**National Climatic Data Center**

**DATA DOCUMENTATION**

**FOR**

**DATA SET 9973 (DSI-9973)**

**Pre-MOPS Marine Data (Raw)**

**August, 13 2003**

National Climatic Data Center

151 Patton Ave.

Asheville, NC 28801-5001 USA

**Table of Contents**

[Topic Page Number]{.underline}

1\.
Abstract\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...
3

2\. Element Names and Definitions**:**
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3\. Start
Date\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\... 31

4\. Stop
Date\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.... 31

5\.
Coverage\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....
31

6\. How to order
data\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\..... 31

7\. Archiving Data Center.
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8\. Technical
Contact\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\..... 31

9\. Known Uncorrected Problems\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....
32

10\. Quality
Statement\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\..... 33

11\. Essential Companion Data Sets\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....
33

12\.
References\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...
33

**1**. **[Abstract]{.underline}:** The National Climatic Data Center
(NCDC) data base file name is Marine Data. It is also referred to as
Surface Marine Data, TD-11 (Tape Deck) and TDF-11 (Tape Deck Family). In
the late 1960's marine data stored on punched cards were written to
magnetic tape in various TD-11 formats. An edited version of these data
were used to produce marine atlases and are generally referred to as
Atlas tapes (TD-9760) or pre-70's data. In 1980 and 1982 all available
marine data for the 1970's decade were merged in a standard format and
known errors were removed. The first merge (1980) was referred to as the
70's rehab or TD-1127. Data were stored in a 140 character common
format. The 1982 merge was completed to add additional data for the 70's
period, correct other errors in the data and provide a format that would
accommodate the 1982 international code changes. These 1970's data are
referred to as 70's Decade data or TD-1129. They are in a 148 character
format that is also used in current processing.

From 1983-85 a joint project was undertaken to collect all available
marine data sets of reasonable quality and combine them into one data
base. Members of the joint project included NCDC, Environmental Research
Laboratory (ERL), National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES).
The latter three participants are located in Boulder, Colorado and are
referred to collectively as the Boulder Group in this document. The
Boulder Group has produced several data files and statistical summaries
for the period 1954-1969. The set of products is knows as the
Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (COADS).

One of the COADS products is a unique set of marine observations in 1129
format for 1970-79 and in a modified 1129 format for 1854-1969. Known
data problems have been corrected and most duplicate observations
removed. The set includes most NCDC marine data files, including the
70's Decade data, and data from other sources. The modified format for
pre-70's data contains supplemental and additional; data fields
determined by source deck number.

The marine reports provided by the Boulder Group in 1129 format are
referred to at NCDC as COADS data. All other products available from
NCAR such as statistical summaries and long or compressed marine reports
are excluded from the meaning of the term COADS as used in this manual.

The period of record of the current data base includes the years 1854
through the present. Data received at NCDC after 1982 are in 1129 format
regardless of data year. Users requesting marine data from NCDC will
receive 1129 formatted data for 1970 through the present year. The COADS
data will be provided for 1970-79 unless the user specifies a different
set. Pre-1970's data will be provided from the COADS set in modified
1129 format. The modified 1129 format is the same as 1129 for tape
positions 1-78 and 125-140. Tape positions 79-124 and 141-148 contain
supplemental data fields which are unique for each deck number.
Documentation for the period pre-1970 marine data is available in the
Marine Data Users Reference, 1854-1969.

The marine observations are generally taken at synoptic hours, 6-hourly
intervals. Research vessel, buoys, and C-MAN station frequently record
observations more frequently, usually 3-hourly or hourly.

Marine data are routinely processed on a monthly schedule. In one month
data are received for the current data month as well as for previous
months and years. Separate tapes of the current month data and delayed
data are produced. Each month, current and delayed files are merged into
two separate files, one containing the current year data and the other
containing delayed data. Once each year, an annual file is produced that
contains data for the current year. The annual file, delayed data files
and duplicate data files are sent to the Environmental Research Lab
(ERL), Boulder, Colorado to support the COADS project. The ERL produces
5-year duplicate free merges that contain the delayed data and returns
this set to NCDC for entry into the archive.

**2. [Element Names and Definitions]{.underline}:** Originally, marine
data were received or stored on computer cards. Each card deck was
assigned a number to define the data source. Source deck numbers were
retained when storage media changed and have been used to indicate
general data quality. The TD-1100 Reference Manual describes data
formats according to source deck number.

Decks with beginning dates of 1970 may be valid for years prior to 1970.

+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+
| **Source**                                    | *       | **Period   |
|                                               | *Source | of         |
|                                               | Deck**  | Record**   |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+
| Pacific Marine Environmental Lab (PMEL)       | 143     | 01/75 --   |
|                                               |         | 12/77      |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+
| USSR Ice Island Observations                  | 186     | 01/70 --   |
|                                               |         | 12/70      |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+
| Gulf Offshore Weather Observing Network       | 500     | 01/82 --   |
|                                               |         | 12/82      |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+
| Monterey-Fleet Numerical oceanography Center  | 555     | 01/70 --   |
|                                               |         | 6/73       |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+
| Tuna Boats                                    | 666     | 3/71 --    |
|                                               |         | 5/75       |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+
| First GARP Global Experiment (FGGE)           | 849-850 | 12/78 --   |
|                                               |         | 11/79      |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+
| NOAA Data Buoy Center (NDBC)\*                | 875     | 11/84 --   |
|                                               |         |            |
| Drifting Buoys                                | 876-882 | 01/70 --   |
|                                               |         |            |
| Fixed Buoys                                   | 882     | 03/83 -    |
|                                               |         |            |
| C-MAN                                         |         |            |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+
| Global Telecommunications                     | 888     | 01/73 --   |
|                                               |         | 12/81      |
| Global Weather Central (AFGWC)                | 889     |            |
|                                               |         | 01/73      |
| AUTODIN (US Navy Ships)\                      | 892     |            |
| National Meteorological Center (NMC):         |         | 01/80      |
|                                               | 893     |            |
| NMC Ship Data                                 |         | 01/80      |
|                                               | 894     |            |
| NMC Fixed Buoy Data                           |         | 01/80      |
|                                               | 895     |            |
| NMC Drifting Buoy Data                        |         | 01/80      |
|                                               | 896     |            |
| NMC Coastal Marine Stations, Other Land       |         | 01/80      |
| Stations and Light Ships                      |         |            |
|                                               |         |            |
| NMC OSV, MARS and Other Sources               |         |            |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+
| National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC)     | 891     | 01/70 --   |
|                                               |         | 06/77      |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+
| Japanese                                      | 898     | 01/70 --   |
|                                               | (119)   | 04/74      |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+
| Australian                                    | 900     | 01/70 --   |
|                                               |         | 12/79      |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+
| WMO Foreign Exchange Data (IMM)               | 926-927 | 01/70      |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+
| Great Lakes Manuscript                        | 927     | 01/70      |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+
| US Merchant Manuscript                        | 927     | 01/70      |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+
| US Navy Manuscript                            | 927     | 01/70 --   |
|                                               |         | 12/79      |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+
| Ocean Station Vessel (OSV)                    | 928     | 01/70 --   |
|                                               | (926)   | 12/79      |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+------------+

Beginning in 1980, WMO foreign exchange data were assigned source deck
926, regardless of data year. Some OSV data have also been assigned to
deck 926.

\* Complete records of NDBC data are stored in TD-1171. Observation from
fixed and drifting buoys and C-MAN stations are available at lower time
resolution (generally 3 hourly) in the 1129 file from NMC or after COADS
updates.

**Standard Format Codes 1129**

Table 2 gives the standard 1129 format and element description for
marine data archived for 1970 through the present time. Formats for data
prior to 1970 are given in the TD-11 Reference Manual for the Atlas data
or in the Marine Data Users Reference, 1854-1969.

