BUFR TABLE D - THE CATEGORY AND DEFINITION OF DATA SEQUENCES USED BY THE NCEP OBSERVATIONAL DATABASE AND PREPBUFR AND PREPFITS FILES

INCLUDES DATA SEQUENCES WHICH REPRESENT TABLE A DATA CATEGORIES

INCLUDES WMO AND LOCAL (NCEP) DESCRIPTORS AS WELL AS THOSE AWAITING VALIDATION BY THE WMO
(WMO DESCRIPTORS OPERATIONAL AS OF 02 NOVEMBER 2005)

LATEST REVISION IS 04/15/2008

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FONT CODE:

Bold face: Data sequences which represent a Table A descriptor (first character always “A”)

Normal face: Data sequences which represent a Table D descriptor (first character always “3”)

COLOR/UNDERLINE CODE:
 

Orange: This is a conflict. Descriptor in italics is proposed to be moved. Descriptor not in italics is proposed to remain in this location. Mnemonic is not changed. (If more than one descriptor is not in italics then neither has YET been proposed to be moved.)

Green: Proposed location to move a descriptor that has a conflict (moved from location in orange italics or purple – mnemonic is not changed).

Pink italics: This is a local descriptor that can be moved to a standard descriptor.

Blue italics: This is a mnemonic conflict.

Red underline: This descriptor must not be changed.

Brown: For WMO Table D descriptors: This is awaiting validation by the WMO or has pre-operational status (last updated by the WMO 01/2007).

Purple: Standard sequence that is defined incorrectly.

Light gray: Future entry.

Teal:                 This is a WMO CREX Table D descriptor (the F value is set to "D").  If in italics it is awaiting validation by the WMO or has pre-operational status (last updated                               by the WMO 01/2007).

OTHER CODES:

In “Description” column:

PREPBUFR: PREPBUFR file

PREPFITS: PREPFITS file

MODSBUFR: MODSBUFR file

In “Mnemonic” column:

A mnemonic inside of square brackets (i.e., [ NCmmmsss ] or [ FNmmmsss ] ) indicates a Table A entry found in a foreign BUFR table. This mnemonic may duplicate one found in an NCEP BUFR table ( [ NCmmmsss ] only) but it cannot be changed because the foreign producer is using message type mmm and subtype sss.

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LINKS:

BUFR TABLE A

BUFR TABLE B – WMO AND LOCAL (NCEP) DESCRIPTORS AS WELL AS THOSE AWAITING VALIDATION BY THE WMO

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BUFR Table D – Category of sequences

(local elements in italics)

