Table 5.  Code table for PREPBUFR report types used by upper-air Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) 3DVAR analysis (last revised 02/06/2007).
 

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:
          altm - altimeter setting
          Cc - total cloud cover
          Ch - cloud height
          Cp - cloud top pressure
          Ct - cloud top temperature
          elev - elevation
          p - vertical coordinate pressure
          Palt - pressure altitude
          Pstn - station (surface) pressure
          PWl - layer precipitable water
          PWt - total column precipitable water
          q - specific humidity
          rr - rain rate
          Tb - brightness temperature
          Td - dewpoint temperature
          Ts - sensible (dry bulb) temperature
          Tv - virtual temperature
          u, v - u- and v-components of wind
          vsb - visibility
          wdir - wind direction
          wspd - wind speed
          WXp - present weather
          z - vertical coordinate height
          Zp - geopotential height
          
     In the "Note" column, GREEN lines refer to observation types that end up being used by the assimilating analysis, while RED lines refer to observation types (or entire reports) that are not used by the assimilating analysis due to the reason(s) given.  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 Not created (SYNDAT_SYNDATA processing switched off) 
120 ADPUPA RAWINSONDE - Ts, Td, Pstn, Zp Ts, Td, Pstn, Zp used by assimilation
122 ADPUPA CLASS SOUNDING - Ts, Td, Pstn, Zp Entire report tossed by RUC_GETBUFR

These data are rarely available.
126 RASSDA RASS [FROM NOAA PROFILER NETWORK (NPN) OR COOPERATIVE AGENCY PROFILER (CAP) NETWORK]  - Tv CAP not tanked in /dcom (need to get them via GSD/MADIS)

Tv (NPN only) used by assimilation
130 AIRCFT AIREP AND PIREP AIRCRAFT - Ts Not dumped
131 AIRCFT ASDAR AIRCRAFT - Ts Not dumped
132 ADPUPA FLIGHT-LEVEL RECONNAISSANCE AND PROFILE DROPSONDE - Ts, Td, Pstn, Palt Td from dropsondes (USAF and Gulf Stream), Pstn (and surface level Tv, q) flagged for non-use by assimilation by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards

Ts, Td (reccos), Palt used by assimilation
133 AIRCAR MDCRS ACARS AIRCRAFT - Ts, q Ts used by assimilation

q flagged for non-use by assimilation by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards

q  tossed by RUC_GETBUFR
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) - Cp, Cc, Ct Cp, Cc, Ct used by assimilation
152 SPSSMI SSM/I SUPEROBED (1 DEGREE LAT/LON) FNMOC (OPERATIONAL) PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER OCEAN (DMSP) - PWt PWt used by assimilation
153 GPSIPW GPS-INTEGRATED PRECIPITABLE WATER (GPS-IPW) - PWt, Pstn PWt, Pstn used by assimilation
156 GOESND NESDIS 5x5 F-O-V 4-LAYER PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER LAND - CLEAR (GOES) - PWl, Pstn PWl, Pstn used by assimilation
157 GOESND NESDIS 5x5 F-O-V 4-LAYER PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER LAND - CLOUDY (GOES) - PWl, Pstn PWl, Pstn flagged for non-use by assimilation by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA  parm cards
158 GOESND NESDIS 5x5 F-O-V 4-LAYER PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER OCEAN - CLEAR (GOES) - PWl, Pstn PWl, Pstn used by assimilation
159 GOESND NESDIS 5x5 F-O-V 4-LAYER PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER OCEAN - CLOUDY (GOES) - PWl, Pstn PWl, Pstn flagged for non-use by assimilation 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 Entire report tossed by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
175 GOESND NESDIS 5x5 F-O-V RADIANCES OVER OCEAN - CLOUDY (GOES) - Tb Entire report tossed by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
180 SFCSHP SURFACE MARINE WITH REPORTED STATION PRESSURE (SHIP, BUOY, C-MAN, TIDE GAUGE) - Ts, Td, q, Pstn Tv, Td, q, Pstn used by assimilation
181 ADPSFC SURFACE LAND METAR WITH REPORTED ALTIMETER SETTING AND STATION PRESSURE - Ts, Td, q, altm, elev, WXp, vsb, Cc, Ch altm converted to Pstn by RUC_HYBFRONT

Ts, Td, q, Pstn, elev, WXp, vsb, Cc, Ch used by assimilation

synoptic reports not dumped
182 SFCSHP SPLASH-LEVEL DROPSONDE OVER OCEAN - Ts, Td, q, Pstn Tv, Td, q, Pstn used by assimilation
183 ADPSFC,
SFCSHP		 SURFACE MARINE (SHIP, BUOY, C-MAN, TIDE GAUGE) OR LAND METAR WITH MISSING ALTIMETER SETTING AND MISSING STATION PRESSURE - Ts, Td, q, elev, WXp, vsb,  Cc, Ch Ts, Td, q, elev, WXp, vsb, Cc, Ch used by assimilation if elev < 20 meters