**TABLE 2**

**STANDARD CODE FORMATS**

+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| Record | Element     | Tape       | Code Definition and Remarks     |
| Pos    |             | Con        |                                 |
| itions |             | figuration |                                 |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 01-03  | Source deck | 000-999    | Number of the source deck from  |
|        | no.         |            | which the observation came.     |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 04-06  | Mardsen Sq. | 0          | Mardsen Square system           |
|        |             | 01-936,999 |                                 |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 07-08  | Mardsen     | 00-99      | Mardsen Square system           |
|        | Sub-Sq.     |            |                                 |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 09     | Quadrant    | 1-4        | 1 = n Latitude and W Longitude  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = n Latitude and E Longitude  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = S Latitude and W Longitude  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = S Latitude and E Longitude  |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 10-12  | Latitude    | 000-900    | 00.0º - 90.0º North or South    |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 13-16  | Longitude   | 0000-1800  | 000.0º - 180.0º East or West    |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 17-20  | Year        | 19xx       | xx = Any number                 |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 21-22  | Month       | 01-12      | 01 = January 07 = July          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 02 = February 08 = August       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 03 = March 09 = September       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 04 = April 10 = October         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 05 = May 11 = November          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 06 = June 12 = December         |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 23-24  | Day         | 01-31      | Day of the month                |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 25-26  | Hour -- GMT | 00-23      | 0000 GMT -- 2300 GMT            |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 27     | Wind Dir    | b,0,1,2    | b = 36 point scale              |
|        | indicator   |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 0 = 32 point scale              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = 16 of 36 point scale        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = 16 of 32 point scale        |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 28-29  | Wind        | 00-36,99   | Direction from which the wind   |
|        | direction   |            | is blowing                      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   ------------- -               |
|        |             |            | --------- ---------- ---------- |
|        |             |            |   36Pt          3               |
|        |             |            | 2Pt       16 of 36Pt 16 of 32Pt |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   00=Calm                       |
|        |             |            |      Calm       Calm       Calm |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   01=00                         |
|        |             |            | 5-014º   006-016º               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   02=015-024º                   |
|        |             |            |   017-028º   012-033º   012-034 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   03=02                         |
|        |             |            | 5-034º   029-039º               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   04=035-044º                   |
|        |             |            |  040-050º              035-056º |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   05=04                         |
|        |             |            | 5-054º   051-061º   034-056º    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   06=055-64º                    |
|        |             |            |  062-073º              057-079º |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   07=06                         |
|        |             |            | 5-074º   074-084º   057-078º    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   08=075-084º                   |
|        |             |            |  085-095º              080-101º |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   09=08                         |
|        |             |            | 5-094º   096-106º   079-101º    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   10=095-104º                   |
|        |             |            |  107-118º              102-124º |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   11=10                         |
|        |             |            | 5-114º   119-129º   102-123º    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   12=115-124º                   |
|        |             |            |  130-140º              125-136º |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   13=12                         |
|        |             |            | 5-134º   141-151º               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   14=135-144º                   |
|        |             |            |  152-163º   124-146º   147-169º |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   15=14                         |
|        |             |            | 5-154º   164-174º               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   16=155-164º                   |
|        |             |            |  175-185º   147-168º   170-191º |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   17=16                         |
|        |             |            | 5-174º   186-196º               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   18=175-184º                   |
|        |             |            |  197-208º   169-191º   192-214º |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   19=18                         |
|        |             |            | 5-194º   209-219º               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   20=195-204º                   |
|        |             |            |  220-230º   192-213º   215-236º |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   21=20                         |
|        |             |            | 5-214º   231-241                |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   22=215-224º                   |
|        |             |            |  242-253º              237-259º |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   23=22                         |
|        |             |            | 5-234º   254-254º   214-236º    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   24=23                         |
|        |             |            | 5-244º   265-275º   237-258º    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   25=24                         |
|        |             |            | 5-254º   276-286º   237-258º    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   26=255-264º                   |
|        |             |            |  287-298º              282-304º |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   27=26                         |
|        |             |            | 5-274º   299-309º   259-281º    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   28=275-284º                   |
|        |             |            |  310-320º              305-326º |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   29=28                         |
|        |             |            | 5-294º   321-331º   282-303º    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   30=295-304º                   |
|        |             |            |  332-343º              327-349º |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   31=30                         |
|        |             |            | 5-314º   344-354º               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   32=315-324º                   |
|        |             |            |  355-005º   304-326º   350-011º |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   33=32                         |
|        |             |            | 5-334º                          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   34=33                         |
|        |             |            | 5-344º              327-348º    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   35=34                         |
|        |             |            | 5-354º                          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   36=35                         |
|        |             |            | 5-004º              349-011º    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   99=Va                         |
|        |             |            | riable                          |
|        |             |            |   ------------- -               |
|        |             |            | --------- ---------- ---------- |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 30     | Wind speed  | b,0        | b = Not measured                |
|        | indicator   |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 0 = Measured                    |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 31-33  | Wind speed  | 000-199    | 000 = Clam                      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 001-199 = 1 to 199 knots        |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 34     | Visibility  | 90-99      | **Horizontal visibility at the  |
|        | indicator   |            | surface in kilometers**         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 90 = \<0.05                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 91 = 0.05                       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 92 = 0.2                        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 93 = 0.5                        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 94 = 1                          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 95 = 2                          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 96 = 4                          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 97 = 10                         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 98 = 20                         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 99 = 50 or more                 |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 37-38  | Present     | 00-99      | 00 = Cloud development not      |
|        | weather     |            | observed                        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 01 = Clouds generally           |
|        |             |            | dissolving or becoming less     |
|        |             |            | developed                       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 02 = State of the sky unchanged |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 03 = Clouds generally forming   |
|        |             |            | or developing                   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 04 = Visibility reduced haze    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 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 of near the station at  |
|        |             |            | the time of observation, but no |
|        |             |            | well developed dust whirls or   |
|        |             |            | sand whirls and no duststorm or |
|        |             |            | sandstorm seen.                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 08 = Well developed dust swirls |
|        |             |            | or sand whirls seen at or near  |
|        |             |            | the station during the          |
|        |             |            | preceding hour or at the time   |
|        |             |            | of observation, but no          |
|        |             |            | duststorm of sandstorm          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 09 = Duststorm or sandstorm     |
|        |             |            | within sight at the time of     |
|        |             |            | observation, or at the station  |
|        |             |            | during the preceding hour.      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 10 = Light fog (visibility      |
|        |             |            | 1,100 yards or more).           |
|        |             |            | Synonymous with European term   |
|        |             |            | "Mist"                          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 11 = Patches of shallow for or  |
|        |             |            | ice fog at the station, not     |
|        |             |            | deeper than about 10 meters.    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 12 = More of less continuous    |
|        |             |            | shallow fog or ice fog at the   |
|        |             |            | station, not deeper that about  |
|        |             |            | 10 meters.                      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 13 = Lightning visible, no      |
|        |             |            | thunder heard.                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 14 = Precipitation within       |
|        |             |            | sight, not reaching the surface |
|        |             |            | of the sea.                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 15 = Precipitation within       |
|        |             |            | sight, reaching the surface of  |
|        |             |            | the sea, but more than 5 km     |
|        |             |            | from the ship.                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 16 = Precipitation within       |
|        |             |            | sight, reaching the surface of  |
|        |             |            | the sea, near to, but not at    |
|        |             |            | the ship.                       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 17 = Thunderstorm, but no       |
|        |             |            | precipitation at the time of    |
|        |             |            | observation.                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 18 = Squalls at or within sight |
|        |             |            | of the ship during the          |
|        |             |            | preceding hour or at the time   |
|        |             |            | of observation.                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 19 = Funnel cloud or Waterspout |
|        |             |            | at or within sight of the ship  |
|        |             |            | during the preceding hour or at |
|        |             |            | the time of observation.        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | **The following phenomena       |
|        |             |            | occurred at the ship during the |
|        |             |            | preceding hour but not at the   |
|        |             |            | time of observation.**          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 20 = Drizzle (not freezing) or  |
|        |             |            | snow grains.                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 21 = Rain (not freezing)        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 22 = Snow                       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 23 = Rain and snow or ice       |
|        |             |            | pellets, type (a)               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 24 = Freezing drizzle or        |
|        |             |            | freezing rain.                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 25 = Shower(s) of rain          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 26 = Showers of snow or of rain |
|        |             |            | and snow.                       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 27 = Shower(s) of hail (ice     |
|        |             |            | pellets, type (b), snow         |