F	X	Category	Comments
3	00	BUFR table entries sequences	Used to build internal BUFR tables
3	01	Location and identification sequences	None
3	02	Meteorological sequences common to surface data	None
3	03	Meteorological sequences common to vertical soundings data	None
3	04	Meteorological sequences common to satellite observations	None
3	05	Meteorological or hydrological sequences common to hydrological observations	None
3	06	Meteorological or oceanographic sequences common to oceanographic observations	None
3	07	Surface report sequences (land)	None
3	08	Surface report sequences (sea)	None
3	09	Vertical sounding sequences (conventional data)	None
3	10	Vertical sounding sequences (satellite data)	None
3	11	Single level report sequences (conventional data)	None
3	12	Single level report sequences (satellite data)	None
3	13	Sequences common to image data	None
3	14	Reserved	None
3	15	Oceanographic report sequences	None
3	16	Synoptic feature sequences	None
3	18	Radiological report sequences	None
3	21	Radar report sequences	None
D	35	Monitoring Information	None
3	40	Additional satellite report sequences	None
3	48	PREPBUFR/PREPFITS data sequences	All Table D and NCEP/Table A  entries in PREPBUFR files; All NCEP/Table A  entries in PREPFITS files
3	49	Foreign Table A entries	None
3	50	Miscellaneous	All Table D and NCEP/Table A entries in MODSBUFR files; All Table D entries for mesonet data types; All Table D entries for TAMDAR aircraft data types; Table D entries for AIRS and AVHRR data types; NCEP/Table A entries for the following data types: AIRS 1B (every, center f-o-v), AMSR-E
3	51	Miscellaneous	NCEP/Table A entry for WMO Resolution 40 restricted synoptic land data type
3	52	Miscellaneous	Table D entries common to many data  types (bulletin id. raw report. receipt time, filename sequence); Table D entries for GPS-RO type; NCEP/Table A entries for RASS (CAP, NPN) and wind profiler (CAP, JMA, Hong Kong, European) data types
3	53	PREPFITS data sequences	All Table D entries in PREPFITS files
3	54	Scratch area reserved for NCEP BUFR Library software use	Reserved
3	55	Miscellaneous	All NCEP/Table A entries for mesonet data types; NCEP/Table A entries for aircraft data types (E-ADAS, ACARS via ARINC, TAMDAR, Canadian/Korean AMDAR)
3	56	Miscellaneous	All NCEP/Table A entries for EARS data types; NCEP/Table A entry and all Table D entries for SHEF-format data types (complete set of products)
3	58	NEXRAD Level II radar data sequences	All Table D and NCEP/Table A entries for NEXRAD Level II radial wind and reflectivity data types
3	60	Miscellaneous	All Table D entries reserved for use within NCEP BUFR Library software; All NCEP/Table A entries for model sounding profile data types (ETA, RUC, NGM, GFS)
3	61	Miscellaneous	Table D entries for following data types: surface land (METAR,  SCD, SYNOPS), marine  (BATHY, TRAKOB, ships, buoys, platforms, USGS river/stream, etc.), radiosonde, SSM/I, wind profiler, VAD wind, NEXRAD Level II.2 and Level III radial wind, GOES sounding, ERS, AMSR-E, IASI, TOVS/RTOVS/ATOVS retrieval, AIRNOW; NCEP/Table A entries for following data types: SYNOP mobile, JMA satellite-winds (IR, visible, water vapor - BUFR), PILOT format wind profiler, SSM/I (brightness temps,  products), GPS-IPW, GPS-RO, NPN/CAP spectral moments, ERS (SAR, scatterometer, radar altimeter), SST (NAVY, NESDIS), QuikSCAT, WindSat (NAVY, NESDIS), ASCAT, ATOVS/RTOVS retrievals, RTOVS 1B (HIRS-2, MSU), ATOVS 1B (HIRS-3, AMSU-A, AMSU-B, MHS, HIRS-4), AVHRR 1B, AIRS 1B (warmest/clearest f-o-v), IASI, TRMM/TMI, BATHY, TESAC, TRACKOB, NAVOCEANO (GFO, JASON, ERS, TOPEX, ALPS), NLSA (GFO, ERS, TOPEX), AVHRR, GOES imager radiances
3	62	Miscellaneous	Table D entries for following data types: model sounding profile, aircraft (ACARS, AIREP, PIREP, RECCO, AMDAR),  satellite-derived winds, SHEF-format (AFOS products only), RASS, profiler moment, wind profiler (Japan, Hong Kong); NCEP/Table A entries for the following data types: synoptic features (tropical storms), ozone (SBUV, GOME), AIRNOW, AIRNOW (PREPBUFR), Ozone sonde, GOES/GTS satellite-derived wind (IR, water vapor, visible, 3.9 micron), NEXRAD Level II.5, USGS river/stream
3	63	Miscellaneous	Table D entries for PREPBUFR event-producing programs (reserved for Y=001 – 099); NCEP/Table A entries for the following data types: Marine (USCG, tide gauge, ship, buoy, sea-level pressure bogus), upper-air (raobs, PIBALs, drops), surface land (METAR, SYNOP), GOES satellite-derived winds from NESDIS servers (IR, water vapor, visible, picture triplet), JMA satellite-derived winds (IR, water vapor, visible – SATOB format), EUMETSAT satellite-derived winds (IR, water vapor, visible, SATOB and BUFR formats), MODIS winds (IR, water vapor), NESDIS/GMS satellite-derived winds (IR, water vapor), INSAT satellite-derived winds (IR, water vapor, visible), NEXRAD Level III radial winds, TOVS/RTOVS soundings, aircraft (AIREP,PIREP, AMDAR, ACARS from ARINC), GOES soundings profiler surface (NPN, CAP), NPN wind profiler, VAD winds

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Class 00 - BUFR table entries sequence

