1. Templates and Regulations
WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
RA VI Training Workshop on BUFR and
Migration to Table-Driven Code Forms
Langen, Germany, April 2007
BUFR/CREX
Templates and Regulations
Eva Červená
CZECH HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL INSTITUTE

2. Traditional codes for which BUFR/CREX templates and regulations have been developed:
SYNOP and SYNOP MOBIL
Synoptic surface
SHIP
observations
PILOT and PILOT MOBIL
PILOT SHIP
Upper-air
TEMP and TEMP MOBIL
measurements
TEMP SHIP
TEMP DROP
CLIMAT and CLIMAT SHIP
Monthly surface data
CLIMAT TEMP and
CLIMAT TEMP SHIP
Monthly upper-air data

3. Time identification in Section 1 and Section 4
BUFR Section 1
BUFR Section 4
Synoptic surface observations
Standard time : 00.00, 01.00, …, 23.00
Time from group 9GGgg, if included
Upper-air measurements
Standard time : 00.00, 06.00, 12.00, 18.00
Time of launch
Monthly surface data and upper-air data
Day=1,
hour and minute = of the month for which the data are reported

4. BUFR templates for surface observations
Templates TM , TM and TM for reporting SYNOP, SYNOP MOBIL and SHIP data in TDCF are constructed in a similar way. They consists of 3 parts:
Station, time and location identification
Instantaneous data
Period data

5. BUFR templates for surface observations
Instantaneous data
“Instantaneous” parameter is a parameter that is not coupled to a time period descriptor.
Period data
“Period” parameter is a parameter that is preceded with a time period descriptor, which allows more precise data description than in traditional codes. However, once a period descriptor is introduced, it applies to all following entries until it is redefined by another period descriptor.

6. BUFR template TM 307080 for SYNOP
Station, time and location identification
Instantaneous data
Pressure data
Basic synoptic “instantaneous” data
Clouds with bases below station level
Direction of cloud drift
Vertical significance
Direction and elevation of cloud
State of ground, snow depth, ground min. temperature
Period data
Basic synoptic “period” data
Evaporation data
Replicate next descriptor 2 times
Radiation data
Temperature change

7. Height of sensor
Measured values of some elements are significantly influenced by the height of sensor. Based on the requirements of OPAG IOS experts, a new parameter (Height of sensor above local ground or marine platform) has been introduced to be reported for
Temperature and humidity data
Visibility data
Precipitation data
Wind data
In case of marine data, also the height of sensor above water ( ) is required to be reported for

9. The heights of sensor 007032 and 007033 within the templates for surface data
The entries within the “instantaneous data” as well as within the “period data” are grouped according to the requirement for the heights of sensor to be included or not.
For example, within (Basic synoptic “period” data), there is a block of entries:
Precipitation data,
Extreme temperature data,
Wind data,
Height of sensor above local ground (shall be set to missing to cancel the previous value).
The last entry was inserted because the height of sensor is not required for the following data (Evaporation data, etc.).

10. Modification of templates for surface observations
If regional or national reporting practices require inclusion of additional period parameters, the common sequence descriptors , and may be supplemented by relevant descriptors.
If regional or national reporting practices require inclusion of additional instantaneous parameters, the common sequence descriptors , and cannot be used. In this case, they shall be used in the first level expanded form and the new entries shall be inserted to precede (Basic synoptic period data) or (SHIP period data).

11. BUFR template TM 307086 for SYNOP data in compliance with reporting practices in RA VI
Station, time and location identification
Instantaneous data
Pressure data
Basic synoptic “instantaneous” data
Clouds with bases below station level
Vertical significance
State of ground, snow depth, ground min. temperature
Dangerous weather phenomena (groups 9SPSPsPsP)
Period data
Basic synoptic “period” data
Evaporation data
Replicate next descriptor 2 times
Radiation data
Temperature change

12. BUFR templates for upper-air measurements
Templates TM , TM for reporting PILOT, PILOT MOBIL and PILOT SHIP data and TM for TEMP, TEMP MOBIL, TEMP SHIP and TM for TEMP DROP data are constructed in a similar way:
Station, time and location identification
Instrumentation
Surface observations (only for TEMP, TEMP MOBIL, TEMP SHIP)
Level data (wind or P,T, U and wind)
Wind shear data

13. Specific features of Regulations for reporting upper-air data in TDCF
A message should be produced when level 100 hPa is reached. All required data from the entire ascent shall be reported in another message, produced when the sounding is completed.
Time and location of radiosonde shall be included at each level.
If high vertical resolution data is required, data from additional levels may be included, number of levels being limited by the message length – octets.
The data should be included in descending order with respect to pressure (in ascending order with respect to altitude).

14. Reporting of additional information
If regional reporting practices require inclusion of data at additional levels, these levels shall be indicated by the bit No. 15 set to 1 in Extended sounding significance Other additional levels shall be specified by all bits of set to 0.
If additional information on sounding instrumentation is required, the common sequence descriptors may be supplemented by one or more parameters to allow representation of such information or by a character data field (using 2 05 Y).

15. BUFR template for monthly surface data
Templates TM for CLIMAT data and TM for CLIMAT SHIP data are constructed in a similar way:
Station, time and location identification
Monthly data (with the exception of precipitation)
Monthly precipitation data
Monthly normal values of elements (with the exception of precipitation)
Monthly normal values of precipitation

16. Period for monthly surface data
The time identification refers to the beginning of the one-month period.
Except for precipitation measurements, the one-month period for monthly data is recommended to correspond to the local standard time (LST) month.
In case of monthly precipitation data, the one-month period begins at 06 UTC on the first day of the month and ends at 06 UTC on the first day of the following month.
The same applies for normal values (with the exception of precipitation) and normal values of precipitation.

17. BUFR template for monthly aerological means
Template TM for reporting CLIMAT TEMP and CLIMAT TEMP SHIP:
Station, time and location identification
Monthly mean data (number of missing days included)
Monthly mean data are currently required from 10 levels. If data from additional levels were required in the future or by national decision, they can be included.

18. Thanks for your attention !