|        |             |            | pellets), or of rain and hail   |
|        |             |            | (ice pellets, type (b), snow    |
|        |             |            | pellets).                       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 28 = Fog or ice fog.            |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 29 = Thunderstorms (with or     |
|        |             |            | without precipitation)          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | **Present weather codes 30-99   |
|        |             |            | refer to phenomena occurring at |
|        |             |            | the ship at time of             |
|        |             |            | observation.**                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 30 = Slight or moderate         |
|        |             |            | duststorm or sandstorm 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     |
|        |             |            | (below eye level) less than 6   |
|        |             |            | feet.                           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 37 = Heavy drifting snow (below |
|        |             |            | eye level) less than 6 feet.    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 38 = Slight or moderate blowing |
|        |             |            | snow generally high (above eye  |
|        |             |            | level) 6 feet or more.          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 39 = Heavy blowing snow         |
|        |             |            | generally high (above eye       |
|        |             |            | level) 6 feet or more.          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 40 = Fog or ice fog at a        |
|        |             |            | distance at the time of         |
|        |             |            | observation, but not at the     |
|        |             |            | ship 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        |
|        |             |            | visible has become thinner      |
|        |             |            | during the preceding hour.      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 43 = Fog or ice fog, sky        |
|        |             |            | invisible has become thinner    |
|        |             |            | during the preceding hour.      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 44 = Fog or ice fog, sky        |
|        |             |            | visible no appreciable change   |
|        |             |            | during the preceding hour.      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 45 = Fog or ice fog, sky        |
|        |             |            | invisible no appreciable change |
|        |             |            | during the preceding hour.      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 46 = Fog or ice fog, sky        |
|        |             |            | visible has begun or become     |
|        |             |            | thicker during the preceding    |
|        |             |            | hour.                           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 47 = Fog or ice fog, sky        |
|        |             |            | invisible has begun or become   |
|        |             |            | thicker during the preceding    |
|        |             |            | hour.                           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 48 = Fog, depositing rime, sky  |
|        |             |            | visible.                        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 49 = Fog, depositing rime, sky  |
|        |             |            | invisible.                      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 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 = 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 at time of  |
|        |             |            | observation.                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 65 = Rain, not freezing,        |
|        |             |            | continuous, heavy 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 = Intermittent fall of       |
|        |             |            | snowflakes.                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 71 = Continuous fall of         |
|        |             |            | snowflakes slight at time of    |
|        |             |            | observation.                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 72 = Intermittent fall of       |
|        |             |            | snowflakes moderate at time of  |
|        |             |            | observation.                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 73 = Continuous fall of         |
|        |             |            | snowflakes moderate at time of  |
|        |             |            | observation.                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 74 = Intermittent fall of       |
|        |             |            | snowflakes heavy at time of     |
|        |             |            | observation.                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 75 = Continuous fall of         |
|        |             |            | snowflakes heavy at time of     |
|        |             |            | observation.                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 76 = Ice prisms (with or        |
|        |             |            | without fog).                   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 77 = Snow grains (with or       |
|        |             |            | without fog).                   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 78 = Isolated star like snow    |
|        |             |            | crystals (with or without fog). |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 79 = Ice pellets, type (a)      |
|        |             |            | (sleet, US definition)          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 80 = Rain shower(s), slight.    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 81 = Rain shower(s) moderate or |
|        |             |            | heavy.                          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 82 = Rain shower(s), violent.   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 83 = Shower(s) of rain and snow |
|        |             |            | mixed, slight.                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 84 = Shower(s) or rain and snow |
|        |             |            | mixed, moderate or heavy.       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 85 = Snow shower(s), slight.    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 86 = Snow shower(s), moderate   |
|        |             |            | or heavy.                       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 87 = Slight showers of snow     |
|        |             |            | pellets or ice pellets, type    |
|        |             |            | (b), with or without rain or    |
|        |             |            | rain and snow mixed.            |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 88 = Moderate or heavy showers  |
|        |             |            | of snow pellets or ice pellets  |
|        |             |            | (b), with or without rain or    |
|        |             |            | rain and snow mixed.            |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 89 = Slight showers of hail     |
|        |             |            | with of without rain or rain    |
|        |             |            | and snow mixed, not associated  |
|        |             |            | with thunder.                   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 90 = Moderate of heavy showers  |
|        |             |            | of hail, with or without rain   |
|        |             |            | or rain and snow, slight mixed, |
|        |             |            | not associated with thunder.    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 91 = Slight rain at time of     |
|        |             |            | observation, thunderstorm       |
|        |             |            | during preceding hour but not   |
|        |             |            | at observation.                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 92 = Moderate of heavy rain at  |
|        |             |            | time of observation,            |
|        |             |            | thunderstorm during preceding   |
|        |             |            | hour but not at observation.    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 93 = Slight snow, or rain and   |
|        |             |            | snow mixed or hail, at time of  |
|        |             |            | observation with thunderstorm   |
|        |             |            | during the preceding hour but   |
|        |             |            | not at time of observation.     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 94 = Moderate or heavy snow, or |
|        |             |            | rain and snow mixed, or hail,   |
|        |             |            | at time of observation with     |
|        |             |            | thunderstorm during the         |
|        |             |            | preceding hour but not at time  |
|        |             |            | of observation.                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 95 = Thunderstorm, slight or    |
|        |             |            | moderate, without hail, but     |
|        |             |            | with rain and/or snow at time   |
|        |             |            | of observation.                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 96 = Thunderstorm, slight or    |
|        |             |            | moderate, with hail at time of  |
|        |             |            | observation.                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 97 = Thunderstorm, heavy,       |
|        |             |            | without hail but with rain      |
|        |             |            | and/or snow at time of          |
|        |             |            | observation.                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 98 = Thunderstorm combined with |
|        |             |            | duststorm or sandstorm at time  |
|        |             |            | of observation.                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 99 = Thunderstorm, heavy, with  |
|        |             |            | hail at time of observation.    |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 39     | Past        | 0-9        | 0 = Cloud covering ½ or less of |
|        | weather     |            | the sky throughout the          |
|        |             |            | appropriate period.             |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = Cloud covering more than ½  |
|        |             |            | of the sky during part of the   |
|        |             |            | appropriate period and covering |
|        |             |            | ½ or less during part of the    |
|        |             |            | period.                         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = Cloud covering more than ½  |
|        |             |            | of the sky throughout the       |
|        |             |            | appropriate period.             |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = Sandstorm, duststorm or     |
|        |             |            | blowing snow.                   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Fog or ice fog or thick     |
|        |             |            | haze (US includes thick smoke). |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = Drizzle                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = Rain                        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = Snow, or rain and snow      |
|        |             |            | mixed.                          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = Shower                      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = thunderstorm with or        |
|        |             |            | without precipitation.          |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 40-44  | Sea level   | 0          | 890.0-1070.0 millibars          |
|        | pressure    | 8900-10700 |                                 |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 45     | Temps       | b,1,3,5    | **Accuracy of original          |
|        | indicator   |            | temperature value:**            |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | b = Unknown                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = tenths of degrees Celsius   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = whole degrees Celsius       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = half degrees Celsius        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | Original temperature values in  |
|        |             |            | Fahrenheit are converted to     |
|        |             |            | tenths of degrees Celsius and   |
|        |             |            | assigned a code value of 1.     |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 46-49  | Air         | ±000-±999  | ±00.0-±99.9ºC (always recorded  |
|        | temperature |            | to tenths). The first position  |
|        |             |            | in the field is the sign.       |
|        |             |            | Dew-point temperature is        |
|        |             |            | generally reported in whole     |
|        |             |            | degrees. A zero in recorded in  |
|        |             |            | the tenths position when        |
|        |             |            | dew-points are reported in      |
|        |             |            | whole degrees.                  |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 62     | Total cloud | 0-9        | **Fraction of celestial dome    |
|        | amt. (N)    |            | covered by all clouds.**        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 0 = Clear                       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = 1 Okta or less, but not     |
|        |             |            | zero.                           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2-8 = 2-8 Oktas                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = Sky obscured or cloud       |
|        |             |            | amount cannot be estimated.     |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 63     | Lower cloud | 0-9        | Fraction of celestial dome      |
|        | amt. (Nh)   |            | covered by all the Cl clouds    |
|        |             |            | and, if no Cl cloud is present, |
|        |             |            | that fraction covered by all    |
|        |             |            | the Cm clouds present. See      |
|        |             |            | codes for Total Cloud Amt. (N). |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 64     | Low cloud   | 0-9, -     | 0 = No Stratocumulus, Stratus,  |
|        | type (Cl)   |            | Cumulus or Cumulonimbus.        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = Cumulus with little         |
|        |             |            | vertical extent and seemingly   |
|        |             |            | flattened, or ragged Cumulus    |
|        |             |            | other than of bad weather, or   |
|        |             |            | both.                           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = Cumulus of moderate or      |
|        |             |            | strong vertical extent,         |
|        |             |            | generally with protuberances in |
|        |             |            | the form of domes or towers,    |
|        |             |            | either accompanied or not by    |
|        |             |            | other Cumulus or by             |
|        |             |            | Stratocumulus, all having their |
|        |             |            | base at the same level.         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = Cumulonimbus, the summits   |
|        |             |            | of which, at least partially,   |
|        |             |            | lack sharp outlines but are     |