TABLE A/D DESCRIPTOR	DESCRIPTION	TABLE B/C/D AND REPLICATION COMPONENTS	MNEMONIC
3-00-002	Table A category	0-00-002 0-00-003	TABLACAT
3-00-003	F, X and Y part descriptors	0-00-010 0-00-011 0-00-012	FXYDESCR
3-00-004	Element name, units name, scale sign, scale, reference sign, reference value, data width	3-00-003 0-00-013 0-00-014 0-00-015 0-00-016 0-00-017 0-00-018 0-00-019 0-00-020	ELUNSCRW
3-00-010	Table D descriptor to be defined, delayed replication, descriptor	3-00-003 1-01-000 0-31-001 0-00-030	DELAYREP

Class 01 - Location and identification sequences

TABLE A/D DESCRIPTOR	DESCRIPTION	TABLE B/C/D AND REPLICATION COMPONENTS	MNEMONIC
3-01-001	WMO block and station number	0-01-001 0-01-002	WMOBLKST
3-01-002	WMO region number/sub-area, buoy/platform identifier	0-01-003 0-01-004 0-01-005	WMORGPLT
3-01-003	Ship's call sign, direction and speed of moving observing platform	0-01-011 0-01-012 0-01-013	SHIPCSDS
3-01-004	Surface station identification	0-01-001 0-01-002 0-01-015 0-02-001	SFCSTNID
3-01-005	Station identification and time	0-01-035 0-01-034	STNIDTIM
3-01-011	Year, month, day	0-04-001 0-04-002 0-04-003	YYMMDD
3-01-012	Hour, minute	0-04-004 0-04-005	HHMM
3-01-013	Hour, minute, second	0-04-004 0-04-005 0-04-006	HHMMSS
3-01-014	Time period	1-02-002 3-01-011 3-01-012	TIMEPERD
3-01-021	Latitude/longitude (high accuracy)	0-05-001 0-06-001	LTLONH
3-01-022	Latitude/longitude (high accuracy), height of station	0-05-002 0-06-001 0-07-001	LTLONHHT
3-01-023	Latitude/longitude (coarse accuracy)	0-05-002 0-06-002	LTLONC
3-01-024	Latitude/longitude (coarse accuracy), height of station	0-05-002 0-06-002 0-07-001	LALOLV
3-01-025	Latitude/longitude (coarse accuracy), day, time	3-01-023 0-04-003 3-01-012	LTLONCDT
3-01-026	Latitude/longitude (high accuracy); time period in days, hours and minutes	3-01-021 0-04-003 0-04-003 0-04-004 0-04-004 0-04-005 0-04-005	LTLONHTP
3-01-027	Description of a feature in 3-D or in 2-D, in the last case replication = 1	0-08-007 1-01-000 0-31-001 3-01-028 0-08-007	DESCFEAT
3-01-028	Horizontal section of a feature described as a polygon or a line or a point; in the last case replication = 1	0-08-040 0-33-042 0-07-010 1-01-000 0-31-002 3-01-023 0-19-007 0-08-040	FEATPOLY
D-01-029	Identification	B-01-018 B-02-001 D-01-011	IDENTIFN
D-01-030	Identification - with physical location	B-10-018 B-02-001 D-01-011 D-01-024	IDENTLOC
3-01-031	WMO block and station number, type of station, date, time, latitude/longitude (high accuracy), height of station	3-01-001 0-02-001 3-01-011 3-01-012 3-01-022	IDTIMLOH
3-01-032	WMO block and station number, type of station, date, time, latitude/longitude (coarse accuracy), height of station	3-01-001 0-02-001 3-01-011 3-01-012 3-01-024	IDTIMLOC
3-01-033	Buoy/platform - fixed (latitude/longitude - high accuracy)	0-01-005 0-02-001 3-01-011 3-01-012 3-01-021	BUOYPLTH
3-01-034	Buoy/platform - fixed (latitude/longitude - coarse accuracy)	0-01-005 0-02-001 3-01-011 3-01-012 3-01-023	BUOYPLTC
3-01-035	Buoy/platform - moving	0-01-005 0-01-012 0-01-013 0-02-001 3-01-011 3-01-012 3-01-023	BUOYPLTM