Entire report tossed by RUC_3DVAR because altm is missing if elev > 20 meters
187 ADPSFC SURFACE LAND METAR WITH REPORTED ALTIMETER SETTING AND MISSING STATION PRESSURE - Ts, Td, q, altm, elev, WXp, vsb, Cc, Ch altm converted to Pstn by RUC_HYBFRONT

Ts, Td, q, Pstn, elev, WXp, vsb, Cc, Ch used by assimilation

synoptic reports not dumped
188 MSONET SURFACE MESONET - Ts, Td, q, Pstn, elev Ts, Td, q, Pstn, elev used by assimilation
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 Not created (SYNDAT_SYNDATA processing switched off) 
220 ADPUPA RAWINSONDE - wspd, wdir, z wspd, wdir converted to u, v by RUC_HYBFRONT

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 - wspd, wdir, z Entire report tossed by RUC_GETBUFR

These data are rarely available.
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)

Entire report tossed by RUC_GETBUFR
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 Not dumped
230 AIRCFT AIREP AND PIREP AIRCRAFT - u, v Not dumped
231 AIRCFT ASDAR AIRCRAFT - u, v Not dumped
232 ADPUPA FLIGHT-LEVEL RECONNAISSANCE AND PROFILE DROPSONDE - wspd, wdir, Palt wspd, wdir converted to u, v by RUC_HYBFRONT

u, v, Palt used by assimilation
233 AIRCAR MDCRS ACARS AIRCRAFT - wspd, wdir, Palt wspd, wdir converted to u, v by RUC_HYBFRONT

u, v, Palt used by assimilation
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 Not dumped
243 SATWND EUMETSAT IR AND VISIBLE CLOUD DRIFT AT LEVELS BELOW 850 MB (METEOSAT) - u, v Not dumped
245 SATWND NESDIS IR CLOUD DRIFT (ALL LEVELS) (GOES) - u, v, Palt u, v, Palt used by assimilation
246 SATWND NESDIS IMAGER WATER VAPOR (ALL LEVELS) - CLOUD TOP (GOES) - u, v, Palt u, v, Palt used by assimilation
247 SATWND NESDIS IMAGER WATER VAPOR (ALL LEVELS) - DEEP LAYER (GOES) - u, v, Palt Entire report tossed by RUC_GETBUFR
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 Not dumped
251 SATWND NESDIS VISIBLE CLOUD DRIFT (ALL LEVELS) (GOES) - u, v, Palt u,v, Palt flagged for non-use by assimilation by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA  parm cards
252 SATWND JMA IR AND VISIBLE CLOUD DRIFT AT LEVELS ABOVE 850 MB (GMS, MTSAT) - u, v Not dumped
253 SATWND EUMETSAT IR AND VISIBLE CLOUD DRIFT AT LEVELS ABOVE 850 MB (METEOSAT) - u, v Not dumped
254 SATWND EUMETSAT IMAGER WATER VAPOR (ALL LEVELS) (METEOSAT) - u, v Not dumped
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 Not dumped
258 SATWND MODIS/POES IMAGER WATER VAPOR (ALL LEVELS) - CLOUD TOP (AQUA, TERRA) - u, v Not dumped
259 SATWND MODIS/POES IMAGER WATER VAPOR (ALL LEVELS) - DEEP LAYER (AQUA, TERRA) - u, v Not dumped
280 SFCSHP SURFACE MARINE WITH REPORTED STATION PRESSURE (SHIP, BUOY, C-MAN, TIDE GAUGE) - u, v u, v converted to wspd, wdir by RUC_GETBUFR

wspd, wdir converted to u, v by RUC_HYBFRONT

u, v used by assimilation
281 ADPSFC SURFACE LAND METAR WITH REPORTED ALTIMETER SETTING AND STATION PRESSURE - u, v u, v converted to wspd, wdir by RUC_GETBUFR

wspd, wdir converted to u, v by RUC_HYBFRONT

u, v used by assimilation

synoptic reports not dumped
282 SFCSHP ATLAS BUOY - u, v u, v converted to wspd, wdir by RUC_GETBUFR

wspd, wdir converted to u, v by RUC_HYBFRONT

 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 Entire report tossed by RUC_GETBUFR

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 METAR WITH MISSING ALTIMETER SETTING AND MISSING STATION PRESSURE - u, v u, v converted to wspd, wdir by RUC_GETBUFR

wspd, wdir converted to u, v by RUC_HYBFRONT

u, v used by assimilation if elev < 20 meters

Entire report tossed by RUC_GETBUFR because altm is missing if elev > 20 m
285 QKSWND SUPEROBED (0.5 DEGREE LAT/LON) SCATTEROMETER WINDS OVER OCEAN (QUIKSCAT) - u, v Not dumped
286 ERS1DA SCATTEROMETER WINDS OVER OCEAN (ERS) - u, v Not tanked in /dcom
287 ADPSFC SURFACE LAND METAR WITH REPORTED ALTIMETER SETTING BUT MISSING STATION PRESSURE - u, v u, v converted to wspd, wdir by RUC_GETBUFR

wspd, wdir converted to u, v by RUC_HYBFRONT

 u, v used by assimilation

synoptic reports not dumped
288 MSONET SURFACE MESONET - u, v Entire report tossed by RUC_HYBFRONT