| | | | | | | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE | NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE | NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL CENTER | | | | | | | | | OFFICE NOTE 29 | (Updated version of September 1969 edition) | | | | | | | | | NMC FORMAT FOR OBSERVATIONAL DATA | | | | | | | | | Automated Division Staff | | | | | | | | SEPTEMBER 1973 | | (Rev 2) | | | | | ********************************************************************************| | The NCAR Data Support Section transcribed this from the NMC publication and | some correspondence. The transcriber proofread it one week later, but no | one else has proofread it. Please report errors to Gregg Walters, Data | Support Section, SCD, NCAR. E-mail baseball@ncar.ucar.edu | | | | RECORD FORMAT FOR THE NCAR ARCHIVE OF NMC UPPER AIR ADP DATA | | Paul Mulder | August 1977 | | rev. Gregg Walters | February 1992 | | This writeup describes the format of NCAR's archive of NMC ob- | servational data for the period 1973 to the present. All time periods | 00, 03, 06, 09, 12, 18, 21Z, as available, are on the mass store. | | There is one file per volume with the end of data signified by a | double end of file. Tapes are ASCII. Records are ordered on the | volume as follows with a maximum of 6440 characters per record. | | HEADER RECORD | | 1 thru N DATA RECORDS | | TRAILER RECORD (not always here) | | HEADER RECORD | | 1 thru N DATA RECORDS | | TRAILER RECORD (not always here) | . | . | . | | REPEATED TO END OF DATA | . | | EOF, EOF | | | Header records have the following form (first 30 characters): | | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 | ------------------------------ | 1 H H H H Y Y M M D D | | 2 DATA SET NAME SET TYPE | | 3 W A S H I N G T O N | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | HHHH - GREENWICH HOUR (e.g. 1800) | YY - YEAR OF CENTURY (e.g. 73) | MM - MONTH (e.g. 01) | DD - DAY (e.g. 01) | | DATA SET NAME | ADPUPA - UPPER AIR ADP DATA (RAOBS AND PIBALS) | AIRCFT - AIRCRAFT DATA | AIRCAR - AIRCRAFT DATA | SIRSOB - SIRS SOUNDINGS | SATWND - SATELLITE WINDS | UPABOG - UPPER AIR BOGUS | ADPSFC - LAND SURFACE ADP | SFCSHP - SHIP SURFACE ADP | SFCBOG - SURFACE BOGUS | | SET TYPE (SOURCE) | B1 - BINARY DIRECT ACCESS | B2 - BINARY SEQUENTIAL ACCESS | C1 - CODED DIRECT ACCESS | C2 - CODED SEQUENTIAL ACCESS | | WASHINGTON - the 10 characters "WASHINGTON" will always appear | in position 21 through 30. | | | The remainder of the header record is filled with either blanks | or 9s. No further meaningful information is contained. | | Data records have the form described in NMC OFFICE NOTE 29. A | copy of this office note is attached. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Revision No. 2 to NMC Office Note No. 29. | | | The date of this revision is September 14, 1973 ( 9/14/73) | | | This revision incorporates corrections and expansions of various | tables specifying quality marks for certain meteorological parameters | which were previously unspecified. Two additional categories (07 and | 08) have been added. Changes specified by Revision 1, October 10, | 1969, have been incorporated in this revised edition. All previous | editions will be obsolete. | | | Revised information covered by this revision will be implemented for | all observational data processed on the IBM 360/195 computer system | scheduled to become operational for NMC use in November 1973. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 i Rev 2 | | | Information contained in NMC observational data (ADP reports) | consists of combinations of characters from the FORTRAN character set | given in APPENDIX A. | | A report is composed of two main parts: (1) the report identi- | fication of fixed length (50 characters), and (2) the observational | data of variable length. Each report is considered to be a logical | record and contains 70 or more characters. The total number of | characters in a report is evenly divisible by 10. Certain portions | of the report are also evenly divisible by 10, and the character "X" | is used to fill in these instances. | | The information contained in the report identification is given | in APPENDIX B. The last parameter in this group contains the total | number of ten-character words in the report providing linkage from | one report to the next when a group of reports is blocked into a | physical record. The report identification is followed by the | observational data which is formatted according to the categories | described in APPENDIX C. Each category of available data is preceded | by a ten-character category/counter group which is described in APPEN- | DIX B. Where no data of a given category exist, the category/counter | group in a report contains the ten characters "END REPORT". The total | number of characters found in the category/counter group and the for- | matted data for that category is evenly divisible by 10, the character | "X" being used for fill if necessary. | | | A sample RAWINSONDE report, in the prescribed format, is given in | APPENDIX D. | | A negative value of a parameter is indicated by a minus(-) sign | located in the leftmost position. A positive value is unsigned. All | numbers are right-justified with zero (0) fill. | | In order to attain flexibility for adding new report types and/or | new categories of data, programs should be written so that these addi- | tions will not necessitate reprogramming. Of course, to utilize the | additional data, programming would be needed. This can simply be | done by providing a check to ascertain if the report type and/or | category can be handled. If not, the report or category should be | bypassed, pending a change to utilize the additional data. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 1 Rev 2 | | | LIST OF APPENDICES | | | APPENDIX A | | FORTRAN Character Set ...................................... 3 | | APPENDIX B | | Report Identification ...................................... 4 | | Category/Counter Group ................................. 5 | | Table R.1 (Report Type) .................................... 8 | | Table R.2 (Instrument Type) ................................ 9 | | APPENDIX C | | Formats for the Categories of Data | | Category 01 - Mandatory Constant Pressure .............. 10 | | Category 02 - Temperature/Dewpoint Depression | at Variable Pressure ................. 11 | | Category 03 - Wind at Variable Pressure ................ 11 | | Category 04 - Wind at Variable Height .................. 12 | | Category 05 - Tropopause ............................... 12 | | Category 06 - Aircraft ................................. 13 | | Category 07 - Cloud Cover .............................. 14 | | Category 08 - Additional Data Group .................... 14 | | Category 51 - Surface .................................. 15 | | Category 52 - Surface .................................. 17 | | Definitions of Symbols Used in Table 101 ................... 18 | | Tables for Upper-air Data .................................. 22 | | WMO Code Tables for Surface Data ...(also see next page) ... 28 | | APPENDIX D | | Sample Report .............................................. 47 | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 2 Rev 2 | | | APPENDIX A | | | FORTRAN CHARACTER SET | | | The following FORTRAN characters may be used: | | A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, | Y, Z, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and: | | | Character Name of Character | --------- ----------------- | | Blank (space) | - Minus | * Asterisk | / Slash | $ Currency Symbol | | | ********************************************************************************| | NCAR Data Support developed the following additional index to the WMO | Code Tables. Feb 21, 1992 | | Code Table 1 Cloud Cover .............................. 28 | Code Table 2 .............................. | Code Table 3 Horizontal Visibility .................... 29 | Code Table 4 Present Weather .......................... 30 | Code Table 5 Past Weather ............................. 32 | Code Table 6 .............................. | Code Table 7 .............................. | Code Table 8 Low Cloud Type ........................... 32 | Code Table 9 Height of Cloud Base ..................... 34 | Code Table 10 Middle Cloud Type ........................ 34 | Code Table 11 High Cloud Type .......................... 35a | Code Table 12 Character of Pressure Tendency ........... 37 | Code Table 13 .............................. | Code Table 14 Amount of Pressure Change ................ 38 | Code Table 15 .............................. | Code Table 16 Time Precipitation Began or Ended ........ 39 | Code Table 17 .............................. | Code Table 18 .............................. | Code Table 19 .............................. | Code Table 20 .............................. | Code Table 21 Special Phenomena ........................ 40 | Code Table 22 Special Phenomena, Detailed .............. 41 | Code Table 23 Direction of Swell Waves ................. 44 | Code Table 24 Period of Swell Waves .................... 45 | | WMO Code Table 0700 Ship's Course .......................... 46 | WMO Code Table 4451 Ship's Speed ........................... 46 | | | | | 9/14/73 3 Rev 2 | | | APPENDIX B | | | REPORT IDENTIFICATION (50 CHARACTERS) | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Character| | | | Number(s)| Parameter | Unit | Remarks | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | | | | 1 - 5 | Latitude * | Hundredths of degree | Negative if in | | | | So. Hemisphere | | | | | 6 - 10 | West longitude * | Hundredths of degree | Values 00000 to | | | | 35999 | | | | | 11 - 16 | Station | Alphanumeric | Left justified, | | identification %| | blank fill | | | | | 17 - 20 | Observation time *| Hundredths of hour |# Values 0000 | | | | to 2399 | | | | | 21 - 24 |$Reserved | $ ----- | $ ----- | | | | | 25 | 25th Character | See description below | see next page | | | | | 26 | 26th Character | See description below | see next page | | | | | 27 | 27th Character | See description below | see next page | | | | | 28 - 30 | Report type | Character from | Always an integer | | | Table R.1 | | | | | | 31 - 35 | Station | Meter | Negative if below | | elevation * | | sea level | | | | | 36 - 37 | Instrument type * | Character from | Always an integer | | | Table R.2 | | | | | | 38 - 40 | Total length | Number of | ----- | | of report | ten-character words | | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | * Whenever value is "missing" or not applicable, all characters for the | parameter will contain "9". | | # From NMC ON124 | | $ NMC ON124 shows "Receipt time" with same units and remarks as observation | time | | % P. Mulder recorded a phone conversation with Jim McDonnell on Mar 24, 1978 | which indicated that beginning July 1, 1977, all block numbers in Canada | which used to be 74 or 72 became 71. The station numbers remain as | they were. | | 9/14/73 4 Rev 2 | | | A note dated May 6, 1981 from Jim McDonnell, NMC, indicated that | effective Jan 1, 1982, the following format changes would be made in | the surface data (this is reflected in our Apr 1982 version of NMC ON124). | | The ship, buoy, and surface land reports will be longer, to handle | the addition of Category 08 data in Section 3 that are not put in | Category 51 and 52 formats. Category 09 (plain language data) will be | created to handle the parameters of Section 5. | | Characters 25, 26, and 27 will be reserved for iw, ir, and ix | respectively (see ON124). Users of 24-hour pressure tendency are warned | that the actual value of the pressure change will be retained in tenths | of millibars except that 500 will be added to the amount of the 24-hour | change to indicate decreases. Rt, the time precipitation began will be | replaced by the tR, the reporting period of precipitation. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | A note dated Feb 1, 1988 from Dennis A. Keyser, NMC, indicated that | the 27th character would be used to tag operational satellite cloud- | drift wind reports from the GOES satellites, beginning 12Z, 27 Jan in | the SATWND files (all dump times). | | | 1 - GOES E (STN ID (1) - A) or GOES W (STN ID (1) - B) report | produced on VIRS | | 2 - GOES E (STN ID (1) - A) or GOES W (STN ID (1) - B) report | produced on VDUC | | C - European satellite (STN ID (1) - Z) | | D - Japanese satellite (STN ID (1) - Y) | | E - Indian satellite (STN ID (1) - V) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4a | | | REPORT IDENTIFICATION (Continued) | | | CATEGORY/COUNTER GROUP (10 Characters) | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Character| | Number(s)| Parameter | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | | 41 - 42 | Category code figure from APPENDIX C. | | | 43 - 45 | (Number of ten-character words in the report which pre- | | cedes the next category/counter group) plus one. * | | | 46 - 47 | Number of times data format for current category is | | repeated (i.e., the number of entries) | | | 48 - 50 | Total number of characters in current category (fill | | characters not counted) | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | * More simply stated : The relative position in report of the next | category/counter group. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 5 Rev 2 | | | Report Identification | --------------------- | | | 25th Character: Assigned to indicate special processing procedures. | -------------- | | | Character Meaning | --------- -------------------------------------------------- | 0 Report has been adjusted to map time by an NMC | updating procedure. Heights are referenced to | some forecast level. | | 1 Report has been adjusted to map time by an NMC | updating procedure. Heights are referenced to | 1000 mb level at sea level. | | | | 8 Reported heights are referenced to 1000 mb level | at sea level. | | 9 * Reported heights are referenced to some forecast | level. | | --------------------------------------------------------------- | * Except for report type 061 (SIRS), this value means | "missing" or not applicable. | | | | 26th Character: Assigned to indicate the information specifying | -------------- that the standard isobaric surfaces were | located by use of pressure equipment (44), or | that pressure equipment was not available and | that wind data were reported at altitudes | approximating the standard isobaric surfaces (55). | | | (44) | (55) Equipment | ----------- ------------------------------------------- | 0 Pressure instrument associated with wind- | | measuring equipment. | 1 | 5 Optical theodolite. | 0 | 2 Radio theodolite. | 3 | 7 Radar. | 4 Pressure instrument associated with wind- | measuring equipment but pressure element | failed during ascent. | 6 Not assigned. | 8 Not assigned. | 9 Not specified. | ----------- ------------------------------------------- | | | | | 9/14/73 6 Rev 2 | | | 27th Character: Assigned to indicate special processing procedures. | -------------- | | | Character Meaning | --------- -------------------------------------------------- | | 0 All parameters in the report have been processed | automatically (no manual intervention). | | 1 All parameters in the report have been obtained | by manual intervention (no automatic processing). | | 2 All parameters in the report have been obtained | by manual intervention and all parameters agree | with automatically processed values. | | 3 All parameters in the report have been obtained by | manual intervention and all parameters disagree | with automatically processed values. | | 4 All parameters in the report have been obtained by | manual intervention and one or more parameters | disagree with automatically processed values. | | 5 One or more, but not all, parameters in the report | have been obtained by manual intervention and all | of these parameters agree with automatically pro- | cessed values. | | 6 One or more, but not all, parameters in the report | have been obtained by manual intervention and all | of these parameters disagree with automatically | processed values. | | 7 Two or more, but not all, parameters in the report | have been obtained by manual intervention and one | or more parameters agree and one or more parameters | disagree with the automatically processed values. | | 8 Not assigned. | | 9 Not specified. | --------- -------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 7 Rev 2 | | | TABLE R.1 REPORT TYPE (3 CHARACTERS) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Code | | | Figure | Type | Remarks | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | | | | Upper-air | | | --------- | | | | | | Land station | | 011 | By block and station number | | 012 | By call letters | | 013 | By latitude-longitude | | | | | | Ocean station | | 021 | Fixed ship (OSV) | | 022 | Moving ship with name | | 023 | Moving ship without name | | | | | 031 | Reconnaissance aircraft | see next page | | | | 041 | Aircraft report | | 042 | | see next page | | | | | Monitoring Bogus (manual) | | 051 | By latitude and longitude | | | | | | Satellite | | 061 | SIRS (soundings) | | 062 | CLOUD (wind estimates) | | 063 | ATS (wind estimates) | | | | | | Surface | | | ------- | | | Land station | | 511 | By block and station number | | 512 | By call letters | | 513 | By latitude-longitude | | | | | | Ocean station | | 521 | Fixed ship (OSV) | | 522 | Moving ship with name | | 523 | Moving ship without name | | | | | | # Marine reporting station (MARS)| | 531 | Fixed (Stationary) | | 532 | Moving | | | | | | Monitoring Bogus (manual) | | 551 | By latitude and longitude | | | | | | # Buoy | | 561 | Moored | | 562 | Drifting | see next page | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | # From NMC ON124 | | 9/14/73 8 Rev 2 | | During the FGGE special observing periods (5 Jan - 5 Mar and 1 May - | 30 Jun, 1979) additional data were received and saved by NMC. According to | a note from Jim McDonnell dated Nov 17, 1978, these were as follows: | | 1) Drifting buoy reports, report type 562; the rightmost character of the | 6-character station identification designates a country as follows: | A - Canada E - France | B - Canada F - United States | C - Australia G - New Zealand | D - Norway H - United Kingdom | I - other | the reports were asynoptic and combined with ship reports as follows: | 2100-0259 00Z files | 0300-0859 06Z files | 0900-1459 12Z files | 1500-2059 18Z files | | 2) Dropsondes, report type 031; the leftmost character of the 6-character | station identification set to "M". The same tests will be applied as | for other type 031 reports: | 1800-0559 00Z files | 0300-0859 06Z files | 0900-1759 12Z files | 1500-2059 18Z files | | Reports will have category 01 data (but missing heights) and category | 2 data to handle pressure and temperature. | | 3) Constant level balloon reports, report type 042; four characters of the | character station identification to contain the transmitted 4-digit | balloon number. The same tests will be applied as for other | type 031 reports: | 1800-0559 00Z files | 0300-0859 06Z files | 0900-1759 12Z files | 1500-2059 18Z files | | Reports will be formatted identically as for type 063 reports, i.e., | with category 06 and 08 data. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | During the STORMFEST observing period (early 1992) additional data | were received and saved by NMC. According to a phone conversation with | Jim McDonell on Apr 3, 1992, all special raobs related to this project | are saved in the ADPUPA as report type 013. | | He also told us that the great majority of aircraft reconnaissance data | is not saved in the AIRCFT dataset. It is saved in the ADPUPA dataset, with | a report type of 031. Categories 1 (used for dropsondes), 3, 4, and 6 may | appear in these reports. Station IDs look like 5 digit WMO numbers with "A" | appended. These are not WMO numbers, they refer back to flight numbers. | | McDonell also said that type 021 (upper air from fixed ships) was dis- | continued in late 1990 or early 1991. The data from these stations now | comes in with a report type of 022. Finally, since about Oct 1991, some | upper air data have been "accidentally" saved with WMO block number 99. | These reports should be ignored - a good report with a proper station number | does appear in the archive. | 8a | | | TABLE R.2 INSTRUMENT TYPE (2 CHARACTERS) | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Code | | | Figure | Description | Previous Description | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | | | 01 | U.S.-ESSA External thermistor | (1 or J)-USWB External thermistor | | | | 02 | U.S.-ESSA External thermistor | (2 or K)-USWB External thermistor | | (Plateau stations) | (Plateau stations) | | | | 03 | U.S.-AN/AMT-4 Military | (3 or L)-U.S. Military external | | external thermistor | thermistor | | | | 04 | Finland-Vaisala | (4 or M)-Vaisala | | | | 05 | France-Metox | (5 or N)-Metox | | | | 06 | Portugal-Canada | (6 or O)-Portugal (Canadian Model | | Model IV | 4) | | | | 07 | W. Germany-Graw H.50 | (7 or P)-Graw H.50 | | (Corrected) | | | | | 08 | U.S.-ESSA 403 MhZ Duct-type | (8 or Q)-USWB 403 MC Duct-type | | (WBAN corrections applied | (WBAN corrections | | at station) | applied at station) | | | | 09 | Japan-Code sending | (9 or R)-Japanese code sending | | | | 10 | E. Germany-Freiberg | (A or /)-Freiberg | | | | 11 | Britain-Kew Mark IIB | (B or S)-British Kew | | | | 12 | USSR-A-22-III(IV) | (C or T)-USSR | | | | 13 | U.S.-ESSA 403 MhZ Duct-type | (D or U)-USWB 403 MC Duct-type | | (WBAN correction not applied | (WBAN correction not | | at station) | applied at station) | | | | 98 | NOAA-II (SIRS-B) Instrument 1 | | | | | 97 | NOAA-II (SIRS-B) Instrument 2 | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 9 Rev 2 | | | | | TABLE R.2 INSTRUMENT TYPE (2 CHARACTERS) | | | ------------------------------------------------------------- | Code| Description | Upper-Air Dictionary Code | Fig.| Country - instrument name | (OLD and NEW versions) | ------------------------------------------------------------- | #01 | US-NOAA VIZ External | OLD- (1 or J) same | | Thermistor | NEW- (N1) | 02 | US-NOAA External thermistor| OLD- (2 or K) same | | (plateau stns.)-NOT USED | NEW- NOT USED | *03 | US-military VIZ AN/AMT-4B | OLD (3 or L) same | | External Thermistor | NEW- (N2) | *04 | FINLAND-Vaisala | OLD- (4 or M) same except | | (inside Finland) | in & out of Finland | | | NEW- (L1) | *05 | FRANCE-Mesural | OLD- (5 or N) France-Metox | | (inside France) | NEW- (H1) | 06 | PORTUGAL-Canada Model IV | OLD- (6 or O) same | | NOT USED | NEW- NOT USED | *07 | W. GERMANY-Graw / | OLD- (7 or P) same | | Sprenger | NEW- (C ) | 08 | US-NOAA VIZ 403 MhZ Duct- | OLD- (8 or Q) same | | type (corrections applied)| NEW- NOT USED | | NOT USED | | *09 | JAPAN-Meisei or Oki | OLD- (9 or R) same | | | NEW- (G ) | *10 | E. GERMANY-Freiberg | OLD- (A or /) same | | NOT USED | NEW- NOT USED | @11 | UK-Meteorological Office | OLD- (B or S) same | | | NEW- (O ) | #12 | USSR-Meteorite A-22 III | OLD- (C) USSR-A-22 or RKZ | | and IV | NEW- (J1) | 13 | US-NOAA VIZ 403 MhZ Duct- | OLD- (D or U) same | | type (corrections not | | | applied) | | *14 | FINLAND-Vaisala | OLD- (4 or M) same except | | (outside Finland) | in & out of Finland | *15 | FRANCE-Mesural | OLD- (5 or N) France-Metox | | (outside France) | NEW- (H2) | 16 | AUSTRALIA-Phillips | OLD- NONE | | | NEW- (I ) | *17 | AUSTRALIA-"Diamond Hinman" | OLD- NONE | | NOT USED | NEW- NOT USED | *18 | CANADA-Sangamo | OLD- NONE | | | NEW- (K ) | *19 | CHINA-Shanghai 23 Radio | OLD- (T) USSR-A22 or RKZ | | Mfr. | NEW- (P ) | #20 | USSR-Meteorite RKZ-2 and-5 | OLD- (C) USSR-A22 or RKZ | | | NEW- (J2) | #21 | USSR-unknown (linear avg. | OLD- (C) USSR-A22 or RKZ | | of A-22 & RKZ corrections | | | | | | | | 4/30/87 9a Rev 3 | | | | | TABLE R.2 INSTRUMENT TYPE (2 CHARACTERS) (cont.) | | | ------------------------------------------------------------- | Code| Description | Upper-Air Dictionary Code | Fig.| Country - instrument name | (OLD and NEW versions) | ------------------------------------------------------------- | 22 | INDIA-Meteorological | OLD- NONE | | Service | NEW- (D ) | 23 | AUSTRIA-Elin | OLD- NONE | | | NEW- (B ) | 24 | N. KOREA-Jinyang (VIZ | OLD- NONE | | license) | NEW- (E ) | 25 | SWITZERLAND-Meteolabor | OLD- NONE | | | NEW- (F ) | 26 | CZECHOSLOVAKIA-Vinohrady | OLD- NONE | | | NEW- (M ) | 27 | US-NOAA VIZ MSS Solid State| OLD- NONE | | 1680 MhZ (Space Data Corp)| NEW- (Q ) | | | | 28 | | | to | --- RESERVED --- | | 98 | | | | | | 99 | UNSPECIFIED / UNKNOWN | OLD- ( ) UNSPECIFIED | | INSTRUMENT TYPE | NEW- ( ) UNSPECIFIED | | | OLD- (0 ) UNKNOWN | | | NEW- (0 ) UNKNOWN | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------- | | * - instrument types for which correction tables are | available | # - new correction tables for separate 00Z and 12Z times | @ - new correction table is used but applies to Kew Mark IIb | instrument and may not be up-to-date | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4/30/87 9b Rev 3 | | | APPENDIX C | | | FORMATS FOR THE CATEGORIES OF DATA | | Whenever values are "missing", all characters allowed for that parameter | will contain "9", except for quality marks which will always be as stated. | | Category 01--Mandatory constant-pressure data (22 characters each entry) | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | The assumed order of constant-pressure data is as follows: | | (1) 1000 mb (11) 70 mb | (2) 850 mb (12) 50 mb | (3) 700 mb (13) 30 mb | (4) 500 mb (14) 20 mb | (5) 400 mb (15) 10 mb | (6) 300 mb (16) 7 mb | (7) 250 mb (17) 5 mb | (8) 200 mb (18) 3 mb | (9) 150 mb (19) 2 mb | (10) 100 mb (20) 1 mb | | Assuming this order, the entry in the category/counter group which gives | the number of times a format is repeated will be the number corresponding to | the highest level (lowest pressure) for which there is data. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | No. of | | | characters | Parameter | Unit | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | 5 | Geopotential | Meter | | | | 4 | Temperature | Tenth of degree C | | | | 3 | Dewpoint depression | " " " " | | | | 3 | Wind direction | Degree | | | | 3 | Wind speed | Knot | | | | 1 | Quality mark for geopotential | Character from Table Q.A | | | | 1 | " " " temperature | " " " Q.A | | | | 1 | " " " depression | " " " Q.C | | | | 1 | " " " wind | " " " Q.A | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | 9/14/73 10 Rev 2 | | | Category 02--Temperature/dewpoint depression at variable pressure | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | (15 characters each entry) | -------------------------- | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | No. of | | | characters | Parameter | Unit | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | 5 | Pressure | Tenth of millibar | | | | 4 | Temperature | Tenth of degree C | | | | 3 | Dewpoint depression | " " " " | | | | 1 | Quality mark for pressure | Character from Table Q.B | | | | 1 | " " " temperature | " " " Q.A | | | | 1 | " " " depression | " " " Q.C | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Note 1 - First entry always will be surface data, values set "missing" if not | available | Note 2 - Entries will be ordered by decreasing pressure. | | | | | | | | Category 03--Wind at variable pressure (13 characters each entry) | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | No. of | | | characters | Parameter | Unit | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | 5 | Pressure | Tenth of millibar | | | | 3 | Wind direction | Degree | | | | 3 | Wind speed | Knot | | | | 1 | Quality mark for pressure | Character from Table Q.B | | | | 1 | " " " wind | " " " Q.A | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Note 1 - First entry always will be surface data, values set "missing" if not | available | Note 2 - Entries will be ordered by decreasing pressure. | | | | 9/14/73 11 Rev 2 | | | Category 04--Wind at variable height (13 characters each entry) | --------------------------------------------------------------- | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | No. of | | | characters | Parameter | Unit | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | 5 | Geopotential | Meter | | | | 3 | Wind direction | Degree | | | | 3 | Wind speed | Knot | | | | 1 | Quality mark for geopotential | Character from Table Q.B | | | | 1 | " " " wind | " " " Q.A | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Note 1 - First entry always will be surface data, values set "missing" if not | available | Note 2 - Entries will be ordered by increasing height. | | | | | | | Category 05--Tropopause data (22 characters each entry) | ------------------------------------------------------- | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | No. of | | | characters | Parameter | Unit | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | 5 | Pressure | Tenth of millibar | | | | 4 | Temperature | Tenth of degree C | | | | 3 | Dewpoint depression | " " " " | | | | 3 | Wind direction | Degree | | | | 3 | Wind speed | Knot | | | | 1 | Quality mark for pressure | Character from Table Q.B | | | | 1 | " " " temperature | " " " Q.A | | | | 1 | " " " depression | " " " Q.C | | | | 1 | " " " wind | " " " Q.A | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Note 1 - Entries will be ordered by decreasing pressure. | | | 9/14/73 12 Rev 2 | | | Category 06--Aircraft (22 characters each entry) | ------------------------------------------------ | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | No. of | | | characters | Parameter | Unit | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | 5 | Pressure altitude | Meter | | | | 4 | Temperature | Tenth of degree C | | | | 3 | Dewpoint depression | " " " " | | | | 3 | Wind direction | Degree | | | | 3 | Wind speed | Knot | | | | 1 | Quality mark for pressure | Character from Table Q.6 | | altitude | | | | | 1 | Quality mark for temperature | " " " Q.6 | | | | 1 | " " " depression | " " " Q.6 | | | | 1 | " " " wind | " " " Q.6c | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 13 Rev 2 | | | Category 07 - Cloud cover (10 characters each entry) | ---------------------------------------------------- | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | No. of | | | characters | Parameter | Unit | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | 5 | Pressure | Tenth of millibar | | | | 3 | Amount of cloudiness | Percent | | | | 1 | Quality mark for pressure | Character from Table Q.7 | | | | 1 | " " " cloud amount | " " " Q.7 | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Note 1 - Entries will be ordered by decreasing pressure. | Note 2 - Pressure and amount will both have values of zero to indicate | no cloud cover (clear) | | | | | | | | Category 08 - Additional data (10 characters each entry) $ | -------------------------------------------------------- | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | No. of | | | characters | Parameter | Unit | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | 5 | Data given by specifications | Variable | | in Table 101. * | | | | | 3 | Form of additional data in | Code figure from | | report. | Table 101. | | | | 1 | Indicator for data specifi- | Character from | | cation. | Table Q.8 | | | | 1 | Indicator for form of | Character from | | additional data. | Table Q.8a | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Note - entries will be ordered by increasing code figure. | * Value set "missing" if not applicable. | | $ Note from Jim McDonnell dated June 29, 1982 indicates that this category | would be added July 21, 1982. The parameters to be activated include | Code figures 001, 002, 003, 004, 101 and 105 from TABLE 101. Table Q.8 | is utilized to indicate Parts A, B, C, D of the TEMP, TEMP SHIP, PILOT, | and TEMP PILOT reports. | | | 9/14/73 14 Rev 2 | | | Category 09 - Plain Language Data (12 characters in each entry) $ | --------------------------------------------------------------- | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | No. of | | | characters | Parameter | Unit | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | 1 | Indicator of content of the | Character from | | plain language | Table SM.9 # | | | | 11 | Plain Language data | Alphanumeric text | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | $ Note from Jim McDonnell dated May 6, 1981 indicates that this category | would be added Jan 1, 1982. The parameters to be activated include | Code figures 001, 002, 003, 004, 101 and 105 from TABLE 101. Table Q.8 | is utilized to indicate Parts A, B, C, D of the TEMP, TEMP SHIP, PILOT, | and TEMP PILOT reports. | # see NMC ON124 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14a | | | Category 51 - Surface data (60 characters each entry) | ----------------------------------------------------- | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | No. of | | | characters | Parameter | Unit | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | | | 5 | Sea level pressure | Tenth of millibar | 5 | Station pressure ** | " " " | 3 | Wind direction | Degree | 3 | Wind speed | Knot | 4 | Air temperature | Tenth of degree C | 3 | Dewpoint depression | " " " " | 4 | Maximum temperature | " " " " | 4 | Minimum " | " " " " | 1 | Quality mark for sea-level pressure | Character from Table | | | Q.51 | 1 | Quality mark for station pressure | " " " " | 1 | Quality mark for wind | " " " " | 1 | Quality mark for air temperature | " " " " | 1 | Quality mark for depression | " " " " | 3 | Horizontal visibility | Code figure from Code | | | Table 3 | 3 | Present weather | Code figure from Code | | | Table 4 | 2 | Past weather | Code figure from Code | | | Table 5 | 2 | Fraction of the celestial dome | Code figure from Code | | covered by cloud (N) | Table 1 | 2 | Fraction of the celestial dome | Code figure from Code | | covered by all the Cl (or Cm) | Table 1 | | cloud present (Nh) | | 2 | Clouds of genera Sc, St, Cu, Cb (Cl) | Code figure from Code | | | Table 8 | 2 | Height above ground of the base of | Code figure from Code | | the cloud (h) | Table 9 | 2 | Clouds of genera Ac, As, Ns (Cm) | Code figure from Code | | | Table 10 | 2 | Clouds of genera Ci, Cc, Cs (Ch) | Code figure from Code | | | Table 11 | 1 | Characteristic of pressure tendency | Code figure from Code | | during the 3 hours preceding the | Table 12 | | time of observation (a) * | | | | | 3 | Amount (magnitude) of the pressure | Tenth of millibar or | | tendency * | Code figure from | | | Table 14 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | * When the characteristic of pressure tendency is 9 and the amount of the | pressure tendency is not 999, the tendency is a 24-hour pressure change | code figure from Code Table 14. | | ** See note on following page. | | | | | 9/14/73 15 Rev 2 | | | ** Reference Category 51, station pressure (PoPoPoPoPo), the following | information describes the method for also accommodating the possible | values encoded in the sea level pressure entry (PPP) in the pressure- | temperature group(PPPTT). | | Characters Level Unit | ---------- ---------- ----------------------------- | PoPoPoPoPo station tenth of millibar | | 21PPP 1000 gpm tenth of millibar | | 22PPP 2000 gpm tenth of millibar | | 23PPP 500 gpm tenth of millibar | | 25PPP 500 mb geopotential meter (gpm) | | 26PPP station tenth of millibar | | 27PPP 700 mb geopotential meter | | 28PPP 850 mb geopotential meter | | 29PPP unknown (as reported) | | 99999 missing | ---------- ---------- ----------------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 16 Rev 2 | | | Category 52 - Surface data (40 characters each entry) | ----------------------------------------------------- | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | No. of | | | characters | Parameter | Unit | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | | | 4 | Amount of precipitation past 6 hours | Hundredths of an inch | 3 | Total depth of snow on ground | Inch | 4 | Total precipitation past 24 hours | Hundredths of an inch | 1 | Time precip. began or ended | Code figure from Code | | | Table 16 | 2 | Period of waves | Second | 2 | Height of waves | Half yard (1 1/2 feet) | 2 | Direction from which swell waves | Code figure from Code | | are moving | Table 23 | 2 | Period of swell waves | Code figure from Code | | | Table 24 | 2 | Height of swell waves | Half yard (1 1/2 feet) | 4 | Sea surface temperature | Tenth of degree C | 2 | Special phenomena, general * | Code figure from Code | | | Table 21 | 2 | Special phenomena, detailed * | Code figure from Code | | | Table 22 | 1 | Ship's course | Code figure from Code | | | Table 0700 | 2 | Ship's average speed | Code figure from Code | | | Table 4451 | 7 | Reserved for future use | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | * Special phenomena, general, is missing (99) only if special phenomena, | detailed, is missing (99). | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 17 Rev 2 | | | Definitions of Symbols Used in TABLE 101 | ---------------------------------------- | | | dd = True direction in tens of degrees (hundreds and tens digit) | from which the wind is blowing at the specified level. | | fff = Wind speed in knots, or knots plus 500. | | isis = Stability index indicating the degree of stability of the layer | of air extending from a level near the surface of the earth | to the 500-mb level. | | PP = Pressure in tens of millibars, or in whole millibars, of the | standard isobaric level, except that 99 means surface level, | 66 and 77 mean maximum wind level, 88 means tropopause level, | and 00 means 1000-mb level. (See note for P1P1, below) | | P1P1 = Pressure in tenths of millibars, or whole millibars, of the lower | limit (with respect to altitude) of the stratum. | (Note: in PART B, up to and including 100 mb, these parameters | are in tens of millibars. In PART D, above 100 mb, these | parameters are in whole millibars). | | P2P2 = Pressure in tens of millibars, or whole millibars, of the upper | limit (with respect to altitude) of the stratum. (See note | for P1P1, above). | | vava = Absolute value of the vector difference between the maximum wind | and the wind blowing at 3,000 feet above the level of the max- | imum wind. | | vbvb = Absolute value of the vector difference between the maximum wind | and the wind blowing at 3,000 feet below the level of the max- | imum wind. | | PPP = Pressure in whole millibars, or tenths of millibars, of the | significant level. (Note: in PART B, up to and including | 100 mb, these parameters are in millibars. In PART D, above | 100 mb, these parameters are in tenths of millibars. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 18 Rev 2 | | | TABLE 101 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Code | | Figure | Specification | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | 001 | Stability index ... 000isis. | | | 002 | Low-level Mean Wind for surface to 5,000-foot layer in | | knots ... ddfff. | | | 003 | Low-level Mean Wind for 5,000- to 10,000-foot layer in | | knots ... ddfff. | | | 004 | Vertical Wind Shear data in knots ... 4vbvbvava | | (99 is used when solidi (//) were encoded for vbvb or | | vava). | | | 005 | Verifies 77999 (maximum wind not observed) was encoded. | | | 006 | Verifies 88999 (tropopause not observed) was encoded. | | | 007 | Stratum has superadiabatic lapse rate between following | | levels ... 0P1P1P2P2. | | | 008 | Geopotential was deleted in report at level ... 000PP. | | | 009 | Temperature was deleted in report at level .. 000PP. | | (or 00PPP as appropriate). | | | 010 | Depression of the Dew Point was deleted in report at | | level ... 