STORM-FEST QCF Datasets

Detailed Data Description

     This observation surface data format contains
     eight metadata parameters followed by 38 data parameters and flags. The
     metadata parameters describe the station location and time at which the
     data was collected. The time of observation is the actual UTC observation
     time that the data parameters are valid. Days begin at UTC 0000 and end
     at UTC 2300. All records are identical in length. The table below
     details the data parameter in each record. Several data parameters have
     an associated Quality Control (QC) Flag Code which are assigned by the
     Office of Field Project Support (OFPS) during quality control 
     processing.  For a list of possible QC Flag values see below. 
     
     
     Parameters                              Units
     
     Date of Observation                     UTC Actual
     Time of Observation                     UTC Actual
     Network Identifier                      Abbreviation of platform 
                                             name
     Station Identifier                      Network Dependent 
     Latitude                                Decimal degrees, South is 
                                             negative
     Longitude                               Decimal degrees, West is 
                                             negative
     Station Occurrence                      Unitless
     Station Elevation                       Meters
     Station Pressure, QC flag               Hectopascals (mb) 
     Reported Sea Level Pressure, QC flag    Hectopascals (mb) 
     Computed Sea Level Pressure, QC flag    Hectopascals (mb) 
     Dry Bulb Temperature, QC flag           Celsius
     Dew Point, QC flag                      Celsius
     Wind Speed, QC flag                     m/s
     Wind Direction, QC flag                 Degrees
     Total Precipitation, QC flag            mm
     Squall/Gust Indicator                   Code Value
     Squall/Gust Value, QC flag              m/s
     Present Weather, QC flag                Code Value
     Visibility, QC flag                     Meters
     Ceiling Height (first layer)            Hundreds of feet
     Ceiling Flag (first layer), QC flag     Code Value
     Cloud Amount (first layer), QC flag     Code Value
     Ceiling Height (second layer)           Hundreds of feet
     Ceiling Flag (second layer), QC flag    Code Value
     Cloud Amount (second layer), QC flag    Code Value
     Ceiling Height (third layer)            Hundreds of feet 
     Ceiling Flag (third layer), QC flag     Code Value
     Cloud Amount (third layer), QC flag     Code Value
     
     The list of code values for the Present Weather is too large to
     reproduce in this document. Refer to WMO, 1988 for a complete list
     of Present Weather codes.
     
     The code values for the Squall/Gust Indicator are:
     
     Code      Definition

     S         Squall
     G         Gust
     
     
     The following codes define ceiling information that can not be
     indicated by the numeric value:
     
     Code      Definition

     0         None
     1         Thin
     2         Clear below 12,000 feet
     3         Estimated
     4         Measured
     5         Indefinite
     6         Balloon
     7         Aircraft
     8         Measured/Variable
     9         Clear below 6,000 feet (AUTOB)
     10        Estimated / Variable
     11        Indefinite / Variable
     12        12-14 reserved
     15        Missing
     
     The code values for the Cloud Amount Indicator are:
     
     Code      Definition

     0         0 ( or clear)
     1         1 okta or less, but not zero or 1/10 or less, but not zero
     2         2 oktas or 2/10-3/10 
     3         3 oktas or 4/10
     4         4 oktas or 5/10
     5         5 oktas or 6/10
     6         6 oktas or 7/10-8/10
     7         7 oktas or more, but no 8 oktas or 9/10 or more, 
               but not 10/10
     8         8 oktas or 10/10 (or overcast)
     9         Sky obscured by fog and/or other meteorological phenomena
     10        Sky partially obscured by fog and/or other 
               meteorological phenomena
     11        Scattered
     12        Broken
     13        13-14 Reserved
     15        Cloud cover is indiscernible for reasons other than fog or
               other meteorological phenomena, or observation is not made.
     
     The quality control flags and their meanings are:

     QC Code             Description
     
     U                   Unchecked
     G                   Good
     M                   Normally recorded but missing
     D                   Questionable
     B                   Unlikely
     N                   Not available or Not observed. 
     X                   Glitch
     E                   Estimated
     C                   Reported precipitation value exceeds 9999.99
                         millimeters or was negative.            
     T                   Trace precipitation amount recorded.