3-01-036	Ship	3-01-003 0-02-001 3-01-011 3-01-012 3-01-023	SHIPSEQ1
3-01-037	Land station for vertical soundings (latitude/longitude - high accuracy)	3-01-001 0-02-011 0-02-012 3-01-011 3-01-012 3-01-022	LDSTNVSH
3-01-038	Land station for vertical soundings (latitude/longitude - coarse accuracy)	3-01-001 0-02-011 0-02-012 3-01-011 3-01-012 3-01-024	LDSTNVSC
3-01-039	Ship for vertical soundings	3-01-003 0-02-011 0-02-012 3-01-011 3-01-012 3-01-023	SHIPVSND
3-01-040	Ship's call sign and motion, radiosonde type and computational method, date, time, latitude/longitude (coarse accuracy)	3-01-003 0-02-011 0-02-012 3-01-011 3-01-012 3-01-024	SHIPCALL
3-01-041	Satellite identifier, satellite instrument data used in processing, satellite data processing technique used, date, time	0-01-007 0-02-021 0-02-022 3-01-011 3-01-012	SAIDTIME
3-01-042	Satellite identifier, satellite instrument data used in processing, satellite data processing technique used, latitude/longitude (high accuracy)	3-01-041 3-01-21	SAIDLALO
3-01-043	Satellite identifier, cloud motion computational method, date, time, latitude/longitude (high accuracy)	0-01-007 0-02-023 3-01-011 3-01-013 3-01-021	SAIDCMCM
3-01-044	Satellite identifier, integrated mean humidity computational method, date, time, latitude/longitude (high accuracy)	0-01-007 0-02-004 3-01-011 3-01-013 3-01-021	SAIDIMHU
3-01-045	Satellite location and velocity	3-01-011 3-01-012 2-01-138 2-02-131 0-04-006 2-01-000 2-02-000 3-04-030 3-04-031	SATLOVEL
3-01-046	Satellite identifier, direction of motion of moving observing platform, satellite sensor identifier, wind scatterometer geophysical model function, software identification, cross- and along-track resolution, orbit number	0-01-007 0-01-012 0-02-048 0-21-119 0-25-060 2-02-124 0-02-026 0-02-027 2-02-000 0-05-040	SAIDDMOP
3-01-047	ERS product header	0-01-007 0-25-060 0-01-033 0-01-034 0-01-012 3-01-045 0-02-021 3-01-011 3-01-012 2-01-138 2-02-131 0-04-006 2-01-000 2-02-000 3-01-023	ERSPRODH
3-01-048	Radar parameters	0-02-104 0-02-121 0-02-113 0-02-026 0-02-027 0-02-111 0-02-140 2-02-127 0-01-013 2-02-126 0-07-001 2-02-000 0-25-010 0-21-064	RADARPRM
3-01-049	Radar beam data	0-02-111 0-02-112 0-21-062 0-21-063 0-21-065	RADARBMD
3-01-051	Aircraft flight number, navigational system, date, time, latitude/longitude (high accuracy), phase of aircraft flight	0-01-006 0-02-061 3-01-011 3-01-012 3-01-021 0-08-004	ACFTSEQN
3-01-055	Buoy/platform identifier, type of station, date, time, latitude/longitude (high accuracy), direction of motion of moving observing platform, platform drift speed (high accuracy)	0-01-005 0-02-001 3-01-011 3-01-012 3-01-021 0-01-012 0-01-014	BUOYSEQN
3-01-062	Radar location(s)	1-01-000 0-31-001 3-01-001	RADARLOC
3-01-065	ACARS identification	0-01-006 0-01-008 0-02-001 0-02-002 0-02-005 0-02-062 0-02-070 0-02-065	ACARID
3-01-066	ACARS location	3-01-011 3-01-013 3-01-023 0-07-004 0-02-064 0-08-004	ACARLO
D-01-070	Ozone instrumentation -Brewer spectrophotometer	B-02-143 B-02-142 B-02-144	OZONBREW
3-01-071	Satellite identifier/Generating resolution	0-01-007 0-01-031 0-02-020 0-02-028 0-02-029	SIDGRSEQ