000PP (or 00PPP as appropriate). | | | 011 | Wind Direction and/or Speed was deleted in report at | | level ... 000PP (or 00PPP as appropriate). | | | 012 | Pressure was deleted in report at level ... 000PP | | (or 00PPP as appropriate). | | | 013 | | thru | See next page | 020 | | | | 032 | Nh (1 digit), Cl (2 digits), and h (2 digits) from the | | cloud data (41414) group. (See Code Tables 1, 8, and | | 9 for meanings). | | | 033 | Cm (2 digits) and Ch (3 digits) from the cloud data | | (41414) group. (See Code Tables 10 and 11 for meaning). | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | 9/14/73 19 Rev 2 | | | TABLE 101, insert | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Code | | Figure | Specification | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | 013 | Pressure (mb) corresponding to pressure altitude | | given in the report....00PPP | | | 014 | Station block and index (WMO) number (with type 512 | | surface reports) | | | 015 | Cloud albedo, aa, %, and cloud pressure level, ppp, | | mb, reported as "aappp" | | | 016 | Total albedo, AA, %, and flux, FFF, watts/m**2, | | reported as "AAFFF" | | | 017 | Surface albedo, AsAs, %, and total water vapor, | | VVV, cm x 100, reported as "AsAs VVV" | | | 018 | Surface skin temperature, TT, tens and unit digits, | | degrees K, and liquid water in clouds, LLL, mm,x 100 | | reported as "TTLLL" | | | 019 | Period of time (pppp) in hundreds of hours over which | | observation was made....0pppp | | | 020 | Altimeter setting (QNH) in tenths of mb (PPPPP) | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Codes 013-020 from a list dated 15 April 77 (from NMC to NCAR) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19a | | | TABLE 101, continued | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Code | | Figure | Specification | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | 034 | Verifies DLAD (report not ready for transmission) was encoded. | | | 035 | Verifies FINO (report missing, will not be filed for trans- | | mission) was encoded. | | | 036 | Verifies MISG (report missing but no further information | | available) was encoded. | | | 037 | Verifies PISE (unfavorable sea conditions) was encoded. | | | 038 | Verifies PIWE (unfavorable weather conditions) was encoded. | | | 039 | Verifies XMTD (all data for the ascent has been transmitted | | previously) was encoded. | | | 040 | Report not filed. | 041 | | 042 | Ground equipment failure. | 043 | Observation delayed. | 044 | Power failure. | 045 | Unfavorable weather conditions. | 046 | Low maximum altitude (less than 500 meters above ground) | 047 | Leaking balloon. | 048 | Ascent not authorized for this period. | 049 | Alert. | 050 | Ascent did not extend above the 100-mb level. | 051 | Balloon forced down by icing condition. | 052 | Balloon forced down by precipitation. | 053 | Atmospheric interference. | 054 | Local interference. | 055 | Fading signal. 1 | 056 | Weak signal. 1 | 057 | Preventive maintenance. | 058 | Flight equipment (transmitter, balloon, attachments, etc.) failure | 059 | Any reason not listed above. | | | 065 | Altitude and temperature data are doubtful between following | | levels ..... 0P1P1P2P2 | | | 066 | Altitude levels are doubtful between following levels ..... | | 0P1P1P2P2 | | | 067 | Temperature data are doubtful between following levels ..... | | 0P1P1P2P2 | | | 068 | Depression of the Dew Point is Missing Between Following Levels | | ..... 0P1P1P2P2 | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | 9/14/73 20 Rev 2 | | | TABLE 101, continued | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Code | | Figure | Specification | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | 069 | Depression of the Dew Point is missing at the level ... 000PP | | (or 00PP as appropriate). | | | | | | | 078 | Corrected Tropopause Data (Section 3) entered in report | 079 | Corrected Maximum Wind (Section 4) entered in report | 080 | Corrected entire report (PARTs A, B, C, and D entered in report) | 081 | Corrected report for PARTS A and B entered in report. | 082 | Corrected report for PARTS C and D entered in report. | 083 | Corrected data for mandatory levels in report | 084 | Corrected data for significant levels entered in report. | 085 | Corrected report for one with minor error(s) entered in report. | | | 086 | Significant Levels, not included in original report, entered in | | report. | | | 087 | Corrected data, for Surface, entered in report. | 088 | Corrected Additional Data groups entered in report. | | | 090 | Extrapolated altitude data entered in report at level ... 000PP | 091 | Extrapolated surface data entered in report. | | | $ 092 | Height data ............................................. LLHHH | $ 093 | Pressure data ........................................... LLPPP | $ 094 | Temperature data ....................................... LLSnTT | | | # 101 | Code figure from "101" group....000xx | # 105 | Receipt time in hundredths of hours....0hhhh | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | $ Per note from Jim McDonnell dated Dec 27, 1976, which included: | | Definitions of symbols used in Table 101: | ---------------------------------------- | | LL Level indicator in centibars (e.g., 30 - 300mb) | Except: 99 = sea level | 97 = station level (surface) | 88 = tropopause level | 77 = maximum wind level | HHH Height in decameters with ten thousands digit (if any) missing | (e.g., for 300mb, 892 = 8920m) | PPP Pressure in whole millibars (e.g., 234 = 234mb) only with | LL = 99, 97, 88, or 77 | Sn Sign of temperature (0 = plus, 1 = minus) | TT Temperature in degrees Celsius (e.g., 151 = -51 degr C) | | # Note from Jim McDonnell dated June 29, 1982 showed these. | | | 9/14/73 21 Rev 2 | | | TABLE 101, continued | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Code | | Figure | Specification | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | $ 925 | Height of the 925-mb pressure level in geopotential | | meters ... 0zzzz | $ 104 | Release time in hundredths of hours....0hhhh | $ 106 | Instrument type, radiation correction code figures ... rsrssrsasa | | (99 is used when solidi (//) were encoded for sasa) | $ 107 | Original value of corrected data ... vvvvv | | vvvvv in meters if geopotential height | | vvvvv in tenths of degrees C if temperature | | 1st Category 08 Marker indicates data type: | | Z = geopotential height | | T = temperature | | 2nd Category 08 Marker indicates level in mb: | | 1 = 1000 2 = 850 3 = 700 4 = 500 5 = 500 | | 6 = 300 7 = 250 8 = 200 9 = 150 A = 100 | | B = 70 C = 50 D = 30 E = 20 F = 10 | $ 108 | Level and original value of corrected significant level data | | ... llqqq * | | where ll is the relevant level number | | qqq is original value of pressure or temperature as | | indicated by 2nd Category 08 Marker: | | if temperature, in tenths of degrees C | | if pressure, in mb or tenths of ms as indicated | | by 1ct Category 08 Marker | | 1st Category 08 Marker from Table Q.8 | | 2nd Category 08 Marker defined as follows: | | T Relevant parameter is temperature | | P Relevant parameter is pressure | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | * Table Q.8 will be utilized to indicate Part A, B, C, or D of the TEMP, | PILOT, TEMP SHIP, or PILOT SHIP reports. | | $ Per note from Jim McDonnell dated Nov 7, 1991, which showed a revision date | of July 22, 1991. | | | rsrs | Inst Type | ---------------- | 10 | VIZ A | 11 | VIZ B | 12 | SDC | | | | | | | | | | | 7/22/91 21a | | | TABLE Q.A | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Character | | ----------------| Meaning | Auto. | Manual | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | A | I | Passed vertical consistency check with tight limits. | | | | B | J | Failed vertical consistency check and has not been | | | recomputed. | | | | C | K | Failed vertical consistency check and recomputed. | | | | D | L | Failed vertical consistency check with tight limits | | | and passed with loose limits. | | | | E | M | (Not assigned) | | | | F | N | Has been checked but did not pass vertical consistency | | | check with loose limits. | | | | G | O | (Not assigned) | | | | blank | $ | Not specified | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 22 Rev 2 | | | TABLE Q.B | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Character | | ----------------| Meaning | Auto. | Manual | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | Q | Y | Base of stratum with missing data. | | | | R | Z | Top of stratum with missing data. | | | | | | | T | 1 | Tropopause level (reported). | | | | U | 2 | Surface data from PARTs A and B do not agree, PART A or | | | PART B chosen by test. | | | | V | 3 | Surface data from PARTs A and B agree. | | | | W | 4 | Maximum wind level (reported) is not at the terminating | | | level. | | | | X | 5 | Maximum wind level (reported) is at the terminating level. | | | | blank | $ | Not specified | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Note: The characters for manual will be set whenever a combination of | automatic and manual exists. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 23 Rev 2 | | | TABLE Q.C | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Character | | ----------------| Meaning | Auto. | Manual | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | blank | $ | Not specified | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 24 Rev 2 | | | TABLE Q.6 | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Character | Meaning | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | blank (space) | Not specified. | | | D | $ D-value can be formed as follows: | | D = elevation - pressure altitude | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | $ Note from Jim McDonnell, NMC, dated May 2, 1977, to be implemented June 1, | 1977. Note also says "Users are advised that reconnaissance reports (report | type = 31) also may have category 06 data (to accommodate their D-values) | as the only category or also in combination with categories 02 and 03. | Use of the changes are required to prevent loss of D-values which are known | to be reported by reccos and to provide for handling D-values from aircraft | reports (if ever needed)." | | | | | | | TABLE Q.6c | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Character | Meaning | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | blank (space) | Not specified. | | | A | Known to be an instantaneous (spot) wind | | measurement. | | | B | Known to be an average wind condition over a | | portion of flight. | | | C | Probably an instantaneous (spot) wind | | measurement. | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 25 Rev 2 | | | TABLE Q.7 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Character | Meaning | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | blank (space) | Not specified. | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 26 Rev 2 | | | TABLE Q.8 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Character | Meaning | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | blank (space) | Not specified. | | | A | Applies to levels at or below 100 mb (PART A) in | | TEMP and TEMP SHIP | | | B | Applies to levels at or below 100 mb (PART B) in | | TEMP and TEMP SHIP | | | C | Applies to levels above 100 mb (PART C) in TEMP and | | TEMP SHIP | | | D | Applies to levels above 100 mb (PART D) in TEMP and | | TEMP SHIP | | | I | Applies to levels at or below 100 mb (PART A) in | | PILOT and PILOT SHIP | | | J | Applies to levels at or below 100 mb (PART B) in | | PILOT and PILOT SHIP | | | K | Applies to levels above 100 mb (PART C) in PILOT and | | PILOT SHIP | | | L | Applies to levels above 100 mb (PART D) in PILOT and | | PILOT SHIP | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TABLE Q.8a | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Character | Meaning | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | blank (space) | Processed automatically. | | | $ | Processed with manual assistance. | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 9/14/73 27 Rev 2 | | | Code Tables 1*, 3, 4, 5, 8*, 9*, 10*, 11*, 12, 14, 16, | WMO 0700, WMO 4451, 21, 22(all), 23, and 24* have been taken | from "Federal Meteorological Handbook No. 2", Synoptic Code | (Standards and Procedures for the Coding of Synoptic Reports), | January 1, 1969. | | | Code Table 1 | | (WMO Code 2700) | | Symbol N = Fracton of the Celestial Dome | Covered by Cloud | Symbol Nh = Fraction of the Celestial Dome | Covered by All the Cl (or Cm) | Cloud present | Symbol Ns = Fraction of the Celestial Dome | Covered by an Individual Cloud | Layer or Mass | | ------------------------------------------------------------ | Code | Fraction Covered | Fraction Covered | Figure| in Tenths | in Oktas | ------------------------------------------------------------ | 0 | Zero.................. | Zero | 1 | 1 or less but not zero | 1 Okta or less but not zero | 2 | 2 and 3............... | 2 | 3 | 4..................... | 3 | 4 | 5..................... | 4 | 5 | 6..................... | 5 | 6 | 7 and 8............... | 6 | 7 | 9 or more, but not 10. | 7 or more, but not 8 | 8 | 10.................... | 8 | 9 | Celestial dome obscured, or cloud amount can not be | | estimated. | 10 | / was encoded in report. | ------------------------------------------------------------ | | | | * This Table originally is an 11-character code (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, | 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, /). However, the number "10" has been used | whenever "/" appeared in the original version. