ARM/GCIP NESOB-97 NCEP Miscellaneous Precipitation Dataset
     
     
     1.0  General Description
          
          The National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Miscellaneous
     Precipitation Dataset is one of several precipitation datasets
     provided in the GEWEX Continental-Scale International Project (GCIP)
     Near-Surface Observation Data Set (NESOB) 1997. This dataset contains
     all hourly precipitation data from the National Centers for Environmental
     Prediction (NCEP) stations.  Stations that reported at standard or
     incremental times are also included in the various NESOB 1997
     precipitation composite datasets. The miscellaneous precipitation dataset
     contains data from stations in the NESOB 1997 domain (94.5 W to
     100.5W longitude and 34N to 39N latitude) and time period (01 April
     1997 through 31 March 1998).  These data were not quality controlled
     by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research/Joint Office for
     Science Support (UCAR/JOSS).
     
     2.0  Detailed Data Description
     
     2.0.1 NCEP Precipitation Algorithms
     
          The algorithms used to form the NCEP Precipitation data are not
     currently available.

     2.1  Detailed Format Description
     
          The National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)
     Miscellaneous Precipitation Dataset contains eight parameters and uses
     code tables from the Standard Hydrometeorological Exchange Format
     (SHEF).  The eight parameters repeat once for each time period, where the
     time period is nominally hourly.  The Physical Element code  field should
     always contain a PP indicating that the precipitation data is reported as
     incremental values.  Missing values are not reported.  Each precipitation
     value has an associated observation date and time which are UTC times.
     These data were not quality controlled by JOSS. Table 1 below details each
     parameter.  Table 2 provides codes for the Physical Element parameter in 
     the SHEF format. Complete details can be found in the SHEF documentation 
     (version 1.2), February 1996.
     
     
     Table 1
     
     Parameters               Units 
     ----------               -----
     Year                     UTC Observation Year (yy)
     Month                    UTC Observation Month (mm)
     Day                      UTC Observation Day (dd)
     Hour                     UTC Observation Hour (hh)
     Minute                   UTC Observation Minute(mm)
     Station Identifier       Network Dependent
     Physical Element code    SHEF physical element code
                              (See Table 2 below)
     Precip Value             inches   
     
     
     Table 2
     
     Physical Element Code    Description
     
     PC                  Precipitation, accumulator (in, mm)
     PP                  Precipitation, actual increment (in, mm)
     PR                  Precipitation rate (in/day, mm/day)
     PT                  Precipitation, type
     PY                  (S) Precip, increment ending at 7am local just
                         prior to date/time stamp (in, mm). Translated
                         to "PPDRZZZ"
     
     
     2.2  Data Remarks
     
          This dataset contains all precipitation data from the National
     Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) hourly precipitation stations.
     Stations that reported at standard and incremental times are also included
     in the various NESOB 1997 precipitation composite datasets. 
     
     3.0  Quality Control Processing
     
          No additional quality control was performed by UCAR/JOSS on
     this dataset.  
     
     
     4.0  References
     
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Standard
          Hydrometeorological Exchange Format (SHEF) Version 1.2,
          NOAA, National Weather Service, Office of Hydrology, 
          Silver Spring, Maryland, February 1996.