|        |             |            | neither clearly fibrous         |
|        |             |            | (cirriform) nor in the form of  |
|        |             |            | an anvil; Cumulus,              |
|        |             |            | stratocumulus or Stratus may    |
|        |             |            | also be present.                |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Stratocumulus formed by the |
|        |             |            | spreading out of Cumulus;       |
|        |             |            | Cumulus may also be present.    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = Stratocumulus not resulting |
|        |             |            | form the spreading out of       |
|        |             |            | Cumulus.                        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = Stratus in a more or less   |
|        |             |            | continuous sheet or layer, or   |
|        |             |            | in ragged shreds, or both, but  |
|        |             |            | no Stratus fractus of bad       |
|        |             |            | weather.                        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = Stratus fractus of bad      |
|        |             |            | weather (generally existing     |
|        |             |            | during precipitation and a      |
|        |             |            | short time before and after) or |
|        |             |            | Cumulus fractus of bad weather, |
|        |             |            | or both (pannus), usually below |
|        |             |            | Altostratus or Nimbostratus.    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = Cumulus and Stratocumulus   |
|        |             |            | other than that formed from the |
|        |             |            | spreading out of Cumulus; the   |
|        |             |            | base of the Cumulus is at a     |
|        |             |            | different level from that of    |
|        |             |            | the Stratocumulus.              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = Cumulonimbus, the upper     |
|        |             |            | part of which is clearly        |
|        |             |            | fibrous (cirroform), often in   |
|        |             |            | the form of an anvil; either    |
|        |             |            | accompanied or not by           |
|        |             |            | Cumulonimbus without anvil or   |
|        |             |            | fibrous upper part by Cumulus,  |
|        |             |            | Stratocumulus, Stratus or       |
|        |             |            | pannus.                         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | \- = Stratocumulus, Stratus,    |
|        |             |            | Cumulus and Cumulonimbus        |
|        |             |            | invisible owing to darkness,    |
|        |             |            | fog, blowing dist or sand, or   |
|        |             |            | other similar phenomena.        |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 65     | Cloud       | b, 0       | b = height not measured         |
|        | height      |            |                                 |
|        | indicator   |            | 0 = height measured             |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 66     | Cloud       | 0-9, -     | **Height above sea surface of   |
|        | height (h)  |            | the base of the lowest cloud or |
|        |             |            | fragment thereof.**             |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   ---------------- -----------  |
|        |             |            |   Approximate      Height in    |
|        |             |            |   Height in Feet   Meters       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   0 = 0-149        0-49         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   1 = 150-299      50-99        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   2 = 300-599      100-199      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   3 = 600-999      200-299      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   4 = 1000-1999    300-599      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   5 = 2000-3499    600-999      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   6 = 3500-4999    1000-1499    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   7 = 5000-6499    1500-1999    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   8 = 6500-7999    2000-2499    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   9 = \>8000 or no \>2500 or    |
|        |             |            |   clouds           no clouds    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   \- = missing                  |
|        |             |            |   ---------------- -----------  |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 67     | Mid cloud   | 0-9, -     | 0 = No altocumulus, Altostratus |
|        | type (Cm)   |            | or Nimbostratus.                |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = Altostratus, the greater    |
|        |             |            | part of which is                |
|        |             |            | semi-transparent; though this   |
|        |             |            | part of the sun or moon may be  |
|        |             |            | weakly visible, as through      |
|        |             |            | ground glass.                   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = Altostratus, the greater    |
|        |             |            | part of which is sufficiently   |
|        |             |            | dense to hide the son or moon,  |
|        |             |            | or nimbostratus.                |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = Altocumulus, the greater    |
|        |             |            | part of which is                |
|        |             |            | semi-transparent; the various   |
|        |             |            | elements of the cloud change    |
|        |             |            | only slowly and are all at a    |
|        |             |            | single level.                   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Patched (often in the form  |
|        |             |            | of almonds or fished) of        |
|        |             |            | Altocumulus, the greater part   |
|        |             |            | of which is semi-transparent;   |
|        |             |            | the clouds occur at one or more |
|        |             |            | levels and the element are      |
|        |             |            | continually changing in         |
|        |             |            | appearance.                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = Semi-transparent            |
|        |             |            | Altocumulus in bands, or        |
|        |             |            | Altocumulus in one or more      |
|        |             |            | fairly continuous layers        |
|        |             |            | (semi-transparent or opaque),   |
|        |             |            | progressively invading sky,     |
|        |             |            | these Altocumulus clouds        |
|        |             |            | generally thicken as a whole.   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = Altocumulus resulting from  |
|        |             |            | the spreading out of Cumulus    |
|        |             |            | (or Cumulonimbus).              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = Altocumulus in two or more  |
|        |             |            | layers, usually opaque in       |
|        |             |            | places, and not progressively   |
|        |             |            | invading the sky; or opaque     |
|        |             |            | layer of Altocumulus, not       |
|        |             |            | progressively invading the sky; |
|        |             |            | or Altocumulus together with    |
|        |             |            | Altostratus or Nimbostratus.    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = Altocumulus with sproutings |
|        |             |            | in the form of small towers or  |
|        |             |            | battlements; or Altocumulus     |
|        |             |            | having the appearance of        |
|        |             |            | cumuliform tufts.               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = Altocumulus of a chaotic    |
|        |             |            | sky, generally at several       |
|        |             |            | levels.                         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | \- = Altocumulus, Altostratus   |
|        |             |            | and Nimbostratus invisible      |
|        |             |            | owing to darkness, fog, blowing |
|        |             |            | dust or sand or other similar   |
|        |             |            | phenomena, or more often        |
|        |             |            | because of the presence of a    |
|        |             |            | continuous layer of lower       |
|        |             |            | clouds.                         |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 68     | High cloud  | 0-9,-      | 0 = No Cirrus, Cirrocumulus or  |
|        | type (Ch)   |            | Cirrostratus.                   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = Cirrus in the form of       |
|        |             |            | filaments, strands or hooks,    |
|        |             |            | not progressively invading the  |
|        |             |            | sky.                            |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = Dense Cirrus, in patches or |
|        |             |            | entangled sheaves, which        |
|        |             |            | usually do not increase and     |
|        |             |            | sometimes seem to be the        |
|        |             |            | remains of the upper part of a  |
|        |             |            | Cumulonimbus; or Cirrus with    |
|        |             |            | sproutings in the form of small |
|        |             |            | turrets or battlements, or      |
|        |             |            | Cirrus having the appearance of |
|        |             |            | cumuliform tufts.               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = Dense Cirrus, often in the  |
|        |             |            | form of an anvil, being the     |
|        |             |            | remains of the upper parts of   |
|        |             |            | Cumulonimbus.                   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Cirrus in the form of hooks |
|        |             |            | or of filaments, or both,       |
|        |             |            | progressively invading the sky; |
|        |             |            | they generally become denser as |
|        |             |            | a whole.                        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = Cirrus (often in bands      |
|        |             |            | converging towards one point or |
|        |             |            | two opposite points of the      |
|        |             |            | horizon) and Cirrostratus, or   |
|        |             |            | Cirrostratus alone; in either   |
|        |             |            | case, they are progressively    |
|        |             |            | invading the sky, and generally |
|        |             |            | growing denser as a whole; the  |
|        |             |            | continuous veil extends more    |
|        |             |            | than 45 degrees above the       |
|        |             |            | horizon, without the sky being  |
|        |             |            | totally covered.                |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = Veil of Cirrostratus        |
|        |             |            | covering the celestial dome.    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = Cirrostratus not            |
|        |             |            | progressively invading the sky  |
|        |             |            | and not completely covering the |
|        |             |            | celestial dome.                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = Cirrocumulus alone, or      |
|        |             |            | Cirrocumulus accompanied by     |
|        |             |            | cirrus ot both, but             |
|        |             |            | Cirrocumulus is predominate.    |
|        |             |            | Cirrostratus, invisible owing   |
|        |             |            | to darkness, fog, blowing dust  |
|        |             |            | or sand or other similar        |
|        |             |            | phenomena, or more often        |
|        |             |            | because of the presence of a    |
|        |             |            | continuous layer of lower       |
|        |             |            | clouds.                         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | \- = Cirrus, Cirrocumulus and   |
|        |             |            | Cirrostratus.                   |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 69-70  | Direction   | 00-36, 49, | **Direction from which waves    |
|        | of waves    | 99         | come, in tens of degrees.**     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   -------------- -------------- |
|        |             |            |   00 = Calm      19 = 185-194º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   01 = 005-014º  20 = 195-204º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   02 = 015-024º  21 = 205-214º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   03 = 025-034º  22 = 215-224º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   04 = 035-044º  23 = 225-234º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   05 = 045-054º  24 = 235-244º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   06 = 055-064º  25 = 245-254º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   07 = 065-074º  26 = 255-264º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   08 = 075-084º  27 = 265-274º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   09 = 085-094º  28 = 275-284º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   10 = 095-104º  29 = 285-294º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   11 = 105-114º  30 = 295-304º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   12 = 115-124º  31 = 305-314º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   13 = 125-134º  32 = 315-324º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   14 = 135-144º  33 = 325-334º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   15 = 145-154º  34 = 335-344º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   16 = 155-164º  35 = 345-354º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   17 = 165-174º  36 = 355-004º  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   18 = 175-184º                 |
|        |             |            |   -------------- -------------- |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 49 = Waves confused, direction  |
|        |             |            | indeterminate (waves equal to   |
|        |             |            | or less than 4 ¾ meters).       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 99 = Waves confused, direction  |
|        |             |            | indeterminate (waves greater    |
|        |             |            | than 4 ¾ meters).               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | For buoy data this field is     |
|        |             |            | average wave direction.         |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 71     | Period of   | 0-9, -     | 2 = 5 seconds or less           |
|        | waves       |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = 6-7 seconds                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = 8-9 seconds                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = 10-11 seconds               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = 12-13 seconds               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = 14-15 seconds               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = 16-17 seconds               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = 18-19 seconds               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 0 = 20-21 seconds               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = over 21 seconds             |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | \- = calm or period not         |