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 28 Rev 2 | | Code Table 3 (WMO Code 4377) | Symbol VV = Horizontal Visibility | | -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- | Code | Statute | | | | Code | Statute | | | Figure| Miles | Yards |Kilimeters| |Figure| Miles | Yards |Kilimeters | -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- | 00 |Less than|Less than|Less than | | 50 | 3-1/8 | 5,500 | 5.0 | | 1/16 | 110 | 0.1 | | 51 |Not spec.| | | 01 | 1/16 | 110 | 0.1 | | 52 |Not spec.| | | 02 | 1/8 | 220 | 0.2 | | 53 |Not spec.| | | 03 | 3/16 | 330 | 0.3 | | 54 |Not spec.| | | 04 | 1/4 | 440 | 0.4 | | 55 |Not spec.| | | 05 | 5/16 | 550 | 0.5 | | 56 | 3-3/4 | 6,600 | 6 | 06 | 3/8 | 660 | 0.6 | | 57 | 4-3/8 | 7,700 | 7 | 07 | 7/16 | 770 | 0.7 | | 58 | 5 | etc | 8 | 08 | 1/2 | 880 | 0.8 | | 59 | 5-5/8 | | 9 | 09 | 9/16 | 990 | 0.9 | | 60 | 6-1/4 | | 10 | 10 | 5/8 | 1,100 | 1.0 | | 61 | 6-7/8 | | 11 | 11 | 11/16 | 1,210 | 1.1 | | 62 | 7-1/2 | | 12 | 12 | 3/4 | 1,320 | 1.2 | | 63 | 8-1/8 | | 13 | 13 | 13/16 | 1,430 | 1.3 | | 64 | 8-3/4 | | 14 | 14 | 7/8 | 1,540 | 1.4 | | 65 | 9-3/8 | | 15 | 15 | 15/16 | 1,650 | 1.5 | | 66 | 10 | | 16 | 16 | 1 | 1.760 | 1.6 | | 67 | 10-5/8 | | 17 | 17 | 1-1/16 | 1,870 | 1.7 | | 68 | 11-1/4 | | 18 | 18 | 1-1/8 | 1,980 | 1.8 | | 69 | 11-7/8 | | 19 | 19 | 1-3/16 | 2,090 | 1.9 | | 70 | 12-1/2 | | 20 | 20 | 1-1/4 | 2,200 | 2.0 | | 71 | 13-1/8 | | 21 | 21 | 1-5/16 | 2,310 | 2.1 | | 72 | 13-3/4 | | 22 | 22 | 1-3/8 | 2,420 | 2.2 | | 73 | 14-3/8 | | 23 | 23 | 1-7/16 | 2,530 | 2.3 | | 74 | 15 | | 24 | 24 | 1-1/2 | 2,640 | 2.4 | | 75 | 15-5/8 | | 25 | 25 | 1-9/16 | 2,750 | 2.5 | | 76 | 16-1/4 | | 26 | 26 | 1-5/8 | 2,860 | 2.6 | | 77 | 16-7/8 | | 27 | 27 | 1-11/16 | 2,970 | 2.7 | | 78 | 17-1/2 | | 28 | 28 | 1-3/4 | 3,080 | 2.8 | | 79 | 18-1/8 | | 29 | 29 | 1-13/16 | 3,190 | 2.9 | | 80 | 18-3/4 | | 30 | 30 | 1-7/8 | 3,300 | 3.0 | | 81 | 21-7/8 | | 35 | 31 | 1-15/16 | 3,410 | 3.1 | | 82 | 25 | | 40 | 32 | 2 | 3,520 | 3.2 | | 83 | 28-1/8 | | 45 | 33 | 2-1/16 | 3,630 | 3.3 | | 84 | 31-1/4 | | 50 | 34 | 2-1/8 | 3,740 | 3.4 | | 85 | 34-3/8 | | 55 | 35 | 2-3/16 | 3,850 | 3.5 | | 86 | 37-1/2 | | 60 | 36 | 2-1/4 | 3,960 | 3.6 | | 87 | 40-5/8 | | 65 | 37 | 2-5/16 | 4,070 | 3.7 | | 88 | 43-3/4 | | 70 | 38 | 2-3/8 | 4,180 | 3.8 | | 89 |> 43-3/4 | |> 70 | 39 | 2-7/16 | 4,290 | 3.9 | | 90 | | < 55 | < 50 m. | 40 | 2-1/2 | 4,400 | 4.0 | | 91 | | 55 | 50 m. | 41 | 2-9/16 | 4,510 | 4.1 | | 92 | 1/8 | 220 | 200 m. | 42 | 2-5/8 | 4,620 | 4.2 | | 93 | 5/16 | 550 | 500 m. | 43 | 2-11/16 | 4,730 | 4.3 | | 94 | 5/8 | 1,100 | 1 km. | 44 | 2-3/4 | 4,840 | 4.4 | | 95 | 1-1/4 | 2,200 | 2 | 45 | 2-13/16 | 4,950 | 4.5 | | 96 | 2-1/2 | 4,400 | 4 | 46 | 2-7/8 | 5,060 | 4.6 | | 97 | 6-1/4 | | 10 | 47 | 2-15/16 | 5,170 | 4.7 | | 98 | 12-1/2 | | 20 | 48 | 3 | 5,280 | 4.8 | | 99 | 31-1/4 | | 50 | 49 | 3-1/16 | 5,390 | 4.9 | | | or more| | or more | -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- | 9/14/73 29 Rev 2 | | | Code Table 3 | | (WMO Code 4377) | | (continued) | | NOTES: | (1) The values given are discrete values (i.e., not ranges). If the ob- | served visibility is between two of the reportable distances as given | in the table, the code figure of the lower reportable distance shall | be reported. | (2) Only the code figures 00-89 shall be used in reports from land stations. | (3) In reporting visibility at sea, the decade 90-99 shall be used. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 29a Rev 2 | | | Code Table 4 | | (WMO Code 4677) | | Symbol ww = Present Weather | | 00-49: No precipitation at the station at the time of observation. | | 00-19: No precipitation, fog, ice fog (except for 11 and 12), duststorm, | drifting or blowing snow at the station at the time of observation | or, except for 09 and 17, during the preceding hour. | | 00-03: No meteors except photometeors. Characteristic change of the state | of sky during past hour. | | 00 Cloud development not observed or not observable. | 01 Clouds generally dissolving or becoming less developed. | 02 State of sky on the whole unchanged. | 03 Clouds generally forming or developing. | | 04-09: Haze, dust, sand or smoke. | | 04 Visibility reduced by smoke, e.g., veldt or forest fires, industrial | smoke or volcanic ashes. | 05 Haze. | 06 Widespread dust in suspension in the air, not raised by wind at or | near the station at the time of observation. | 07 Dust or sand raised by wind at or near the station at the time of | observation, but no well developed dust whirl(s) or sand whirl(s), and | no duststorm or sandstorm seen: or, in the case of ships, blowing | spray at the station. | 08 Well developed dust whirl(s) or sand whirl(s) seen at or near the | station during the preceding hour, or at the time of observation, but | no duststorm or sandstorm. | 09 Duststorm or sandstorm within sight at the time of observation or at | station during the preceding hour. | | 10 Light fog. (Vis. 1,100 yds. or more) 1 | 11 Patches of shallow fog or ice fog at the station, whether on land or | sea, not deeper than about 6 feet on land or 33 feet at sea. | (Apparent vis. less than 1,100 yds.) | 12 More or less continuous shallow fog or ice fog at the station, whether | on land or sea, not deeper than about 6 feet on land or 33 feet at sea. | (Apparent vis. less than 1,100 yds.) | 13 Lightning visible, no thunder heard. | 14 Precipitation within sight, but not reaching the ground or the surface | of the sea. | 15 Precipitation within sight, reaching the ground or the surface of the | sea, but distant (i.e., estimated to be more than 3.1 miles) from the | station. | 16 Precipitation within sight, reaching the ground or the surface of the | sea near to but not at the station. | 17 Thunderstorm, but no precipitation at the time of observation. | 18 Squalls at or within sight of the station during the preceding hour | or at the time of observation. | 19 Funnel cloud(s) (i.e., tornado cloud or waterspout) at or within sight | of the station during the preceding hour or at the time of observation. | | 9/14/73 30 Rev 2 | | Code Table 4 | | (continued) | | 20-29: Precipitation, fog, ice fog or thunderstorm at the station during the | preceding hour but not at the time of observation. | | 20-24: Not falling as showers. | | 20 Drizzle (not freezing) or snow grains. | 21 Rain. | 22 Snow. | 23 Rain and snow or ice pellets (type a). | 24 Freezing drizzle or freezing rain. | 25 Shower(s) of rain. | 26 Shower(s) of snow, or of rain and snow. | 27 Shower(s) of hail, or of rain and hail (3). | 28 Fog or ice fog. (Vis. less than 1,100 yds.). | 29 Thunderstorm (with or without precipitation). | | 30-39: Duststorm, sandstorm, drifting or blowing snow. | | 30 Slight or moderate duststorm or sandstorm, has decreased during the | preceding hour. | 31 Slight or moderate duststorm or sandstorm, no appreciable change | during the preceding hour. | 32 Slight or moderate duststorm or sandstorm, has begun or has increased | during the preceding hour. | 33 Severe duststorm or sandstorm, has decreased during the preceding hour. | 34 Severe duststorm or sandstorm, no appreciable change during the | preceding hour. | 35 Severe duststorm or sandstorm, has begun or has increased during the | preceding hour. | 36 Slight or moderate drifting snow, generally low. (Less than 6 ft.) | 37 Heavy drifting snow, generally low. (Less than 6 ft.) | 38 Slight or moderate blowing snow, generally high. (6 ft. or more.) | 39 Heavy blowing snow, generally high. (6 ft. or more.) | | 40-49: Fog or ice fog at the time of observation. (Vis. less than 1,100 yds.) | | 40 Fog or ice fog at a distance at the time of observation, but not at the | station during the preceding hour, the fog or ice fog extending to a | level above that of the observer. | 41 Fog or ice fog in patches. | 42 Fog or ice fog, sky discernible, has become thinner during the | preceding hour. | 43 Fog or ice fog, sky not discernible, has become thinner during the | preceding hour. | 44 Fog or ice fog, sky discernible, no appreciable change during the | preceding hour. | 45 Fog or ice fog, sky not discernible, no appreciable change during the | preceding hour. | 46 Fog or ice fog, sky discernible, has begun or has become thicker during | the preceding hour. | 47 Fog or ice fog, sky not discernible, has begun or has become thicker | during the preceding hour. | 48 Fog, depositing rime, sky discernible. | 49 Fog, depositing rime, sky not discernible. | | 9/14/73 31 Rev 2 | | | Code Table 4 | | (continued) | | 50-59: Precipitation at the station at the time of observation. | | 50-59: Drizzle | | 50 Drizzle, not freezing, intermittent, slight at time of observation. | 51 Drizzle, not freezing, continuous, slight at time of observation. | 52 Drizzle, not freezing, intermittent, moderate at time of observation. | 53 Drizzle, not freezing, continuous, moderate at time of observation. | 54 Drizzle, not freezing, intermittent, heavy (dense) at time of | observation. | 55 Drizzle, not freezing, continuous, heavy (dense) at time of | observation. | 56 Drizzle, freezing, slight. | 57 Drizzle, freezing, moderate or heavy (dense). | 58 Drizzle and rain, slight. | 59 Drizzle and rain, moderate or heavy. | | 60-69: Rain | | 60 Rain, not freezing, intermittent, slight at time of observation. | 61 Rain, not freezing, continuous, slight at time of observation. | 62 Rain, not freezing, intermittent, moderate at time of observation. | 63 Rain, not freezing, continuous, moderate at time of observation. | 64 Rain, not freezing, intermittent, heavy (dense) at time of | observation. | 65 Rain, not freezing, continuous, heavy (dense) at time of | observation. | 66 Rain, freezing, slight. | 67 Rain, freezing, moderate or heavy. | 68 Rain or drizzle and snow, slight. | 69 Rain or drizzle and snow, moderate or heavy. | | 70-79: Solid precipitation not in showers | | 70 Intermittent fall of snow flakes, slight at time of observation. | 71 Continuous fall of snow flakes, slight at time of observation. | 72 Intermittent fall of snow flakes, moderate at time of observation. | 73 Continuous fall of snow flakes, moderate at time of observation. | 74 Intermittent fall of snow flakes, heavy (dense) at time of observation. | 75 Continuous fall of snow flakes, heavy (dense) at time of observation. | 76 Ice prisms (with or without fog). | 77 Snow grains (with or without fog). | 78 Isolated starlike snow crystals (with or without fog). | 79 Ice pellets (type a) (sleet, U.S. definition). | | 80-99: Showery precipitation, or precipitation with current or recent | thunderstorm. | | 80 Rain shower(s), slight. | 81 Rain shower(s), moderate or heavy. | 82 Rain shower(s), violent. | | | | 9/14/73 31a Rev 2 | | | Code Table 4 | | (continued) | | | 83 Shower(s) of rain and snow mixed, slight. | 84 Shower(s) of rain and snow mixed, moderate or heavy. | 85 Snow shower(s), slight. | 86 Snow shower(s), moderate or heavy. | 87 Shower(s) of snow pellets, or ice pellets (type b) with or without rain | or rain and snow mixed, slight. | 88 Shower(s) of snow pellets, or ice pellets (type b) with or without rain | or rain and snow mixed, moderate or heavy. | 89 Shower(s) of hail (3), with or without rain or rain and snow mixed, not | associated with thunder, slight. | 90 Shower(s) of hail (3), with or without rain or rain and snow mixed, not | associated with thunder, moderate or heavy. | | 91-94: Thunderstorm during the preceding hour but not at time of observation. | | 91 Slight rain at time of observation. | 92 Moderate or heavy rain at time of observation. | 93 Slight snow or rain and snow mixed or hail (3) at time of observation. | 94 Moderate or heavy snow or rain and snow mixed or hail at time of ob- | servation. | | 95-99: Thunderstorm at time of observation. | | 95 Thunderstorm, slight or moderate, without hail (3) but with rain and/or | snow at time of observation. | 96 Thunderstorm, slight or moderate, with hail (3) at time of observation. | 97 Thunderstorm, heavy, without hail (3), but with rain and/or snow at | time of observation. | 98 Thunderstorm combined with duststorm or sandstorm at time of observa- | tion. | 99 Thunderstorm, heavy with hail (3) at time of observation. | | ----------------- | | 1 The U.S. term, "light fog" is synonymous with the European term "mist". | 2 Refers to "hail" only. | 3 Refers to snow pellets, ice pellets (type b), and hail. | | NOTE - With respect to precipitation, "at the station" means "at the point | where the observation is normally taken." | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 31b Rev 2 | | | Code Table 5 | | (WMO Code 4500) | | Symbol W = Past Weather | | --------------------------------------------------------------- | Code | | Figure | Weather | --------------------------------------------------------------- | 0 | Cloud covering 1/2 or less of the celestial dome | | throughout the appropriate period. | 1 | Cloud covering more than 1/2 of the celestial dome | | during part of the appropriate period and covering | | 1/2 or less during part of the period. | 2 | Cloud covering more than 1/2 of the celestial dome | | throughout the appropriate period. | 3 | Sandstorm, duststorm, or blowing snow. | 4 | Fog, ice fog, thick haze or thick smoke. | 5 | Drizzle. | 6 | Rain. | 7 | Snow, rain and snow mixed, or ice pellets. | 8 | Shower(s). | 9 | Thunderstorm, with or without precipitation. | --------------------------------------------------------------- | NOTE - The term "ice pellets" is synonymous with the U.S. term | "sleet". | | | | | | Code Table 8 | | (WMO Code 0513) | | Symbol Cl = Clouds of Genera Sc, St, Cu, Cb | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Code | | | Figure| Technical Specifications | Nontechnical Specifications | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | 0 | No Cl clouds | No Stratocumulus, Stratus, Cumulus, | | | or Cumulonimbus | | | | 1 | Cumulus humilis or Cumulus | Cumulus with little vertical extent and | | fractus other than of | seemingly flattened, or ragged Cumulus | | bad weather (1), or both.