Table 4.  Code table for PREPBUFR report types used by Regional NAM and NDAS GSI analyses (last revised 04/04/2008).
 

Key:

     In the "Report Type" column, a  GREEN report type means that report type can be found in the PREPBUFR file.  A RED report type means that report type is currently never found in the PREPBUFR file.

     In the "Description" and "Note" columns, observation types are designated as follows:
          p - vertical coordinate pressure
          Pstn - station (surface) pressure
          PWl - layer precipitable water
          PWt - total column precipitable water
          q - specific humidity
          rr - rain rate
          sst - sea-surface temperature
          Tb - brightness temperature
          Ts - sensible (dry bulb) temperature
          Tv - virtual temperature
          u, v - u- and v-components of wind
          wspd - wind speed
          z - vertical coordinate height
          
     In the "Note" column, GREEN lines refer to observation types that end up being used by the assimilating analysis, BLUE lines refer to observation types that end up being monitored (but not actually used) by the assimilating analysis, and RED lines refer to observation types (or entire reports) that are not used by the assimilating analysis due to the reason(s) given (they may, however, be monitored). BLACK lines refer to informational material.
   
     
MASS REPORTS
Report Type PREPBUFR Message Type Description Note
111 SYNDAT SYNTHETIC (BOGUS) TROPICAL CYCLONE STORM CENTER - q, Pstn q, Pstn monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI

Added to PREPBUFR file by later program SYNDAT_SYNDATA.
120 ADPUPA RAWINSONDE - Tv, q, Pstn, sst Tv, q, Pstn used by assimilation

sst monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
122 ADPUPA CLASS SOUNDING - Tv, q, Pstn Entire report tossed by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
126 RASSDA RASS [FROM NOAA PROFILER NETWORK (NPN) OR COOPERATIVE AGENCY PROFILER (CAP) NETWORK]  - Tv Tv monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
130 AIRCFT AIREP AND PIREP AIRCRAFT - Ts Ts used by assimilation
131 AIRCFT ASDAR AIRCRAFT - Ts Ts used by assimilation
132 ADPUPA FLIGHT-LEVEL RECONNAISSANCE AND PROFILE DROPSONDE - Tv, q, Pstn q from non-U.S. dropsondes, Pstn (and surface level Tv, q) flagged for non-use by assimilation by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards

Tv (above surface), q [reccos and U.S. (NOAA Gulf Stream and P-3 and USAF) dropsondes] used by assimilation

q from non-U.S. dropsondes (at all levels), Tv (at surface), q (at surface, all types) and Pstn monitored by assimilation due to their being flagged by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
133 AIRCAR MDCRS ACARS AIRCRAFT - Ts, q Ts used by assimilation

q monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
134 AIRCFT TAMDAR AIRCRAFT - Ts, q Ts, q monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
135 AIRCFT CANADIAN AMDAR AIRCRAFT - Ts Ts monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
150 SPSSMI SSM/I SUPEROBED (1 DEGREE LAT/LON) FNMOC (OPERATIONAL) RAIN RATE (DMSP) - rr Not reprocessed into spssmi dump file (switch not set in PREPOBS_PREPSSMI parm cards)
151 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V CLOUD TOP PRESSURE, TEMPERATURE; CLOUD AMOUNT (GOES) Not dumped
152 SPSSMI SSM/I SUPEROBED (1 DEGREE LAT/LON) FNMOC (OPERATIONAL) PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER OCEAN (DMSP) - PWt PWt monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
153 GPSIPW GPS-INTEGRATED PRECIPITABLE WATER (GPS-IPW) - PWt PWt used by assimilation
156 GOESND NESDIS 5x5 F-O-V 4-LAYER PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER LAND - CLEAR (GOES) - PWl PWl monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
157 GOESND NESDIS 5x5 F-O-V 4-LAYER PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER LAND - CLOUDY (GOES) - PWl PWl monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM_GSI
158 GOESND NESDIS 5x5 F-O-V 4-LAYER PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER OCEAN - CLEAR (GOES) - PWl Entire report tossed by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
159 GOESND NESDIS 5x5 F-O-V 4-LAYER PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER OCEAN - CLOUDY (GOES) - PWl Entire report tossed by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
164 GOESND NESDIS 5x5 F-O-V RADIANCES OVER LAND - CLEAR (GOES) - Tb Entire report tossed by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
165 GOESND NESDIS 5x5 F-O-V RADIANCES OVER LAND - CLOUDY (GOES) - Tb Entire report tossed by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
174 GOESND NESDIS 5x5 F-O-V RADIANCES OVER OCEAN - CLEAR (GOES) - Tb Tb from GOES-11 and GOES-12 monitored by assimilation by switch in satinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
175 GOESND NESDIS 5x5 F-O-V RADIANCES OVER OCEAN - CLOUDY (GOES) - Tb Tb from GOES-11 and GOES-12 monitored by assimilation by switch in satinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
180 SFCSHP SURFACE MARINE WITH REPORTED STATION PRESSURE (SHIP, BUOY, C-MAN, TIDE GAUGE) - Tv, q, Pstn, sst Tv, q, Pstn used by assimilation