|        |             |            | determined                      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | For buoy data this field is     |
|        |             |            | average wave period.            |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 72-73  | Height of   | 00-99      | **Height in ½ meter             |
|        | waves       |            | increments**                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 00 = \< ¼ meter                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 01-99 = ½ - 49 ½ meters         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | For Buoy data this field is     |
|        |             |            | significant wave height.        |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 74-75  | Direction   | 00-36, 49, | Same as Direction of waves      |
|        | of swell    | 99         |                                 |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 76     | Period of   | 0-9, -     | Same as Period of Waves prior   |
|        | swell       |            | to 1969.                        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | Beginning January 1, 1968, the  |
|        |             |            | code for Period of swell is:    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 0 = 10 seconds                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = 11 seconds                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = 12 seconds                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = 13 seconds                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = 14 seconds                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = 5 seconds or less           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = 6 seconds                   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = 7 seconds                   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = 8 seconds                   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = 9 seconds                   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | \- = calm or period not         |
|        |             |            | determined                      |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 77-78  | Height of   | 00-99      | Same as Height of waves         |
|        | swell       |            |                                 |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 79-80  | Country     | Co         |   -                             |
|        | code        | mbinations | ------------------- ----------- |
|        |             | of b,      |                                 |
|        |             | 0-40, and  |  **Recruiting         **Codes** |
|        |             | J-R        |   Country**                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Netherlands          0b }b 00 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Norway               0J }J 01 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   USA                  0K }K 02 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   UK                   0L }L 04 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   France               0M }M 05 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Denmark              0N }N 06 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Italy                0P }P 07 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   India                0P }P 08 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Hong Kong            0Q }Q 09 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   New Zealand          0R }R 10 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Ireland              1b Jb 11 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Philippines          1J JJ 11 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Egypt                1K JK 12 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Canada               1L JL 13 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Belgium              1M JM 14 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   South Africa         1N JN 15 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Australia            1O JO 16 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Japan                1P JP 17 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Pakistan             1Q JQ 18 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Argentina            1R JR 19 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Sweden               2b Kb 20 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Federal Rep. of      2J KJ 21 |
|        |             |            |   Germany                       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Iceland              2K KK 22 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Israel               2L KL 23 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Malaysia             2M KM 24 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   USSR                 2N KN 25 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Finland              2O KO 26 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Republic of Korea    2P KP 27 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   New Caledonia        2Q KQ 28 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Portugal             2R KR 29 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Spain                3b Lb 30 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Thailand             3J LJ 31 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Yugoslavia           3K LK 32 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Poland               3L LL 33 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Brazil               3M LM 34 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Singapore            3N LN 35 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Kenya                3O LO 36 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Tanzania             3P LP 37 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Uganda               3Q LQ 38 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   Mexico               3R LR 39 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   German Democratic    4b Mb 40 |
|        |             |            |   Republic                      |
|        |             |            |   -                             |
|        |             |            | ------------------- ----------- |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | A right brace (}) may print as  |
|        |             |            | a blank on some printers.       |
|        |             |            | Country codes prior to 1982 may |
|        |             |            | have an X overpunch             |
|        |             |            | (non-numeric character) in one  |
|        |             |            | or both record positions. An X  |
|        |             |            | overpunch in 79 indicates       |
|        |             |            | foreign receipt and in 80       |
|        |             |            | indicates an auxiliary ship.    |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 81     | Ship        | 0-9        | Ship's course (true) made good  |
|        | direction   |            | during the 3 hours preceding    |
|        |             |            | the time of observation.        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 0 = Ship hove to 5 = SW         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = NE 6 = W                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = E 7 = NW                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = SE 8 = N                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = S 9 = Unknown               |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 82     | Ship speed  | 0-9        | Ship's average speed made good  |
|        |             |            | during the 3 hours preceding    |
|        |             |            | the time of observation.        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | **Prior to 1968:**              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 0 = 0 Knots 5 = 21-25 Knots     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = 1-3 Knots 6 = 16-18 Knots   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = 4-6 Knots 7 = 31-35 Knots   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = 7-9 Knots 8 = 22-24 Knots   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = 16-20 Knots 9 = \>24 Knots  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | **Beginning January 1, 1968:**  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 0 = 0 Knots 5 = 21-25 Knots     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = 1-5 Knots 6 = 26-30 Knots   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = 6-10 Knots 7 = 31-35 Knots  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = 11-15 Knots 8 = 36-40 Knots |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = 16-20 Knots 9 = \>40 Knots  |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 83     | Barometric  | 0-8        | 0 = Increasing, then            |
|        | tendency    |            | decreasing; atmospheric         |
|        |             |            | pressure same or higher than 3  |
|        |             |            | hours ago.                      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = Increasing, then steady; or |
|        |             |            | increasing then increasing more |
|        |             |            | slowly; atmospheric pressure    |
|        |             |            | now higher than 3 hours ago.    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = Increasing (steadily or     |
|        |             |            | unsteadily) atmospheric         |
|        |             |            | pressure now higher than 3      |
|        |             |            | hours ago.                      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = Decreasing or steady, then  |
|        |             |            | increasing; or increasing then  |
|        |             |            | increasing more rapidly;        |
|        |             |            | atmospheric pressure now higher |
|        |             |            | than 3 hours ago.               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Steady; atmospheric         |
|        |             |            | pressure same as 3 hours ago.   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = Decreasing, then            |
|        |             |            | increasing; atmospheric         |
|        |             |            | pressure the same or lower than |
|        |             |            | 3 hours ago.                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = Decreasing, then steady, or |
|        |             |            | decreasing then decreasing more |
|        |             |            | slowly; atmospheric pressure    |
|        |             |            | now lower than 3 hours ago.     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = Decreasing (steadily or     |
|        |             |            | unsteadily) atmospheric         |
|        |             |            | pressure now lower than 3 hours |
|        |             |            | ago.                            |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = Steady or increasing, then  |
|        |             |            | decreasing; or decreasing then  |
|        |             |            | decreasing more rapidly;        |
|        |             |            | atmospheric pressure now lower  |
|        |             |            | than 3 hours ago.               |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 84-86  | Amount of   | 000-299    | Amount of pressure change form  |
|        | pressure    |            | 3 hours ago. (Tenths to         |
|        | change      |            | millibars)                      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 00.0-29.9 millibars             |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 87     | Type of ice | 1-5        | 1 = Icing from ocean spray      |
|        | accretion   |            |                                 |
|        | on ship     |            | 2 = Icing from fog              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = Icing form spray and fog    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Icing from rain             |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = Icing from spray and rain   |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 88-89  | Ice         | 00-99      | Ice thickness in centimeters    |
|        | thickness   |            |                                 |
|        | on ship     |            |                                 |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 90     | Rate of ice | 0-4        | 0 = Ice not building up         |
|        | accretion   |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = Ice building up slowly      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = Ice building up rapidly     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = Ice melting or breaking up  |
|        |             |            | slowly                          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Ice melting or breaking up  |
|        |             |            | rapidly                         |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 91-97  | Ship, OSV,  |            | Identification of individual    |
|        | or Buoy     |            | ship, Ocean Station Vessel, or  |
|        | call sign   |            | buoy. Ship numbers can vary     |
|        | or number\* |            | from 4 to 7 characters,         |
|        |             |            | consisting of mixed             |
|        | \*All call  |            | alphanumerics. OSV              |
|        | signs or    |            | identification prior to July    |
|        | numbers     |            | 1975 carried from 4YA to 4YZ.   |
|        | begin in    |            | Then it changed from C7A to     |
|        | tape        |            | C7Z. Buoy numbers are 5 digit   |
|        | position    |            | numerics.                       |
|        | 91; i.e.,   |            |                                 |
|        | the element |            |                                 |
|        | is          |            |                                 |
|        | left        |            |                                 |
|        | -justified. |            |                                 |
|        | In some     |            |                                 |
|        | cases,      |            |                                 |
|        | p           |            |                                 |
|        | articularly |            |                                 |
|        | for buoy    |            |                                 |
|        | numbers,    |            |                                 |
|        | the         |            |                                 |
|        | rightmost   |            |                                 |
|        | positions   |            |                                 |
|        | may be 0 or |            |                                 |
|        | blank       |            |                                 |
|        | filled.     |            |                                 |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 98     | Original    | b, 1, 2    | b = not reported                |
|        | wind speed  |            |                                 |
|        | units       |            | 1 = knots                       |
|        | indicator   |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = meters per second           |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 99     | Original    | b, 1-8     | b = not reported                |
|        | temperature |            |                                 |
|        | units       |            | 1 = ºC (Celsius) to tenths      |
