Table 2.  Code table for PREPBUFR report types used by Global GFS and GDAS GSI analyses (last revised 11/24/2009).
 

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.  An "R" after the report type means this type is restricted with respect to redistribution outside of NCEP for some amount of time.

     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
          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 (generated in SYNDAT_SYNDATA) - q, Pstn Not created (switch not set in SYNDAT_SYNDATA parm cards) 
112 n/a PSEUDO MEAN SEA-LEVEL PRESSURE AT TROPICAL CYCLONE STORM CENTER (generated in GSI, does not appear in pre-analysis PREPBUFR files) - Pstn Processing to generate this not yet implemented in GSI

When implemented. may appear in post-analysis PREPBUFR file
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 GBL-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 MULTI-AGENCY PROFILER (MAP) NETWORK]  - Tv Tv flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

Tv monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI
130 AIRCFT AIREP AND PIREP AIRCRAFT - Ts Ts used by assimilation
131
R
AIRCFT ASDAR AIRCRAFT - Ts Ts used by assimilation
132 ADPUPA FLIGHT-LEVEL RECONNAISSANCE AND PROFILE DROPSONDE - Tv, q, Pstn q (non-U.S. drops, all levels), Pstn (all drops) [and surface level Tv (all drops), surface level q (all drops)] flagged for non-use by assimilation by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards

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

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

q flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

q monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI
134
R
AIRCFT TAMDAR (Mesaba, PenAir, Chautauqua) AIRCRAFT - Ts, q Ts, q flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

Ts, q monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI
135
R
AIRCFT CANADIAN AMDAR AIRCRAFT - Ts Ts flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

Ts monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI
150 SPSSMI SSM/I SUPEROBED (1 DEGREE LAT/LON) FNMOC (OPERATIONAL) RAIN RATE (DMSP) - rr rr monitored by assimilation by switch in pcpinfo text file read by GBL-GSI

Currently the assimilation obtains this directly from the spssmi dump file rather than from PREPBUFR file.
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) NEURAL NET-3 PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER OCEAN (DMSP) - PWt PWt flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

PWt monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI
153 GPSIPW GPS-INTEGRATED PRECIPITABLE WATER (GPS-IPW) - PWt PWt flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

PWt monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI
156 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V 4-LAYER PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER LAND - CLEAR (GOES) - PWl Not dumped
157 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V 4-LAYER PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER LAND - CLOUDY (GOES) - PWl Not dumped
158 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V 4-LAYER PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER OCEAN - CLEAR (GOES) - PWl Not dumped
159 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V 4-LAYER PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER OCEAN - CLOUDY (GOES) - PWl Not dumped
164 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V RADIANCES OVER LAND - CLEAR (GOES) - Tb Not dumped
165 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V RADIANCES OVER LAND - CLOUDY (GOES) - Tb Not dumped
174 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V RADIANCES OVER OCEAN - CLEAR (GOES) - Tb Not dumped
175 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V RADIANCES OVER OCEAN - CLOUDY (GOES) - Tb Not dumped
180
(R - U.S. & JMA SHIPS)
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 GBL-GSI
181
(R -
WMO Res 40 SYNOPS)
ADPSFC SURFACE LAND (SYNOPTIC, METAR) WITH REPORTED STATION PRESSURE - Tv, q, Pstn, sst Pstn used by assimilation

Tv, q flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

Tv, q, sst monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI
182 SFCSHP SPLASH-LEVEL DROPSONDE OVER OCEAN - Tv, q, Pstn Tv, q, Pstn used by assimilation
183
(R -
WMO Res 40 SYNOPS, U.S. & JMA SHIPS)
ADPSFC,
SFCSHP
SURFACE MARINE (SHIP, BUOY, C-MAN, TIDE GAUGE) OR LAND (SYNOPTIC, METAR) WITH MISSING STATION PRESSURE - Tv, q, Pstn, sst Tv, q, Pstn (entire report) flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

Tv, q, Pstn, sst monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-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 Pstn used by assimilation

Tv, q flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

Tv, q, sst monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI

Altimeter setting is reported (never the case for synoptic). Station pressure calculated from reported altimeter setting and elevation.
188
R
MSONET SURFACE MESONET - Tv, q, Pstn Not dumped
191 SFCBOG AUSTRALIAN PAOB MEAN SEA-LEVEL PRESSURE BOGUS OVER OCEAN - Pstn sfcbog dump file not read by PREPOBS_PREPDATA

  

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 MULTI-AGENCY PROFILER (MAP) - u, v, z Entire report tossed by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
228 PROFLR JAPANESE METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY (JMA) WIND PROFILER - u, v, z u, v (entire report) flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI
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
R
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
R
AIRCAR MDCRS ACARS AIRCRAFT - u, v u, v used by assimilation
234
R
AIRCFT TAMDAR (Mesaba, PenAir, Chautauqua) AIRCRAFT - u, v u, v (entire report) flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI
235
R
AIRCFT CANADIAN AMDAR AIRCRAFT - u, v u, v (entire report) flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI
241 SATWND INDIA IR AND VISIBLE CLOUD DRIFT (ALL LEVELS) (INSAT, KALPANA) - u, v Visible not yet available from India

u, v (entire report) flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI
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 only) monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI
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 (entire report) flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI
251 SATWND NESDIS VISIBLE CLOUD DRIFT (ALL LEVELS) (GOES) - u, v u, v (entire report) flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-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 only) monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI
254 SATWND EUMETSAT IMAGER WATER VAPOR (ALL LEVELS) (METEOSAT) - u, v u, v (entire report) flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-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
(R - U.S. & JMA SHIPS)
SFCSHP SURFACE MARINE WITH REPORTED STATION PRESSURE (SHIP, BUOY, C-MAN, TIDE GAUGE) - u, v u, v used by assimilation
281
(R -
WMO Res 40 SYNOPS)
ADPSFC SURFACE LAND (SYNOPTIC, METAR) WITH REPORTED STATION PRESSURE - u, v u, v (entire report) flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI
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) NEURAL NET 3 WIND SPEED OVER OCEAN - u, v u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI

Only wspd available so direction initially set to ZERO in PREPBUFR file, direction calculated from analysis and u, v recomputed in program PREPOBS_OIQCBUFR.

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
(R -
WMO Res 40 SYNOPS, U.S. & JMA SHIPS)
ADPSFC,
SFCSHP
SURFACE MARINE (SHIP, BUOY, C-MAN, TIDE GAUGE) OR LAND (SYNOPTIC, METAR) WITH MISSING STATION PRESSURE - u, v u, v (entire report) flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-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 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 GBL-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 (entire report) flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI

Altimeter setting is reported (never the case for synoptic). Station pressure calculated from reported altimeter setting and elevation.
288
R
MSONET SURFACE MESONET - u, v Not dumped
289 WDSATR SUPEROBED (1.0 DEGREE LAT/LON) SCATTEROMETER WINDS OVER OCEAN  (WINDSAT) - u,v u, v used by assimilation
290 ASCATW NON-SUPEROBED SCATTEROMETER WINDS OVER OCEAN  (ASCAT) - u,v u, v (entire report) flagged for non-use by assimilation due to missing obs error

u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by GBL-GSI