ESOP 1996 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) Enhanced Seasonal Observing Period (ESOP) 1996. This dataset 
     contains all 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 ESOP 1996 precipitation 
     composite datasets. The miscellaneous precipitation dataset contains data
     from approximately 676 stations in the ESOP 1996 domain (91W to 107W
     longitude and 31N to 40N latitude) and time period (01 April 1996 through
     30 September 1996).  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.  Missing values are not reported.  Each
     precipitation value has an associated observation date and time which are
     UTC times. The eight fields are comma-delimited.  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)
     PP                       Precipitation, actual increment (in)
     PR                       Precipitation rate (in/day)
     PT                       Precipitation, type
     PY                       (S) Precip, increment ending at 7am local just
                              prior to date/time stamp (in). Translated
                              to "PPDRZZZ"
     
     
     2.2  Data Remarks
     
          This dataset contains all 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
     ESOP 1996 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.