|        | indicator   |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = ºF (Fahrenheit) to tenths   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = Whole ºC                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Whole ºF                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = Halves of ºC                |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = Halves of ºF                |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = ºF to tenths, and dew point |
|        |             |            | to whole ºF                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = ºC to tenths, and dew point |
|        |             |            | to whole ºC                     |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 100    | Sea         | b, B, I    | b = Method unknown (Beginning   |
|        | temperature |            | in 1982) Prior to 1982          |
|        | method      | 0-7        | indicated intake or unknown     |
|        | indicator   |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | I = Intake method               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | B = Bucket method               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | For internationally exchanged   |
|        |             |            | data (IMMT) beginning in 1982   |
|        |             |            | and all data after September    |
|        |             |            | 1985.                           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 0 = Bucket thermometer          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = Condenser inlet (intake)    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = Trailing thermistor         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = hull contact sensor         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = through hull thermometer    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = Radiation thermometer       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = Bait tanks thermometer      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = Others                      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = Method unknown              |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 1      | Period of   | 00-99      | Period of waves in seconds.     |
| 01-102 | waves       |            | Field 023 data is the same as   |
|        |             |            | Field 040, but in coded form.   |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 1      | Period of   | 00-99      | Period of swell in seconds.     |
| 03-104 | swell       |            | Field 026 data is the same as   |
|        |             |            | field 041 but in coded form.    |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 105    | Description | 0-9        | 0 = No ice                      |
|        | of ice type |            |                                 |
|        | (Prior to   |            | 1 = New ice                     |
|        | 1982)       |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = Fast ice                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = Pack or drift ice           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Packed slush                |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = Shore lead                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = Heavy fast ice              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = Heavy pack or drift ice     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = Hummocked ice               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = Icebergs                    |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 105    | Co          | 0-9, -     | 0 = No sea ice in sight         |
|        | ncentration |            |                                 |
|        | of ice (New |            | 1 = Ship in open lead more than |
|        | code 1982)  |            | 1.0 nautical mile wide, or ship |
|        |             |            | in fast ice with boundary       |
|        |             |            | beyond limit of visibility.     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = Sea ice present in          |
|        |             |            | concentrations less than 3/10   |
|        |             |            | (3/8), open water or very open  |
|        |             |            | pack ice.                       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = 4/10 to 6/10 (3/8 to less   |
|        |             |            | than 6/8), open pack ice.       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = 7/10 to 8/10 (6/8 to less   |
|        |             |            | than 7/8) close pack ice.       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = 9/10 or more, but not 10/10 |
|        |             |            | (7/8 to less than 8/8), very    |
|        |             |            | close pack ice.                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = Strips and patches of pack  |
|        |             |            | ice with open water between.    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = Strips and patches of close |
|        |             |            | or very close pack ice with     |
|        |             |            | areas of lesser concentration   |
|        |             |            | between.                        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = Fast ice with open water,   |
|        |             |            | very open pack ice to seaward   |
|        |             |            | of the ice boundary.            |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = Fast ice with close or very |
|        |             |            | close pack ice to seaward of    |
|        |             |            | the ice boundary.               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | \- = unable to report, because  |
|        |             |            | of darkness, lack of            |
|        |             |            | visibility, or because ship is  |
|        |             |            | more than 0.5 nautical mile     |
|        |             |            | away from ice edge.             |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 106    | Effect of   | 0-9        | 0 = Navigation unobstructed     |
|        | the Ice on  |            |                                 |
|        | navigation  |            | 1 = Navigation unobstructed for |
|        | (prior to   |            | steamers, difficult for sail    |
|        | 1982)       |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = Navigation difficult for    |
|        |             |            | low powered steamers            |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = Navigation possible only    |
|        |             |            | for powerful steamers           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Navigation possible only    |
|        |             |            | for ships reinforced against    |
|        |             |            | ice                             |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = Navigation possible with    |
|        |             |            | assistance of ice breakers.     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = Channel open in the solid   |
|        |             |            | ice.                            |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = Navigation temporarily      |
|        |             |            | closed.                         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = Navigation closed           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = Navigation conditions       |
|        |             |            | unknown (e.g., owing to bad     |
|        |             |            | weather).                       |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 106    | Stage of    | 0-9, -     | 0 = New ice only (frazil ice,   |
|        | ice         |            | grease ice, slush, shuga)       |
|        | development |            |                                 |
|        | (new code   |            | 1 = Nilas or ice rind, less     |
|        | 1982        |            | than 10 cm thick.               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = Young ice (grey ice,        |
|        |             |            | grey-white ice), 10-30 cm       |
|        |             |            | thick.                          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = Predominantly new and/or    |
|        |             |            | young ice with some new and/or  |
|        |             |            | young ice.                      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Predominantly thin          |
|        |             |            | first-year ice with some new    |
|        |             |            | and/or young ice.               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = All thin first-year ice     |
|        |             |            | (30-70 cm thick).               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = Predominantly medium        |
|        |             |            | first-year ice (70-120 cm       |
|        |             |            | thick) and thick first-year ice |
|        |             |            | (\> 120 cm thick) with some     |
|        |             |            | thinner (younger) first-year    |
|        |             |            | ice.                            |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = All medium and thick        |
|        |             |            | first-year ice.                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = Predominantly medium and    |
|        |             |            | thick first-year ice with some  |
|        |             |            | old ice (usually more than 2    |
|        |             |            | meters thick).                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = Predominantly old ice.      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | \- = unable to report, because  |
|        |             |            | of darkness, lack of visibility |
|        |             |            | or because only ice of land     |
|        |             |            | origin is visible or because    |
|        |             |            | ship is more than 0.5 nautical  |
|        |             |            | mile away from ice edge.        |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 107    | Bearing of  | 0-9        | 0 = No ice edge can be stated   |
|        | principal   |            |                                 |
|        | ice edge    |            | 1 = Edge toward NE              |
|        | from ship   |            |                                 |
|        | (prior to   |            | 2 = Edge toward E               |
|        | 1982)       |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = Edge toward SE              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Edge toward S               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = Edge toward SW              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = Edge toward W               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = Edge toward NW              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = Edge toward N               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = Edge in several directions  |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 107    | Ice of land | 0-9, -     | 0 = No ice of land origin       |
|        | origin      |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = 1-5 icebergs, no growlers   |
|        |             |            | or bergy bits                   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = 6-10 icebergs, no growlers  |
|        |             |            | or bergy bits                   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = 11-20 icebergs, no growlers |
|        |             |            | or bergy bits                   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Up to and including 10      |
|        |             |            | growlers with bergy bits -- no  |
|        |             |            | icebergs.                       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = More than 10 growlers and   |
|        |             |            | bergy bits -- no icebergs       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = 1-5 icebergs with growlers  |
|        |             |            | and bergy bits                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = 6-10 icebergs with growlers |
|        |             |            | and bergy bits                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = 11-20 icebergs with         |
|        |             |            | growlers and bergy bits         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = More than 20 icebergs with  |
|        |             |            | growlers and bergy bits -- a    |
|        |             |            | major hazard to navigation      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | \- = Unable to report, because  |
|        |             |            | of darkness, lack of visibility |
|        |             |            | or because only sea ice is      |
|        |             |            | visible.                        |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 108    | Distance to | 0-9        | 0 = up to 1 mile                |
|        | ice edge    |            |                                 |
|        | from ship   |            | 1 = 1 to 2 mile                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = 2 to 4 mile                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = 4 to 6 mile                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = 6 to 8 mile                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = 8 to 12 mile                |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = 12 to 16 mile               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = 16 20 mile                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = more than 20 mile           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = unspecified or no           |
|        |             |            | observations                    |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 108    | Bearing of  | 0-9, -     | 0 = Ship in shore or flaw lead  |
|        | principal   |            |                                 |
|        | ice edge    |            | 1 = Principal ice edge towards  |
|        | form ship   |            | NE                              |
|        | (new code   |            |                                 |
|        | 1982)       |            | 2 = Principal ice edge towards  |
|        |             |            | E                               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = Principal ice edge towards  |
|        |             |            | SE                              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Principal ice edge towards  |
|        |             |            | S\                              |
|        |             |            | 5 = Principal ice edge towards  |
|        |             |            | SW                              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = Principal ice edge towards  |
|        |             |            | W                               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = Principal ice edge towards  |
|        |             |            | NW                              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = Principal ice edge towards  |
|        |             |            | N                               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = Not determined (ship on     |
|        |             |            | ice)                            |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | \- = unable to report, because  |
|        |             |            | of darkness, lack of visibility |
|        |             |            | or because only ice of land     |
|        |             |            | origin is visible.              |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 109    | Orientation | 0-9        | 0 = Unknown-ship outside ice    |
|        | of ice edge |            |                                 |
|        | (prior to   |            | 1 = NE to SW, ice to the NW     |