| other than of bad weather (1) or both. | | | | 2 | Cumulus mediocris or con- | Cumulus of moderate or strong vertical | | gestus, with or without | extent generally with protuberances | | Cumulus of species | in the form of domes or towers either | | fractus or humilis, or | accompanied or not by other Cumulus or | | Stratocumulus, all having| by Stratocumulus; all having their | | their bases at the same | bases at the same level. | | level. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | 9/14/73 32 Rev 2 | | | Code Table 8 | | (continued) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Code | | | Figure| Technical Specifications | Nontechnical Specifications | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | 3 | Cumulonimbus calvus, with | Cumulonimbus, the summits of which, at | | or without Cumulus, | least partially, lack sharp outlines, | | Stratocumulus or Stratus.| but are neither clearly fibrous (cirri- | | | form) nor in the form of an anvil; | | | Cumulus, Stratocumulus or Stratus may | | | also be present. | | | | 4 | Stratocumulus cumulogenitus| Stratocumulus formed by the spreading out | | | of Cumulus; Cumulus may be present. | | | | 5 | Stratocumulus other than | Stratocumulus not resulting from the | | Stratocumulus cumulo- | spreading out of Cumulus. | | genitus. | | | | | 6 | Stratus nebulosus or | Stratus in a more or less continuous sheet | | Stratus fractus other | or layer, or in ragged shreds, or both, | | than of bad weather (1), | but no Stratus fractus of bad weather | | or both. | (1) | | | | 7 | Stratus fractus or Cumulus | Stratus fractus of bad weather (1) or | | fractus of bad weather | Cumulus fractus of bad weather (1), or | | (1), or both (pannus), | both (pannus), usually below Altostra- | | usually below Altostratus| tus or Nimbostratus. | | or Nimbostratus. | | | | | 8 | Cumulus and Stratocumulus | Cumulus and Stratocumulus other than that | | other than Stratocumulus | formed from the spreading out of Cumu- | | cumulogenitus, with bases| lus; the base of the Cumulus is at a | | at different levels. | different level from that of the | | | Stratocumulus. | | | | 9 | Cumulonimbus capillatus | Cumulonimbus, the upper part of which is | | (often with an anvil), | clearly fibrous (cirriform), often in | | with or without Cumulo- | the form of an anvil, either accompan- | | nimbus calvus, Cumulus, | ied or not by Cumulonimbus without | | Stratocumulus, Stratus | anvil or fibrous upper part, by Cumu- | | or pannus. | lus, Stratocumulus, Stratus or pannus. | | | | 10 | Cl clouds invisible owing | Stratocumulus, Stratus, Cumulus, or Cumu- | | to darkness, fog, blowing| lonimbus invisible owing to darkness, | | dust or sand, or other | fog, blowing dust or sand, or other | | similar phenomena. | similar phenomena. | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | 1 "Bad weather" denotes the conditions which generally exist during precipi- | tation and a short time before and after. | | | | 9/14/73 33 Rev 2 | | | Code Table 9 | | (WMO Code 1000) | | Symbol h = Height above Ground of the Base of the Cloud | | --------------------------------------------------------------- | Code | | | Figure | Height in Feet | Height in Meters | --------------------------------------------------------------- | 0 | 0- 149 | 0- 49 | 1 | 150- 299 | 50- 99 | 2 | 300- 599 | 100- 199 | 3 | 600- 999 | 200- 299 | 4 | 1,000-1,999 | 300- 599 | 5 | 2,000-3,499 | 600- 999 | 6 | 3,500-4,999 | 1,000-1,499 | 7 | 5,000-6,499 | 1,500-1,999 | 8 | 6,500-7,999 | 2,000-2,499 | 9 | 8,000 or higher, or no | 2,500 or higher, or no | | clouds | clouds | 10 | / was encoded | / was encoded | --------------------------------------------------------------- | NOTES: | (1) The heights (in feet) given in this table approximately | correspond to those given in WMO Code 1600 and to those | given in the ninth decade (i.e., code figures 90-99) of | WMO Code 1577. | (2) The term "height above ground" is considered as being the | height above the official aerodrome elevation or above | station level at a non-aerodrome station. | | | | | | Code Table 10 | | (WMO Code 0313) | | Symbol Cm = Clouds of Genera Ac, As, Ns | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Code | | | Figure| Technical Specifications | Nontechnical Specifications | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | 0 | No Cm clouds | No Altocumulus, Altostratus, or Nimbo- | | | Stratus | | | | 1 | Altostratus translucidus | Altostratus, the greater part of which is | | | semitransparent; through which this | | | part that sun or moon may be seen weak- | | | ly visible as through ground glass. | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | | | 9/14/73 34 Rev 2 | | | Code Table 10 | | (continued) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Code | | | Figure| Technical Specifications | Nontechnical Specifications | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | 2 | Altostratus opacus or | Altostratus, the greater part of which is | | Nimbostratus | sufficiently dense to hide the sun or | | | moon, or Nimbostratus. | | | | 3 | Altocumulus translucidus at| Altocumulus, the greater part of which is | | a single level. | semitransparent, the various elements | | | of the cloud change only slowly and are | | | all at a single level. | | | | 4 | Patches (often lenticular) | Patches (often in the form of almonds or | | of Altocumulus transluci-| fishes) of Altocumulus, the greater | | dus, continually changing| part of which is semitransparent; the | | and occurring at one or | clouds occur at one or more levels and | | more levels. | the elements are continually changing | | | in appearance. | | | | 5 | Altocumulus translucidus in| Semitransparent Altocumulus in bands, or | | bands, or one or more | Altocumulus in one or more fairly con- | | layers of Altocumulus | tinuous layers (semitransparent or | | translucidus or opacus, | opaque), progressively invading the | | progressively invading | sky; these Altocumulus clouds generally | | the sky; these Altocumu- | thicken as a whole. | | lus clouds generally | | | thicken as a whole. | | | | | 6 | Altocumulus cumulogenitus | Altocumulus resulting from the spreading | | (or cumulonimbogenitus). | out of Cumulus (or Cumulonimbus). | | | | 7 | Altocumulus translucidus or| Altocumulus in two or more layers, usual- | | opacus in two or more | ly opaque in places, and not progres- | | layers, or Altocumulus | sively invading the sky; or opaque | | opacus in a single layer | layer of Altocumulus, not progressively | | not progressively inva- | invading the sky; or Altocumulus to- | | ding the sky, or Altocu- | gether with Altostratus or Nimbostratus | | mulus with Altostratus | | | or Nimbostratus. | | | | | 8 | Altocumulus castellanus or | Altocumulus with sproutings in the form | | floccus. | of small towers or battlements, or | | | Altocumulus having the appearance of | | | cumuliform tufts. | | | | 9 | Altocumulus of a chaotic | Altocumulus of a chaotic sky, generally | | sky, generally at several| at several levels. | | levels. | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | | | 9/14/73 35 Rev 2 | | | Code Table 10 | | (continued) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Code | | | Figure| Technical Specifications | Nontechnical Specifications | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | 10 | Cm clouds invisible owing | Altocumulus, Altostratus and Nimbostratus | | to darkness, fog, blowing| invisible owing to darkness, fog, blow- | | dust or sand, or other | ing dust or sand or other similar phe- | | similar phenomena, or | nomena, or more often because of the | | because of a continuous | presence of a continuous layer of lower | | layer of lower clouds. | clouds. | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | | | | | Code Table 11 | | (WMO Code 0600) | | Symbol Ch = Clouds of Genera Ci, Cc, Cs | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Code | | | Figure| Technical Specifications | Nontechnical Specifications | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | 0 | No Ch clouds | No Cirrus, Cirrocumulus, or Cirrostratus | | | | 1 | Cirrus fibratus, sometimes | Cirrus in the form of filaments, strands, | | uncinus, not progressive-| or hooks, not progressively invading | | ly invading the sky. | the sky. | | | | 2 | Cirrus spissatus, in patch-| Dense Cirrus in patches or entangled | | es or entangled sheaves, | sheaves, which usually do not increase | | which usually do not in- | and sometimes seem to be the upper re- | | crease and sometimes seem| mains of a Cumulonimbus; or Cirrus with | | to be the remains of the | sproutings in the form of small turrets | | upper part of a Cumulo- | or battlements, or Cirrus having the | | nimbus; or Cirrus castel-| appearance of cumuliform tufts. | | lanus or floccus. | | | | | 3 | Cirrus spissatus cumulonim-| Dense Cirrus, often in the form of an | | bogenitus. | anvil, being the remains of the upper | | | parts of Cumulonimbus. | | | | 4 | Cirrus uncinus or fibratus,| Cirrus in the form of hooks or filaments | | or both, progressively | or both, progressively invading the | | invading the sky; they | sky; they generally become denser as a | | generally thicken as a | whole. | | whole. | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | 9/14/73 35a Rev 2 | | | Code Table 11 | | (continued) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Code | | | Figure| Technical Specifications | Nontechnical Specifications | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | 5 | Cirrus (often in bands), | Cirrus (often in bands converging towards | | and Cirrostratus, or Cir-| one or two opposite points of the | | rostratus alone, progres-| horizon) and Cirrostratus, or Cirro- | | sively invading the sky; | stratus alone; in either case, they are | | they generally thicken as| progressively invading the sky, and | | a whole, but the continu-| generally growing denser as a whole, but | | ous veil does not reach | the continuous veil does not reach 45 | | 45 degrees above the | degrees above the horizon. | | horizon. | | | | | 6 | Cirrus (often in bands), | Cirrus (often in bands converging towards | | and Cirrostratus, or Cir-| one or two opposite points of the | | rostratus alone, progres-| horizon) and Cirrostratus, or Cirro- | | sively invading the sky; | stratus alone; in either case, they are | | they generally thicken as| progressively invading the sky, and | | a whole, the continuous | generally growing denser as a whole, the | | veil extends more than | continuous veil extends more than 45 | | 45 degrees above the | degrees above the horizon, without the | | horizon, without the sky | sky being totally covered. | | being totally covered. | | | | | 7 | Cirrostratus covering the | Veil of Cirrostratus covering the celest- | | whole sky. | ial dome. | | | | 8 | Cirrostratus not progres- | Cirrostratus not progressively invading | | sively invading the sky | the sky and not completely covering the | | and not entirely covering| celestial dome. | | it. | | | | | 9 | Cirrocumulus alone, or Cir-| Cirrocumulus alone, or Cirrocumulus ac- | | rocumulus predominant | companied by Cirrus or Cirrostratus, or | | among the Ch clouds. | both, but Cirrocumulus is predominant. | | | | 10 | Ch clouds invisible owing | Cirrus, Cirrocumulus, and Cirrostratus | | to darkness, fog, blowing| invisible owing to darkness, fog, blow- | | dust or sand, or other | ing dust or sand or other similar phe- | | similar phenomena, or | nomena, or more often because of the | | because of a continuous | presence of a continuous layer of lower | | layer of lower clouds. | clouds. | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 36 Rev 2 | | | Code Table 12 | | (WMO Code 0200) | | Symbol a = Characteristic of Pressure Tendency During the 3 | Hours Preceding the Time of Observation. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | Code | | Figure | Description | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | 0 | Increasing, then decreasing; atmospheric pressure the | | same or higher than 3 hrs. ago. | | | 1-3 | Atmospheric pressure now higher than 3 hours ago. | | | 1 | Increasing, then steady; or increasing, then increasing | | more slowly. | | | 2 | Increasing (steadily or unsteadily). | | | 3 | Decreasing or steady, then increasing; or increasing, | | then increasing more rapidly. | | | 4 | Steady, atmospheric pressure the same as 3 hours ago. | | | 5 | Decreasing, then increasing; atmospheric pressure the | | same or lower than 3 hrs. ago. | | | 6-8 | Atmospheric pressure now lower than 3 hours ago. | | | 6 | Decreasing, then steady; or decreasing, then decreasing | | more slowly. | | | 7 | Decreasing (steadily or unsteadily). | | | 8 | Steady or increasing, then decreasing; or decreasing, | | then decreasing more rapidly. | | | 9 | Indicator figure | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | NOTE: Code figure 9 is used to signify that the amount of pressure | tendency is the 24-hour pressure change (p24p24) (See Code | Table 14). | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 37 Rev 2 | | | Code Table 14 | | (WMO Code 470) | | Symbol p24p24 = Amount of Pressure Change at the Station | During the Past 24 Hours. | | ----------------------------------------------------- | Code | | Figure | Amount of Pressure Change | ----------------------------------------------------- | 00 | No change; pressure same as 24 hours ago | 01 | Pressure has risen 0.1 mb | 02 | " " " 0.2 mb | 03 | " " " 0.3 mb | 04 | " " " 0.4 mb | 05 | " " " 0.5 mb | 06 | " " " 0.6 mb | 07 | " " " 0.7 mb | 08 | " " " 0.8 mb | 09 | " " " 0.9 mb | 10 | " " " 1.0 mb | 11 | " " " 1.1 mb | etc. | etc. | 39 | " " " 3.9 mb | 40 | " " " 4 mb | 41 | " " " 5 mb | 42 | " " " 6 mb | 43 | " " " 7 mb | 44 | " " " 8 mb | 45 | " " " 9 mb | 46 | " " " 10 mb | 47 | " " " 11 mb | 48 | " " " 12 mb | 49 | " " " 13 mb or more | 50 | Not used | 51 | Pressure has fallen 0.1 mb | 52 | " " " 0.2 mb | 53 | " " " 0.3 mb | 54 | " " " 0.4 mb | 55 | " " " 0.5 mb | 56 | " " " 0.6 mb | 57 | " " " 0.7 mb | 58 | " " " 0.8 mb | 59 | " " " 0.9 mb | 60 | " " " 1.0 mb | 61 | " " " 1.1 mb | etc. | " " " | 89 | " " " 3.9 mb | 90 | " " " 4 mb | 91 | " " " 5 mb | 92 | " " " 6 mb | 93 | " " " 7 mb | 94 | " " " 8 mb | 95 | " " " 9 mb | ----------------------------------------------------- | | | 9/14/73 38 Rev 2 | | | | | | | | Code Table 16 | | Symbol Ri = Time Precipitation Began or Ended * | | ---------------------------------------------------- | Code | | Figure | Time Began or Ended | ---------------------------------------------------- | 0 | No precipitation | 1 | Less than 1 hr. ago | 2 | 1 to 2 hours ago. | 3 | 2 to 3 hours ago. | 4 | 3 to 4 hours ago. | 5 | 4 to 5 hours ago. | 6 | 5 to 6 hours ago. | 7 | 6 to 12 hours ago. | 8 | More than 12 hours ago. | 9 | Unknown | ---------------------------------------------------- | * In relation to the "official time of observation." | (NOTE: This code table is used by the United States | and Canada.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 39 Rev 2 | | | Code Table 21 | | (WMO Code 483) | | Symbol SpSp = Special Phenomena Code, General Description | --------------------------------------------------------- | "General" description with "detailed" code used (Symbol | of detailed code shown in parentheses) | | | 00-09: Ground and Miscellaneous Phenomena | | | 00 | Average depth of deepest snowdrifts (in feet). (nn) | 01 | Depth of newly fallen snow during past 6 hours (in whole (nn) | | inches) | 02 | Water equivalent of snow and/or ice on ground (tenths (nn) | | of an inch). | 03 | Water equivalent of snow and/or ice on ground (whole (nn) | | inches). | 04 | Total amount of snow and/or ice on ground (in whole (nn) | | inches). | 05 | State of ground. (EE) | 06 | Frost. (tt, zz) | 07 | Glaze, average rate of accrual per hour (in tenths (nn) | | of an inch). | 08 | State of sea, or Period of sea swell. (SsSs or KpKp) | 09 | Water temperature in whole degrees (Fahrenheit or (nn) | | Celsius). | | | | 10-15: Clouds | | | 10 | Direction of clouds from station, or clouds. (DsDs or zz) | 11 | | 12 | | 13 | | 14 | Nonpersistent contrails; time first observed. (tt) | 15 | Persistent contrails, time first observed. (tt) | | | | 16-19: Atmospheric Pressure and Fronts | | | 16 | Atmospheric pressure reduced to mean sea level, lowest (nn) | | in past 6 hours (in "tens" and "units" of mbs.). | 17 | Time of lowest pressure, or Barometric stability. (tt or zz) | 18 | Time front passed station, or Front. (tt or zz) | 19 | | | | | 20-29: Wind Data | | | 20 | Direction of maximum wind in tens of degrees. (dd) | 21 | Speed of maximum wind. (ff) | 22 | Speed of peak gusts. (ff) | 23 | Average speed pf prevailing wind during past 6 hours. (ff) | 24 | Prevailing wind direction during past 6 hours. (dd) | 25 | Wind direction during past hour, or Wind direction (zz or dd) | | 1 hour ago. | 26 | Wind speed during past hour. (zz) | 27 | Time of highest wind. (tt) | | | | 9/14/73 40 Rev 2 | | | Code Table 21 | | (continued) | | | 20-29: Wind Data (continued) | | | 28 | Pronounced clockwise (veering) shift in wind direction. (tt, zz) | 29 | Pronounced counterclockwise (backing) shift in wind (tt, zz) | | direction. | | | | 30-34: Fog and smoke | | | 30 | Fog; direction or variability. (DsDs or zz) | 31 | Fog began. (tt) | 32 | Fog ended. (tt) | 33 | Fog bank in distance; direction or variability. (DsDs or zz) | 34 | Smoke; direction or variability. (DsDs or zz) | | | | 35-39: Blowing Phenomena | | | 35 | Blowing dust (or sand), blowing snow. (tt, zz) | 36 | | 37 | Drifting dust (or sand), drifting snow. (tt, zz) | 38 | Dust whirls; time began or variability. (tt or zz) | 39 | Dust whirls; time ended or variability. (tt or zz) | | | | 40-49: Visibility | | | 40 | Visibility; time of change, or variability. (tt or zz) | 41 | Visibility to NE (VV) | 42 | Visibility to E (VV) | 43 | Visibility to SE (VV) | 44 | Visibility to S (VV) | 45 | Visibility to SW (VV) | 46 | Visibility to W (VV) | 47 | Visibility to NW (VV) | 48 | Visibility to N (VV) | 49 | | | | | 50-79: Unassigned | | | | 80-89: Reserved for National Use | | | | 90-99: Clouds | | | 9 | Direction from which Cl, Cm, Ch clouds are moving. (Dl, Dm, Dh) | | To report cloud directions, the Special Phenomena | | group becomes 99DlDmDh. | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 40a Rev 2 | | Code Table 22 | | Symbol spsp = Special Phenomena Table, Detailed Description | | Several individual code tables are required to report data for spsp. | For ease of identification the individual spsp codes are considered to be | parts of one general spsp code table (No. 22) and they are designated by | letter (e.g., 22a, 22b, 22c, etc.). The individual spsp code tables are: | | -------------------------------------------------------------- | Code | | | Table | Description | Symbol | -------------------------------------------------------------- | 22a | Units of Specific Value | nn | 22b | State of Ground | EE | 22c | Time | tt | 22d | Variation of Phenomena | zz | 22e | State of Sea | SsSs | 22f | Period of Sea Swell | KpKp | 22g | Direction from Station | DsDs | 22h | Wind Speed | ff | 22i | Direction of Cloud Movement | Dl, Dm, and Dh | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------- | | | Code Table 22a | | (WMO Code 458) | | Symbol nn = Units of Specific Value (00-99) | | -------------------------------------------------------------- | Code | | Figure| Value (depending on "general" code figure used) | -------------------------------------------------------------- | 00 | Zero or less than 1 unit. | 01 | 1; 10; 100; or 1,000 | 02 | 2; 20; 200; or 2,000 | Etc. | Etc. | 12 | 12; 120; 1,200; or 12,000 | 13 | 13; 130; 1,300; or 13,000 | Etc. | Etc. | 98 | 98; 980; 9,800; or 98,000 | * 99 | 99 or more; 990 or more; 9,900 or more; | | 99,000 or more | -------------------------------------------------------------- | * When the value to be coded for symbol "nn" is "more than 99, | etc." the appropriate number of 9SpSpnn groups will be used; | i.e., in the first group (or groups) 99 will be reported for | "nn" and the amount in excess of 100 (or 200, etc., as appro- | priate) will be reported for "nn" in the last group of the | series. For example: 100 inches of snow on ground would be | coded 90199 90100; 105 inches, 90199 90105; 210 inches, 90199, | 90199, 90110, etc. | | (NOTE: In the example given in footnote 1, immediately above, | WMO Region IV has specified that the depth of snow be given in | | 9/14/73 41 Rev 2 | | | Code Table 22a | | (continued) | | in centimeters rather than inches. In this case the United | States will continue national custom and report the depth of | snow on ground in inches. However, those making reports from | other countries should be alert to the possibility that depths | of snow on ground may be reported in centimeters. | | | | Code Table 22b | | (WMO Code 0900) | | Symbol E = State of Ground (0 to 9) | Symbol EE = State of Ground (00 to 99) | | -------------------------------------------------------------- | Code | | Figure| State of Ground | -------------------------------------------------------------- | 00 | Surface of ground dry (no appreciable amount of dust | | or loose sand). | 01 | Surface of ground moist. | 02 | Surface of ground wet (standing water in small or | | large pools on surface). | 03 | Surface of ground frozen. | 04 | Glaze or ice on ground, but no snow or melting snow. | 05 | Snow or melting snow (with or without ice) covering | | less than one-half of ground. | 06 | Snow or melting snow (with or without ice) covering | | more than one-half of ground but ground not | | completely covered. | 07 | Snow or melting snow (with or without ice) covering | | ground completely. | 08 | Loose dry snow, dust or sand, covering more than | | one-half of ground (but not completely). | 09 | Loose dry snow, dust or sand, covering ground | | completely. | -------------------------------------------------------------- | (a) Where dust or sand is reported and the temperature is below | 0 degrees C., the word DUST or SAND is added at the end of | the message. | (b) The definitions in the code for E for numbers 0 to 3 apply | to representative bare ground and numbers 4 to 9 to an open | representative area. | (c) In all instances the highest code figures applicable will | be reported. | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 41a Rev 2 | | | Code Table 22c | | (WMO Code 487) | | Symbol tt = Units and Tenths of Hours Before Observation (00-75) | | ---------------------------- --------------------------- | Code | Hours and minutes Code | Hours and minutes | Figure| before observation Figure| before observation | ---------------------------- --------------------------- | 00 | At observation 41 | 4 hours 6 minutes | 01 | 0 hour 6 minutes 42 | 4 " 12 " | 02 | 0 " 12 " 43 | 4 " 18 " | 03 | 0 " 18 " 44-49 | Etc. | 04 | 0 " 24 " 50 | 5 hours 0 minutes | 05 | 0 " 30 " 51 | 5 " 6 " | 06 | 0 " 36 " 52 | 5 " 12 " | 07 | 0 " 42 " 53 | 5 " 18 " | 08 | 0 " 48 " 54-59 | Etc. | 09 | 0 " 54 " 60 | 6 hours 0 minutes | 10 | 1 hour 0 minutes 61 | 6 to 7 hours | 11 | 1 " 6 " 62 | 7 to 8 hours | 12 | 1 " 12 " 63 | 8 to 9 hours | 13 | 1 " 18 " 64 | 9 to 10 hours | 14 | 1 " 24 " 65 | 10 to 11 hours | 15 | 1 " 30 " 66 | 11 to 12 hours | 16 | 1 " 36 " 67 | 12 to 18 hours | 17 | 1 " 42 " 68 | More than 18 hours | 18 | 1 " 48 " 69 | Time unknown | 19 | 1 " 54 " 70 | Began during | 20 | 2 hours 0 minutes | observation | 21 | 2 " 6 " 71 | Ended during | 22 | 2 " 12 " | observation | 23 | 2 " 18 " 72 | Began and ended | 24-29 | Etc. | during observation | 30 | 3 hours 0 minutes 73 | Changed considerably | 31 | 3 " 6 " | during observation | 32 | 3 " 12 " 74 | Began after | 33 | 3 " 18 " | observation | 34-39 | Etc. 75 | Ended after | 40 | 4 hours 0 minutes | observation | ---------------------------- --------------------------- | NOTE - Code figures from 00 to 69, inclusive, refer to the STANDARD | time of observation. Code figures 70 to 75, inclusive, refer to the | ACTUAL time the element is observed. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 42 Rev 2 | | | Code Table 22d | | (WMO Code 405) | | Symbol zz = Variation in Phenomena | | -------------------------------------------------------------- | Code | | Figure| Description | -------------------------------------------------------------- | 70 | Began while observation was being taken. (1) | 71 | Ended while observation was being taken. (1) | 72 | Began and ended while observation was being taken. (1) | 73 | Changed considerably while observation was being | | taken. (1) | 74 | Began after observation was being taken. (1) | 75 | Ended after observation was being taken. (1) | 76 | At station. | 77 | At station, but not in distance. | 78 | In all directions. | 79 | In all directions, but not at station. | 80 | Approaching station. | 81 | Receding from station. | 82 | Passing station in distance. | 83 | Seen in distance. | 84 | Reported in neighborhood, but not at station. | 85 | Aloft, but not near ground. | 86 | Near ground, but not aloft. | 87 | Occasional; occasionally. | 88 | Intermittent; intermittently. | 89 | Frequent; frequently; at frequent intervals. | 90 | Steady; steady in intensity; steadily; no appreciable | | change. | 91 | Increasing; increasing in intensity; has increased. | 92 | Decreasing; decreasing in intensity; has decreased. | 93 | Fluctuating; variable. | 94 | Continuous; continuously. | 95 | Very light; very weak; greatly below normal; very | | thin; very poor. | 96 | Light; weak; below normal; thin; poor. | 97 | Moderate; normal; average thickness; fair; gradually. | 98 | Heavy; severe; thick; above normal; good; suddenly. | 99 | Very heavy; killing; very severe; dense; greatly | | above normal; very thick; very good. | -------------------------------------------------------------- | (1) Code figures 70 to 75 refer to the ACTUAL time the element | is observed. | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 42a Rev 2 | | | Code Table 22e | | (WMO Code 3700) | | Symbol S = State of Sea (0 to 9) | Symbol SsSs = State of Sea (00 to 99) | | ---------------------------------------------------- | | | Height of | Height of | Code | Description of sea | waves | waves | Figure| | in feet | in meters | ---------------------------------------------------- | 00 | Calm (glassy) | 0 | 0 | 01 | Calm (rippled) | 0-1/3 | 0-0.1 | 02 | Smooth (wavelets) | 1/3-1 2/3 | 0.1-0.5 | 03 | Slight | 1 2/3 - 4 | 0.5-1.25 | 04 | Moderate | 4-8 | 1.25-2.5 | 05 | Rough | 8-13 | 2.5-4 | 06 | Very Rough | 13-20 | 4-6 | 07 | High | 20-30 | 6-9 | 08 | Very High | 30-45 | 9-14 | 09 | Phenomenal | Over 45 | Over 14 | ---------------------------------------------------- | NOTES | (1) The average wave height as obtained from the | larger well-formed waves of the wave system | being observed is reported. | (2) If an exact boundary height could be reported | by two code figures, the lower code figure will | be reported; e.g., a height of 13 feet would be | reported by code figure 5 or 05. | | | | | | Code Table 22f | | (WMO Code 451) | | Symbol KpKp = Period of Sea Swell (in seconds) | | ---------------------------------------- | Code | | Code | | Figure | Period | Figure | Period | ---------------------------------------- | * 11 | 1 second | 14 | 4 seconds | 12 | 2 seconds | Etc. | Etc. | 13 | 3 seconds | | | ---------------------------------------- | * The code figure gives the actual number | of seconds plus ten. | | | | | | | 9/14/73 43 Rev 2 | | | Code Table 22g | | (WMO Code 442) | | Symbol DsDs = Direction from Station (00-39) | | -------------------- -------------------------------- | Code | Code | | Figure | Direction Figure | Direction | -------------------- -------------------------------- | 00 | At station 26 | WNW | 02 | NNE 28 | NW | 04 | NE 30 | NNW | 06 | ENE 32 | N | 08 | E 33 | Variable | 10 | ESE 34 | Unknown | 12 | SE 35 | In several directions | 14 | SSE 36 | In several directions, | 16 | S | but not at station | 18 | SSW 37 | Over nearby water area | 20 | SW 38 | Over nearby valleys | 22 | WSW 39 | Over nearby hills or | 24 | SW | mountains | -------------------- -------------------------------- | | | | Code Table 22h | | (WMO Code 442) | | Symbol ff = Wind Speed in Knots | | ---------------------- ---------------------- | Code | Code | | Figure | Wind Speed Figure | Wind Speed | ---------------------- ---------------------- | 00 | Calm; or un- 97 | 97 knots | | known 98 | 98 knots | 01 | 1 knot 99 | 99 knots; or | 02 | 2 knots | 100 knots | 03 | 3 knots 01 | 101 knots (1) | 04 | 4 knots 02 | 102 knots (1) | Etc. | Etc. 03 | 103 knots (1) | 95 | 95 knots 04 | 104 knots (1) | 96 | 96 knots Etc. | Etc. | ---------------------- ---------------------- | (1) When the wind speed is greater than 100 knots | Two Special Phenomena groups are included in | the message and the same code figure is | reported for "SpSp" in both groups. In the | first group "99" is reported for "SpSp" and | in the second group the speed in EXCESS of | 100 knots is reported for "SpSp". For example: | In reporting a maximum of 124 knots, the | groups are coded "92199 92124" | | | 9/14/73 43a Rev 2 | | | Code Table 22i | | (WMO Code 431) | | Symbol Dh = Direction From Which Ch Type Clouds Are Moving | Symbol Dl = Direction From Which Cl Type Clouds Are Moving | Symbol Dm = Direction From Which Cm Type Clouds Are Moving | | ---------------------- ---------------------- | Code | Code | | Figure | Direction Figure | Direction | ---------------------- ---------------------- | 0 | Calm 5 | Southwest | 1 | Northeast 6 | West | 2 | East 7 | Northwest | 3 | Southeast 8 | North | 4 | South 9 | Unknown | ---------------------- ---------------------- | | | | | | | Code Table 23 | | (WMO Code ) | | Symbol dwdw = True Direction from which Swell Waves Come, | in Tens of Degrees | | ------------------------ ------------------------ | Code | Direction Code | Direction | Figure | (degrees) Figure | (degrees) | ------------------------ ------------------------ | 00 | Calm (no waves) 20 | 195-204 | 01 | 5- 14 21 | 205-214 | 02 | 15- 24 22 | 215-224 | 03 | 25- 34 23 | 225-234 | 04 | 35- 44 24 | 235-244 | 05 | 45- 54 25 | 245-254 | 06 | 55- 64 26 | 255-264 | 07 | 65- 74 27 | 265-274 | 08 | 75- 84 28 | 275-284 | 09 | 85- 94 29 | 285-294 | 10 | 95-104 30 | 295-304 | 11 | 105-114 31 | 305-314 | 12 | 115-124 32 | 315-324 | 13 | 125-134 33 | 325-334 | 14 | 135-144 34 | 335-344 | 15 | 145-154 35 | 345-354 | 16 | 155-164 36 | 355- 4 | 17 | 165-174 90 | Waves confused, | 18 | 175-184 | direction in- | 19 | 185-194 | determinate | ------------------------ ------------------------ | | | 9/14/73 44 Rev 2 | | | Code Table 214 | | (WMO Code 3155) | | Symbol Pw = Period of the Swell Waves | | --------------------------- | Code | | Figure | Period | --------------------------- | 0 | 10 seconds | 1 | 11 seconds | 2 | 12 seconds | 3 | 13 seconds | 4 | 14 seconds or more | 5 | 5 seconds or less | 6 | 6 seconds | 7 | 7 seconds | 8 | 8 seconds | 9 | 9 seconds | 10 | Calm or period not | | determined | --------------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 45 Rev 2 | | | WMO Code Table 0700 | | Symbol Ds = Ship's Course (true) Made Good | During the 3 Hours Preceding the | Time of Observation | | ------------------------ ------------------------ | Code | Direction Code | Direction | Figure | Figure | | ------------------------ ------------------------ | 0 | Stationary 5 | Southwest | 1 | Northeast 6 | West | 2 | East 7 | Northwest | 3 | Southeast 8 | North | 4 | South 9 | Unknown | ------------------------ ------------------------ | | | | | WMO Code Table 4451 | | Symbol vs = Ship's Average Speed Made Good | During the Three Hours Preceding | the Time of Observation | | --------------------------------------------------------------- | Code | Nautical Miles | Kilometers Per Hour | Figure | Per Hour | | --------------------------------------------------------------- | 0 | 0 nm/hr | 0 km/hr | 1 | 1- 5 nm/hr | 1-10 km/hr | 2 | 6-10 nm/hr | 11-19 km/hr | 3 | 11-15 nm/hr | 20-28 km/hr | 4 | 16-20 nm/hr | 29-37 km/hr | 5 | 21-25 nm/hr | 38-47 km/hr | 6 | 26-30 nm/hr | 48-56 km/hr | 7 | 31-35 nm/hr | 57-65 km/hr | 8 | 36-40 nm/hr | 66-75 km/hr | 9 | 41 or more | 76 or more | --------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/14/73 46 Rev 2 | | | APPENDIX D | | | SAMPLE REPORT | | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | 12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 043930600372600 1200999999901100004010940103312264001710110040340025 01503000 | ^^^^^ | 8030340024 03039-070160340033 05580-210999320048 07180-350130320060 | | 09 40-46-999310061 10340-310140300061 11790-520999310047 13640-54099931 | | 0046 16220-590999300023 18470-590999290028 20590-590999280017 XXXXXX | | 0206118270102000120040 093100050020 087000020050 08000-040000 07650-0401 | ^^^^^ | 50 07110-060160 05720-190150 05350-190150 04000-350130 03540-400120 | | 02260-540999 01150-560999 01020-590999 00910-560999 00780-590999 00540 | | -610999 00400-560999 00380-550999 050670204402260-540999300056 00800-59 | ^^^^^ | 9999280025 XXXXXX040942026000171340022 00305330027 00610340023 00914340026 | ^^^^^ | 01219340027 01829340021 02134340027 02438340029 02743340030 03658330029 | | 04267330038 04877320047 06096310059 07620310066 09144310061 10668300061 15 | | 240300026 16459300024 19202290020 21031270018 END REPORT | ^^^^^ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | | | | The report identification group (first 40 characters) contains the following | information: | | REPORT | POSITION PARAMETER MEANING | 1- 5 Latitude = 43.93 N | 6- 10 Longitude = 60.03 W | 11- 16 Identification = 72600 | 17- 20 Time of Report = 12.00 hours (GMT) | 28- 30 Report Type (011) = upper-air land station by block and station | number | 31- 35 Elevation = 4 meters | 36- 37 Instrument Type (01) = USWB external thermistor | 38- 40 Total length of report = 94 ten-character words (940 characters) | | | | | | | 9/14/73 47 Rev 2 | | | The first category/counter group contains the following information: | | REPORT | POSITION PARAMETER MEANING | 41- 42 Category (01) = mandatory level data follows | 43- 45 Position of next group = 33rd ten-character word of the report | 46- 47 Number of entries = 12 mandatory levels (no data above 50 mb) | 48- 50 contained in = 264 characters | | The 1000 mb data (22 characters) includes: | | REPORT | POSITION PARAMETER MEANING | 51- 55 Geopotential = 171 meters | 56- 59 Temperature = 11.0 C | 60- 62 Dewpoint depression = 4.0 C | 63- 65 Wind direction = 340 | 66- 68 Wind speed = 25 knots | 69- 72 Four Quality flags = not specified | | The 50 mb data (22 characters) includes (skipping 10 levels/entries): | | REPORT | POSITION PARAMETER MEANING | 293-297 Geopotential = 20,590 meters | 298-301 Temperature = -59.0 C | 302-304 Dewpoint depression = 999 (missing) | 305-307 Wind direction = 280 | 308-310 Wind speed = 17 knots | 311-314 Four Quality flags = not specified | | The fill group XXXXXX appears in characters 315-320 to conform with the rule | that the total characters in the character/counter plus the formatted data | must be evenly divisible by 10. | | The next category/counter group contains the following information: | | REPORT | POSITION PARAMETER MEANING | 321-322 Category (02) = significant level data follows (temperature/ | dewpoint depression at variable pressure) | 323-325 Position of next group = 61st ten-character word of the report | 326-327 Number of entries = 18 significant temperature levels | 328-330 contained in = 270 characters | | The surface data (15 characters) includes: | | REPORT | POSITION PARAMETER MEANING | 331-335 Station pressure = 1020.0 mb | 336-339 Temperature = 12.0 C | 340-342 Dewpoint depression = 4.0 C | 343-344 Two Quality flags = not specified | | | | | | 9/14/73 48 Rev 2 | | | The last significant level data (15 characters) includes (skipping 16 | levels/entries): | | REPORT | POSITION PARAMETER MEANING | 586-590 Station pressure = 38.0 mb | 591-594 Temperature = -59.0 C | 595-597 Dewpoint depression = 999 (missing) | 598-600 Three Quality flags = not specified | | The next category/counter group contains the following information: | | REPORT | POSITION PARAMETER MEANING | 601-602 Category (05) = tropopause level data follows | 603-605 Position of next group = 67th ten-character word of the report | 606-607 Number of entries = 2 tropopause levels | 608-610 contained in = 44 characters | | The first tropopause data (22 characters) includes: | | REPORT | POSITION PARAMETER MEANING | 611-615 Pressure = 226.0 mb | 616-619 Temperature = -54.0 C | 620-622 Dewpoint depression = 999 (missing) | 623-625 Wind direction = 300 | 626-628 Wind speed = 56 knots | 629-632 Four Quality flags = not specified | | The second tropopause data (22 characters) includes: | | REPORT | POSITION PARAMETER MEANING | 633-637 Pressure = 80.0 mb | 638-641 Temperature = -59.9 C | 642-644 Dewpoint depression = 999 (missing) | 645-647 Wind direction = 280 | 648-650 Wind speed = 25 knots | 651-654 Four Quality flags = not specified | | The fill group XXXXXX appears in characters 655-660 to conform with the rule | that the total characters in the character/counter plus the formatted data | must be evenly divisible by 10. | | The next category/counter group contains the following information: | | REPORT | POSITION PARAMETER MEANING | 661-662 Category (04) = significant level data follows (wind at | variable height) | 663-665 Position of next group = 94th ten-character word of the report | 666-667 Number of entries = 20 significant wind levels | 668-670 contained in = 260 characters | | | | | 9/14/73 49 Rev 2 | | | The surface data (13 characters) includes: | | REPORT | POSITION PARAMETER MEANING | 671-675 Geopotential = 171 meters | 676-678 Wind direction = 340 | 679-681 Wind speed = 22 knots | 682-683 Two Quality flags = not specified | | The last wind level (13 characters) includes (skipping 18 levels/entries): | | REPORT | POSITION PARAMETER MEANING | 918-922 Geopotential = 21,031 meters | 923-925 Wind direction = 270 | 926-928 Wind speed = 18 knots | 929-930 Two Quality flags = not specified | | The next (and last) category/counter group contains the following information: | | 931-940 End of this report (END REPORT) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ********************************************************************************| | NCAR Data Support altered pages 47 - 50 to improve the clarity of the | interpretation by inserting report character positions. Feb 12, 1992 | | | | 9/14/73 50 Rev 2 |