WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
RA VI Training Workshop on BUFR and
Migration to Table-Driven Code Forms
Langen, Germany, 17-20 April 2007
BUFR/CREX
Templates and Regulations
Eva Červená
CZECH HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL INSTITUTE
1
Traditional codes for which BUFR/CREX
templates and regulations have been developed:
SYNOP and SYNOP MOBIL
SHIP
Synoptic surface
observations
PILOT and PILOT MOBIL
PILOT SHIP
TEMP and TEMP MOBIL
Upper-air
measurements
TEMP SHIP
TEMP DROP
CLIMAT and CLIMAT SHIP
Monthly surface data
CLIMAT TEMP and
CLIMAT TEMP SHIP
Monthly upper-air data
2
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
Day=1,
Monthly surface data hour and minute = 00.00
and upper-air data
of the month for which
the data are reported
Day=1,
hour and minute = 00.00
of the month for which
the data are reported
3
BUFR templates for surface observations
Templates TM 307080, TM 307090 and TM 308009
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
4
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.
5
BUFR template TM 307080 for SYNOP
Station, time and location identification 3 01 090
Instantaneous data
-
-
3
3
3
3
0
3
3
02
02
02
02
08
02
02
031
035
036
047
002
048
037
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
3
3
1
3
3
02
02
01
02
02
043
044
002
045
046
Basic synoptic “period” data
Evaporation data
Replicate next descriptor 2 times
Radiation data
Temperature change
Period data
-
-
6
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
007032 (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 (0 07 033) is required to be reported for
-
Temperature and humidity data
Visibility data
Wind data
7
8
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 3 02 043 (Basic synoptic “period” data), there is
a block of entries:
- 3 02 040 Precipitation data,
- 3 02 041 Extreme temperature data,
- 3 02 042 Wind data,
- 0 07 032 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.).
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Modification of templates for surface observations
If regional or national reporting practices require inclusion
of additional period parameters, the common sequence
descriptors 3 07 080, 3 07 090 and 3 08 009 may be
supplemented by relevant descriptors.
If regional or national reporting practices require inclusion
of additional instantaneous parameters, the common
sequence descriptors 3 07 080, 3 07 090 and 3 08 009
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 3 02 043 (Basic synoptic period
data) or 3 02 060 (SHIP period data).
10
BUFR template TM 307086 for SYNOP data in
compliance with reporting practices in RA VI
Station, time and location identification 3 01 090
Instantaneous data
-
3 02 031 Pressure data
3 02 035 Basic synoptic “instantaneous” data
3 02 036 Clouds with bases below station level
0 08 002 Vertical significance
3 02 037 State of ground, snow depth, ground min. temperature
3 02 066 Dangerous weather phenomena (groups 9SPSPsPsP)
Period data
-
-
3
3
1
3
3
02
02
01
02
02
043
044
002
045
046
Basic synoptic “period” data
Evaporation data
Replicate next descriptor 2 times
Radiation data
Temperature change
11
BUFR templates for upper-air measurements
Templates TM 309050, TM 309051 for reporting PILOT,
PILOT MOBIL and PILOT SHIP data and TM 309052 for
TEMP, TEMP MOBIL, TEMP SHIP and TM 309053 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

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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 – 500000 octets.
 The data should be included in descending order with
respect to pressure (in ascending order with respect to
altitude).

13
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
008042. Other additional levels shall be specified by all
bits of 008042 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).
14
BUFR template for monthly surface data
Templates TM 307073 for CLIMAT data and TM
08013 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
15
Period for monthly surface data
The time identification refers to the beginning of the onemonth 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.
16
BUFR template for monthly aerological means
Template TM 309054 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.
17
Thanks for your
attention !
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