|        | 1982)       |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = E to W, ice to the N        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = SE to NW, ice to the NE     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = S to N, ice to the E        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = SW to NE, ice to the SE     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = W to E, ice to the S        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = NW to SE, ice to the SW     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = N to S, ice to the W        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = Unknown-ship inside ice     |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 1      | Amount of   | 00-99      | Code figures 00-55 = the same   |
| 10-111 | pr          |            | precipitation amount in         |
|        | ecipitation |            | millimeters. For codes 56-90,   |
|        |             |            | subtract 50 and multiply answer |
|        |             |            | by 10 to obtain amount in mm.   |
|        |             |            | (i.e., code                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 76 = (76-50) x 10 = 260 mm).    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 91 = 0.1 mm                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 92 = 0.2 mm                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 93 = 0.3 mm                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 94 = 0.4 mm                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 95 = 0.5 mm                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 96 = 0.6 mm                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 97 = A little precipitation,    |
|        |             |            | non-measurable                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 98 = More than 400 mm           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 99 = Measurement impossible     |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 1      | Time period | 00-38,     | See WMO Manual No. 306, "Manual |
| 12-113 | for         |            | on Codes", Code Table 4080 for  |
|        | pr          | 41-46,     | a complete translation of code  |
|        | ecipitation |            | figures to duration of          |
|        | amount      | 49-94, 99  | precipitation amount for        |
|        |             |            | different observational         |
|        |             |            | periods.                        |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 114    | Significant | 0-9        | **Amount of individual cloud    |
|        | cloud       |            | layer or mass.**                |
|        | amount      |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 0 = Clear                       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = 1 Okta or less, but not     |
|        |             |            | zero                            |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2-8 = 2-8 Oktas                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = Sky obscured or cloud       |
|        |             |            | amount cannot be estimated      |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 115    | Significant | 0-9, -     | **Cloud genus**                 |
|        | cloud type  |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 0 = Cirrus                      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = Cirrocumulus                |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = Cirrostratus                |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = Altocumulus                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Altostratus                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = Nimbostratus                |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = Stratocumulus               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = Stratus                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = Cumulus                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = Cumulonimbus                |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | \- = Cloud not visible owing to |
|        |             |            | darkness, fog, duststorms,      |
|        |             |            | sandstorm, or other analogous   |
|        |             |            | phenomena.                      |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 1      | Significant | 00-50      | **Height of the base of the     |
| 15-117 | cloud       |            | cloud layer or mass whose genus |
|        | height      | 56-99      | was reported in Field 045.**    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 00 = \<30 meters                |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 01-50 = 30-1,500 meters in      |
|        |             |            | increments of 30 meters         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 56-80 = 1,800-9,000 meters in   |
|        |             |            | increments of 300 meters        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 81-88 = 10,500-21,000 meters in |
|        |             |            | increments of 1,500 meters      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 89 = \> 21,000 meters           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 90 = \< 50 meters               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 91 = 50-100 meters              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 92 = 100-200 meters             |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 93 = 200-300 meters             |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 94 = 300-600 meters             |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 95 = 600-1,000 meters           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 96 = 1,000-1,500 meters         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 97 = 1,500-2,000 meters         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 98 = 2,000-2,500 meters         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 99 = \>2,500 meters or no       |
|        |             |            | clouds                          |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 118    | Second most | 0-9        | Same as past weather            |
|        | significant |            |                                 |
|        | past        |            |                                 |
|        | weather     |            |                                 |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 1      | Second most | 00-36,     | Same as direction of waves      |
| 19-120 | significant |            |                                 |
|        | swell       | 49, 99     |                                 |
|        | direction   |            |                                 |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 1      | Second most | 00-99      | Period of swell in seconds      |
| 21-120 | significant |            |                                 |
|        | swell       |            |                                 |
|        | period      |            |                                 |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 1      | Second most | 00-99      | Same as height of waves         |
| 23-124 | significant |            |                                 |
|        | swell       |            |                                 |
|        | height      |            |                                 |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 1      | Quality     | A, B, J,   | **See appendix A.3 for an       |
| 25-138 | control     | K, L, M,   | explanation of flags.**         |
|        | flags       | N, Q, R, S |                                 |
|        |             |            | 125 = Ship position             |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 126 = Wind                      |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 127 = Visibility                |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 128 = Present weather           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 129 = Past weather              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 130 = Pressure                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 131 = Dry bulb                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 132 = Wet bulb                  |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 133 = Dew point                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 134 = Sea temperature           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 135 = Clouds                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 136 = Waves                     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 137 = Swell waves               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 138 = Amount of pressure        |
|        |             |            | tendency (ppp)                  |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 1      | Quality     | 00-39      | **The following are the flagged |
| 39-140 | code (QC)   |            | values and their quality        |
|        |             |            | codes:**                        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   -------------- -------------- |
|        |             |            |   Flag           Quality Code   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   R              0              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   A, B           1              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   J, K, L        2              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   M, N, Q, S     3              |
|        |             |            |   -------------- -------------- |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 1      | QC date     |            | QC date is the year and month   |
| 41-144 |             |            | the quality control program was |
|        |             |            | run on the data. It serves to   |
|        |             |            | document changes and is for     |
|        |             |            | NCDC use only.                  |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 145    | IMMT wave   | 0-9        | 0 = Wave and swell estimated    |
|        | measurement |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = Wave and swell measured     |
|        |             |            | (Wave Recorder)                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = Wave measured (Wave         |
|        |             |            | Recorder) and swell estimated   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = Other combination of        |
|        |             |            | measured and estimated (Wave    |
|        |             |            | Recorder)                       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Wave and swell measured     |
|        |             |            | (Buoy)                          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = Wave measured (Buoy) and    |
|        |             |            | swell estimated                 |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = Other combinations of       |
|        |             |            | measured and estimated (Buoy)   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | Other measurement system:       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = Wave and swell measured     |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = Wave measured and swell     |
|        |             |            | estimated                       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = Other combination of        |
|        |             |            | measured and estimated          |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 146    | IMMT        | 0-9        | 0 = Unknown                     |
|        | observation |            |                                 |
|        | platform    |            | 1 = Selected ship               |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = Supplementary ship          |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = Auxiliary ship              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Automated station/data buoy |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = Fixed sea station           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = Coastal station             |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = Aircraft                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = Satellite                   |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = Others                      |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 147    | Quality     | 0-9        | 0 = No quality control (QC)     |
|        | code        |            | performed                       |
|        | indicator   |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 1 = Manual QC only              |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 2 = Automated QC only (no       |
|        |             |            | time-sequence checks)           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 3 = Automated QC only           |
|        |             |            | (including time-sequence        |
|        |             |            | checks)                         |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 4 = Manual and Automated QC     |
|        |             |            | (superficial; no automated      |
|        |             |            | time-sequence checks)           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 5 = Manual and Automated AC     |
|        |             |            | (superficial; including         |
|        |             |            | time-sequence checks)           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 6 = Manual and Automated QC     |
|        |             |            | (intensive; including           |
|        |             |            | time-sequence checks)           |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 7 = Not used                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 8 = Not used                    |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | 9 = National system of QC       |
|        |             |            | (information to be furnished to |
|        |             |            | WMO)                            |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            | The Ix indicator was initiated  |
|        |             |            | with 1982 WMO code change.      |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+
| 148    | Weather     | 1-6        |   -------------- -------------- |
|        | operation   |            |   **Station      **Weather      |
|        | type and    |            |   Operation**    Group**        |
|        | past and    |            |                                 |
|        | present     |            |   1 = Manned     Included       |
|        | weather     |            |                                 |
|        | indicator   |            |   2 = Manned     Omitted (no    |
|        | (Ix)        |            |                  significant    |
|        |             |            |                  weather to     |
|        |             |            |                  report)        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   3 = Manned     Omitted (not   |
|        |             |            |                  observed, data |
|        |             |            |                  not available) |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   4 = Automatic  Included       |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   5 = Automatic  Omitted (no    |
|        |             |            |                  significant    |
|        |             |            |                  weather to     |
|        |             |            |                  report)        |
|        |             |            |                                 |
|        |             |            |   6 = Automatic  Omitted (not   |
|        |             |            |                  observed, data |
|        |             |            |                  not available) |
|        |             |            |   -------------- -------------- |
+--------+-------------+------------+---------------------------------+