sst monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
181 ADPSFC SURFACE LAND (SYNOPTIC, METAR) WITH REPORTED STATION PRESSURE - Tv, q, Pstn, sst Tv, q, Pstn used by assimilation

sst monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
182 SFCSHP SPLASH-LEVEL DROPSONDE OVER OCEAN - Tv, q, Pstn Tv, q, Pstn used by assimilation
183 ADPSFC,
SFCSHP
SURFACE MARINE (SHIP, BUOY, C-MAN, TIDE GAUGE) OR LAND (SYNOPTIC, METAR) WITH MISSING STATION PRESSURE - Tv, q, Pstn, sst Tv, q used by assimilation

Pstn, sst monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI

Altimeter setting is also missing (always the case for synoptic).  Station pressure calculated from reported mean sea-level pressure and elevation via U.S. Standard Atmosphere approximation.  Elevation is greater than 7.5 meters (if less than 7.5 meters, station pressure set equal to sea-level pressure and report type set to 181).
187 ADPSFC SURFACE LAND (METAR) WITH MISSING STATION PRESSURE - Tv, q, Pstn, sst Tv, q, Pstn used by assimilation

sst monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI

Altimeter setting is reported (never the case for synoptic). Station pressure calculated from reported altimeter setting and elevation.
188 MSONET SURFACE MESONET - Tv, q, Pstn Tv, q, Pstn monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
191 SFCBOG AUSTRALIAN PAOB MEAN SEA-LEVEL PRESSURE BOGUS OVER OCEAN - Pstn Not dumped

  

WIND REPORTS
Report Type PREPBUFR Message Type Description Note
210 SYNDAT SYNTHETIC (BOGUS) TROPICAL CYCLONE - u, v u, v used by assimilation

Added to PREPBUFR file by later program SYNDAT_SYNDATA.
220 ADPUPA RAWINSONDE - u, v (all levels), z (winds-by-height levels) u, v used by assimilation

p (vertical coordinate) calculated from z on winds-by-height levels.
221 ADPUPA PIBAL - u, v, z u, v used by assimilation

p (vertical coordinate) calculated from z.
222 ADPUPA CLASS SOUNDING - u, v Entire report tossed by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
223 PROFLR NOAA PROFILER NETWORK (NPN) WIND PROFILER - u, v, z u, v used by assimilation

p (vertical coordinate) calculated from z.
224 VADWND NEXRAD VERTICAL AZIMUTH DISPLAY (VAD) - u, v, z u, v used by assimilation

p (vertical coordinate) calculated from z.
227 PROFLR COOPERATIVE AGENCY PROFILER (CAP) - u, v, z Not tanked in /dcom (need to get them via GSD/MADIS)
228 PROFLR JAPANESE METEROLOGICAL AGENCY (JMA) WIND PROFILER - u, v, z Not dumped
229 PROFLR WIND PROFILER DECODED FROM PILOT (PIBAL) BULLETINS - u, v, z u, v used by assimilation

p (vertical coordinate) calculated from z.
230 AIRCFT AIREP AND PIREP AIRCRAFT - u, v u, v used by assimilation
231 AIRCFT ASDAR AIRCRAFT - u, v u, v used by assimilation
232 ADPUPA FLIGHT-LEVEL RECONNAISSANCE AND PROFILE DROPSONDE - u, v u, v used by assimilation
233 AIRCAR MDCRS ACARS AIRCRAFT - u, v u, v used by assimilation
234 AIRCFT TAMDAR AIRCRAFT - u, v u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
235 AIRCFT CANADIAN AMDAR AIRCRAFT - u, v u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
241 SATWND INDIA IR AND VISIBLE CLOUD DRIFT (ALL LEVELS) (INSAT, KALPANA) - u, v Not dumped
242 SATWND JMA IR AND VISIBLE CLOUD DRIFT AT LEVELS BELOW 850 MB (GMS, MTSAT) - u, v u, v used by assimilation
243 SATWND EUMETSAT IR AND VISIBLE CLOUD DRIFT AT LEVELS BELOW 850 MB (METEOSAT) - u, v u, v (from METEOSAT-7 only) used by assimilation

u, v from METEOSAT-9 flagged for non-use by assimilation by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards

u, v (from METEOSAT-9 only) monitored by assimilation due to its being flagged by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
245 SATWND NESDIS IR CLOUD DRIFT (ALL LEVELS) (GOES) - u, v u, v used by assimilation
246 SATWND NESDIS IMAGER WATER VAPOR (ALL LEVELS) - CLOUD TOP (GOES) - u, v u, v used by assimilation
247 SATWND NESDIS IMAGER WATER VAPOR (ALL LEVELS) - DEEP LAYER (GOES) - u, v Entire report tossed by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
248 SATWND NESDIS SOUNDER WATER VAPOR (ALL LEVELS) - CLOUD TOP (GOES) - u, v Not dumped
249 SATWND NESDIS SOUNDER WATER VAPOR (ALL LEVELS) - DEEP LAYER (GOES) - u, v Not dumped
250 SATWND JMA IMAGER WATER VAPOR (ALL LEVELS) (GMS, MTSAT) - u, v u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
251 SATWND NESDIS VISIBLE CLOUD DRIFT (ALL LEVELS) (GOES) - u, v u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
252 SATWND JMA IR AND VISIBLE CLOUD DRIFT AT LEVELS ABOVE 850 MB (GMS, MTSAT) - u, v u, v used by assimilation
253 SATWND EUMETSAT IR AND VISIBLE CLOUD DRIFT AT LEVELS ABOVE 850 MB (METEOSAT) - u, v u, v (from METEOSAT-7 only) used by assimilation

u, v from METEOSAT-9 flagged for non-use by assimilation by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards

u, v (from METEOSAT-9 only) monitored by assimilation due to its being flagged by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
254 SATWND EUMETSAT IMAGER WATER VAPOR (ALL LEVELS) (METEOSAT) - u, v u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
255 SATWND NESDIS PICTURE TRIPLET CLOUD DRIFT (LOW LEVELS) (GOES) No longer produced by NESDIS
256 SATWND INDIA IMAGER WATER VAPOR (ALL LEVELS) (INSAT, KALPANA) - u, v Not yet available from India
257 SATWND MODIS/POES IR CLOUD DRIFT (ALL LEVELS) (AQUA, TERRA) - u, v u, v used by assimilation
258 SATWND MODIS/POES IMAGER WATER VAPOR (ALL LEVELS) - CLOUD TOP (AQUA, TERRA) - u, v u,v (entire report) at and below 600 mb flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

u, v above 600 used by assimilation

u,v at and below 600 mb monitored by assimilation due to its having a missing obs error

259 SATWND MODIS/POES IMAGER WATER VAPOR (ALL LEVELS) - DEEP LAYER (AQUA, TERRA) - u, v u,v (entire report) at and below 600 mb flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

u, v above 600 used by assimilation

u,v at and below 600 mb monitored by assimilation due to its having a missing obs error
280 SFCSHP SURFACE MARINE WITH REPORTED STATION PRESSURE (SHIP, BUOY, C-MAN, TIDE GAUGE) - u, v u, v used by assimilation
281 ADPSFC SURFACE LAND (SYNOPTIC, METAR) WITH REPORTED STATION PRESSURE - u, v u, v used by assimilation
282 SFCSHP ATLAS BUOY - u, v u, v used by assimilation

Reported station pressure and mean sea-level pressure BOTH missing.  Station pressure is set to 1013 mb.  Elevation is less than or equal to 7.5 meters.
283 SPSSMI SSM/I SUPEROBED (1 DEGREE LAT/LON) FNMOC (OPERATIONAL) WIND SPEED OVER OCEAN - u, v wspd used by assimilation

Only wspd available so direction set to ZERO in PREPBUFR file.

Reported station pressure and mean sea-level pressure BOTH missing.  Station pressure is set to 1013 mb.  Elevation is less than or equal to 7.5 meters.
284 ADPSFC,
SFCSHP
SURFACE MARINE (SHIP, BUOY, C-MAN, TIDE GAUGE) OR LAND (SYNOPTIC, METAR) WITH MISSING STATION PRESSURE - u, v u, v used by assimilation

Altimeter setting is also missing (always the case for synoptic).  Station pressure calculated from reported mean sea-level pressure and elevation via U.S. Standard Atmosphere approximation.  Elevation is greater than 7.5 meters (if less than 7.5 meters, station pressure set equal to sea-level pressure and report type set to 281).
285 QKSWND SUPEROBED (0.5 DEGREE LAT/LON) SCATTEROMETER WINDS OVER OCEAN (QUIKSCAT) - u, v u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by NAM-GSI
286 ERS1DA SCATTEROMETER WINDS OVER OCEAN (ERS) - u, v Not tanked in /dcom
287 ADPSFC SURFACE LAND (METAR) WITH MISSING STATION PRESSURE - u, v u, v used by assimilation

Altimeter setting is reported (never the case for synoptic). Station pressure calculated from reported altimeter setting and elevation.
288 MSONET SURFACE MESONET - u, v u, v used by assimilation (based on "uselist")