3-01-072	Satellite identification	3-01-071 3-01-011 3-01-013 3-01-021	SIDENSEQ
D-01-074	Ozone instrumentation -Dobson spectrophotometer	B-02-143 B-02-142 B-02-145 B-02-146	OZONDOBS
D-01-075	Sounding identification	D-01-001 B-01-015 D-01-024 B-08-021 D-01-011 D-01-012	SNDIDENT
D-01-076	Ozone sounding instrumentation	B-02-011 B-02-143 B-02-142	OZSNDINS
3-01-090	Fixed surface station identification; time, horizontal and vertical coordinates	3-01-004 3-01-011 3-01-012 3-01-021 0-07-030 0-07-031 0-08-010 3-01-091 3-02-001 0-10-062 0-07-004 0-10-009 3-02-072 1-01-005 3-07-063 3-02-069 0-07-032 0-07-033 0-20-031 0-20-032 0-02-038 0-22-043 3-02-021 3-02-078 0-12-113 3-02-004 1-05-004 0-08-002 0-20-011 0-20-012 0-33-041 0-20-013 3-02-036 3-02-047 0-08-002 3-02-048 0-20-003 1-03-002 0-04-025 0-20-004 0-20-005 3-02-075 0-04-025 3-02-076 0-04-025 0-13-059 0-07-032 0-07-033 0-08-021 0-04-025 0-11-001 0-11-002 0-08-021 1-03-003 0-04-025 0-11-043 0-11-041 0-04-025 0-11-016 0-11-017 0-07-032 0-07-033 1-06-002 0-04-024 0-04-024 0-12-111 0-04-024 0-04-024 0-12-112 0-07-032 0-04-025 0-12-112 0-07-033 0-07-032 0-02-175 0-02-178 1-02-004 0-04-024 0-13-011 0-07-032 0-02-185 1-01-002 3-02-044 1-01-002 3-02-039 1-01-002 3-02-045 3-02-046 3-02-083 0-33-005 0-33-006	SFIDTIME
3-01-091	Surface station instrumentation	0-02-180 0-02-181 0-02-182 0-02-183 0-02-184 0-02-179 0-02-186 0-02-187 0-02-188 0-02-189	SFCSTNIN
3-01-092	Mobile surface station identification, time, horizontal and vertical coordinates	0-01-011 0-01-033 0-02-001 3-01-011 3-01-012 3-01-021 0-07-030 0-07-031 0-33-024	MOBIDENT
3-01-093	Ship identification, movement, type, date/time, horizontal and vertical coordinates	3-01-036 0-07-030 0-07-031	SHPIDENT
3-01-110	Identification of launch site and instrumentation for wind measurements	3-01-001 0-01-011 0-02-011 0-02-014 0-02-003	IDLSIWDM
3-01-111	Identification of launch site and instrumentation for P, T, U and wind measurements	3-01-001 0-01-011 0-02-011 0-02-013 0-02-014 0-02-003	IDLSIPTM
3-01-112	Identification of launch point and instrumentation of dropwinsonde	0-01-006 0-02-011 0-02-013 0-02-014 0-02-003	IDLPIDRP
3-01-113	Date/time of launch	0-08-021 3-01-011 3-01-013	DATETMLN
3-01-114	Horizontal and vertical coordinates of launch site	3-01-021 0-07-030 0-07-031 0-07-007 0-33-024	HAVCOLS
3-01-120	Radiosonde abbreviated header and launch information	3-01-001 0-01-094 0-02-011 3-01-121	RAOBHLIN
3-01-121	Radiosonde launch point location	0-08-041 3-01-122 3-01-021 0-07-031 0-07-007	RAOBLPTL
3-01-122	Date/time (to hundredths of a second)	3-01-011 3-01-012 2-01-135 2-02-130 0-04-006 2-02-000 2-01-000	DATETIME
3-01-123	Radiosonde full header information	1-02-002 0-08-041 0-01-062 3-01-001 0-01-094 0-02-011 0-01-018 0-01-095 0-25-061 0-25-068 0-01-082 0-01-083 0-01-081 0-02-067 0-02-066 0-02-014 0-25-067 0-25-065 0-25-066 0-02-095 0-02-096 0-02-097 0-02-016 0-02-083 0-02-080 0-02-081 0-01-093 0-02-084 0-02-085 0-02-086 0-02-082 0-08-041 3-01-011	RAOBHEAD
3-01-125	ASCAT header information	0-01-033 0-01-034 0-25-060 0-01-007 0-02-019 0-01-012	ASCATHDR
CLAS