Characters in the data record other than those specified in this table
may occur. These are retained as original data and should be considered
missing (e.g., 9 or blank may occur for telecommunicated observations in
record position 148).

**3. [Start Date]{.underline}:** 18500101

**4. [Stop Date]{.underline}:** Ongoing

**5. [Coverage]{.underline}:** Global

> a\. Southernmost Latitude: 90^o^ S. Latitude
>
> b\. Northernmost Latitude: 90^o^ N. Latitude
>
> c\. Westernmost Longitude: 180^o^ E. Longitude
>
> d\. Easternmost Longitude: 180^o^ W. Longitude

**6. [How to Order Data]{.underline}:**

Ask NCDC's Climate Services about the cost of obtaining this data set.

Phone: 828-271-4800

FAX: 828-271-4876

E-mail: [**NCDC.Orders@noaa.gov**](mailto:NCDC.Orders@noaa.gov)

**7. [Archiving Data Center]{.underline}:**

National Climatic Data Center

Federal Building

151 Patton Avenue

Asheville, NC 28801-5001

Phone: (828) 271-4800**.**

**8. [Technical Contact]{.underline}:**

National Climatic Data Center

Federal Building

151 Patton Avenue

Asheville, NC 28801-5001

Phone: (828) 271-4800**.**

**9. [Known Uncorrected Problems]{.underline}:** Errors and
discrepancies in the marine data are present because of the varying
quality of the input sources, changes in observing practices, coding
practices and data processing procedures throughout the history of data
collection. Users of marine data should examine the element flags and be
aware on known discrepancies in certain source decks before selecting
observations for research projects. Whenever possible or economically
practical, known errors or discrepancies have been corrected in the data
files. The 1129 data from 1970 to present and the COADS data have been
reviewed extensively and most errors have been corrected. COADS data for
the 1970 decade replaced the 70's Decade data in the archive. Pre-1970
COADS data are provided to users unless they specify a different tape
deck when ordering.

**Errors and Discrepancies**

**Monterey -- Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center -- Deck 555**

From 1966-1973 the only available telecommunication source for marine
data was the Monterey data, deck 555. Comparison of data from this deck
with manuscript sources shows that temperatures are frequently .5ºC to
1.5ºC higher than temperatures form other sources. Limited reviews of
other weather elements in deck 555 indicate that they may also be
questionable. In addition, a significant amount of landlocked data
suggests possible location problems. Data from deck 555 should be used
with caution.

**Sea Temperature Indicator**

The sea surface temperature method indicator, bucket or intake, for US
ships was not well documented prior to April 1973. The indicator is
available only for manuscript reports and is frequently left blank.
Beginning in 1982, the indicator in B = bucket, I = Intake and blank =
unknown. Prior to 1982, blank meant Intake or unknown. Since intake or
injection temperature may be taken several meters below the surface
depending on the size and load of the ship, the temperature may vary
from the actual sea surface temperature.

**Wind Speed and Direction**

Wind speed has been estimated by the state of the sail and the state of
the sea, and measured by instruments. Scales have changed from Beaufort
to knots and meters per second. Similar estimates of direction based on
different compass code scales could cause biases or limited precision in
these measurements depending on data source and date of observation.

**Wave and Swell**

WMO code changes were initiated for these fields in July 1963 and
January 1968. Prior to July 1963, only the higher of sea or swell was
reported and placed in the sea wave field. Some countries made the
appropriate changes on the effective date while others continued with
old code for indefinite periods. Conversion procedure assumed that code
changes were made as specified when they may not have been made. Period
of wave and swell should be considered questionable, particularly for
foreign exchange data prior to 1968.

**NMC Time Blocks**

NMC source data (deck 890) are arranged in synoptic time blocks, 00Z,
06Z, 12 Z and 18Z. Time is reported in hundredths of hours. The 00Z
block contains data from 20.50 hours on the previous day to 02.99 hours
on the current day. The day is given in a separate header record at the
beginning of each block.

When the NMC conversion programs were written, only synoptic time ship
data reported in whole hours was provided. Data reported at 2100, 2200
and 2300 hours were assigned to the previous day. Beginning about 1980,
off-hourly observation times from buoy, coastal marine automated
stations (C-MAN) and occasionally research vessels were entered in the
NMC records. Observations for hours 20.50 through 20.99 were located in
the 00Z time block and were truncated on conversion to 2000 hours (hour
20 in 1129 format). Since the hour was before 2100, the day in the
header was not decremented. The result is that any observation from NMC
with a time between 20.50 and 20.99 will have the wrong date, one day
later than the correct date.

In October 1985 the conversion program was changed to round the time to
the nearest hour before assigning the correct date. Data prior to the
August 85 data month will have the 20Z observation misplaced by one day
for deck 890 if the original input time was 20.50 to 20.99. Regular ship
observations reported at 2000 will have the proper day.

**Conversion of Call Sign to SHIP**

The NMC call sign field is 6 characters. Other input sources have 7
character call sign fields. This difference was overlooked when
conversion programs were written. The NMC conversion program checked the
5^th^ position of the filed and if blank, the filed was accepted as a
legitimate 4 character call. If the 5^th^ position was not blank, the
6^th^ and 7^th^ positions were checked. The 7^th^ position was actually
the first position of the next NMC filed (time) and was not blank. The
conversion program assumed that there was an embedded blank in the call
sign (position 6) and converted the call to SHIP.

Any five character call sign in the original NMC data, principally buoy
and C-MAN stations, was changed to SHIP on conversion. Since most of
these data are replaced with the data from NDBC, only a very small
amount of call sign information was lost. This occurred in October 1985
to accept any call sign given in the input data field. When
telecommunicated data are garbled or when Navy does not wish the ship
call to be known, the identification SHIP is entered in the original
call field. Other identification such as NNXX, PLAT and BUOY may be
entered in the original call field by various sources. NCDC passes
whatever call is provided on input to the 1129 format without alteration
beginning with July 1985 data.

**10. [Quality Statement]{.underline}:**

**11. [Essential Companion Datasets]{.underline}:** None.

**12. [References]{.underline}:** No information provided with original
documentation.

**Appendix**

**Temperature Indicators**

There are 2 temperature indicators n the 1129 format. Position 45
indicates that temperature data in 1129 format are recorded in Celsius
degrees. The precision of the original input data is also indicated. For
example, a temperature indicator 3 (position 45) means original data
were recorded to whole degrees in Celsius. If the original value were
25ºC, the 1129 value would be 25.0ºC.

Position 99 is the original temperature units indicator and identifies
the scale and precision of the original data. Indicator codes 1, 3 and 5
(Celsius) are the same for positions 45 and 99. Original units indicator
codes 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8 are converted to tenths of degrees Celsius in
1129 and position 45 is set to 1.

**A.2 Codes**

Most of the codes used in the marine processing system and 1129 format
are according to WMO regulations. Exceptions are quadrant, the use of a
minus sign (-) in all cases where WMO uses a solidus (/) and quality
control flags. Codes used in 1129 format are given in Table 2.

**A.3 Flags (NCDC Quality Indicators)**

The quality control computer program automatically assigns flags for
missing, suspect and erroneous data elements. In 1129 format, flags are
located in record positions 125-138. Marine observations are checked for
illegal codes, internal consistency, time continuity and extreme values.
Original values are not changes. Flags assigned are:

  ----------------------- --------------------------- ------------- ---------------
  **Errors**              **Systematic or bias        **Suspect**   **Erroneous**
                          error**                                   

  Illegal code            A\*                                       M

  Internal Consistency    B                           J             N

  Time continuity                                     K             

  Extreme value                                       L             Q
  ----------------------- --------------------------- ------------- ---------------

\*For cloud fields, flag A indicates cloud types, cloud height, total
cloud and/or cloud amount have failed the internal consistency check.

In checking an element for exceeding a reasonable value, climatic data
consisting of means and standard deviations were derived using 5º
latitude-longitude squares which contained at least 25 observations.
Standard deviations were computed for air, wet-bulb, dew-point and sea
temperature, and sea level pressure. If a value lies outside X ± 4.8
standard deviations, it is flagged suspect. If the value lies outside X
± 5.8 standard deviations, it is flagged erroneous. A flagged element
which is flagged again as a result of a second test retains the flag
indicating the highest severity. A flagged element is not used in
determining if another element should be flagged. Elements accepted as
correct are flagged R and missing elements are flagged S.

The ship position flag is set to M when the latitude exceeds 90.0º or
the longitude exceeds 180.0º. All numeric fields are flagged M when
non-numeric characters occur. Ship call, year, month, day and hour are
compared and when these elements are equal for 2 or more observations
but the latitude and longitude differ, the ship positions are flagged K.
Positions on land, land-locked data are flagged M.

"Time continuity checks (track checks) are performed on temperature (wet
bulb, dry bulb, dew point and sea surface), pressure and position. When
questionable data are encountered, it is often difficult to determine
exactly which data in the series are in error. Because the check is
performed sequentially and the K flag is set based on the value of the
immediately preceding record, the K flag will not precisely identify the
questionable element is all cases. The K flag indicated that one or more
observations preceding or following the flagged observation in time
sequence may be in error. The flagged observation may or may not be in
error. An R flag may indicate that no track was possible and the element
was accepted as reported"