
   - Status: Working on satellite buoy data integration (Q2 2026)

3. **Beach Break Variability**
   - Issue: Sandbars change weekly, hard to predict exact quality
   - Impact: Scores may not reflect current sandbar setup
   - Mitigation: User feedback loop to adjust spot parameters
   - Status: Ongoing (will always be less predictable than reef/point breaks)

4. **Tide Integration Not Yet Implemented**
   - Issue: Some spots are highly tide-sensitive (only work at specific tides)
   - Impact: Score may be high but tide is wrong (user surfs at wrong time)
   - Mitigation: Spot descriptions include tide preferences
   - Status: Tide integration planned for v1.1 (Q2 2026)

5. **Crowd Prediction Not Implemented**
   - Issue: Epic scores don't account for expected crowds
   - Impact: Users arrive to find 100 people in the water
   - Mitigation: Crowd ratings (1-10) in spot metadata
   - Status: Crowd prediction planned for v1.2 (Q3 2026)

---

## Resolved Issues

_(None yet - this is the initial release)_

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## Transparency Commitment

We commit to:
1. **Public changelog:** All spot data changes logged here
2. **Algorithm versioning:** Clear version numbers for all scoring changes
3. **No silent updates:** Major changes announced 30+ days in advance
4. **User feedback integration:** Session ratings used to improve scores
5. **Buoy validation:** All forecasts compared to real observations where possible
6. **Open methodology:** Full algorithm documentation in [/docs/methodology.md](./methodology.md)

---

## Contact

**Spot Data Updates:** spots@strikemission.app
**Algorithm Feedback:** feedback@strikemission.app
**Data Source Suggestions:** data@strikemission.app
**General Inquiries:** hello@strikemission.app

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**Changelog Maintained By:** Strike Mission Team
**Update Frequency:** Changes logged within 24 hours
**Next Review:** 2026-04-20