Using the National Weather Service FTP-MAIL Service

Retrieval of weather data & products using e-mail

Background

FTPmail is a system which makes use of the standard utility software called simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) available to users who may only have electronic mail (e-mail) access, such as, via INMARSAT connectivity between ships at sea and shore ground communication facilities. This FTPmail application reads a normal e-mail message content that is constructed with FTP commands. The process passes the commands to the FTP site process. The FTP process runs the commands and returns the results as a generated response. The Gateway e-mail application issues an automated e-mail reply back to the end user with the results as an attachment.

The National Weather Service (NWS) runs the FTPmail server application primarily for mariners who do not have direct access to the World Wide Web but they do have an e-mail system. This allows them to access our services and retrieve our products from any NOAA FTP server. By using FTPmail, a user can request text or graphic files from NWS and have the requested data automatically mailed back to them as either an attachment to or content of an e-mail message. The turnaround time is from thirty minutes to three hours normally, depending upon the path the e-mail takes.

It is assumed that the user determines the server address (if required) and the directory path to the data desired, including the file name of the product, before attempting to use this system. This can be done when the user has Internet access prior to departure to places where Internet access is available. Otherwise, a limited set of "help" instructions are available via e-mail.

Using * FTPmail *

To use the NWS * FTPmail * service, send an e-mail to this address:

ftpmail@weather.noaa.gov

The subject line may contain your e-mail address or anything meaningful to you. The first time user should have in the body of the E-mail the word:

     help

This will return to the sender an E-mail with instructions for using FTPmail and how to request files. Contained in the instructions will also be file names of recommended files to initially request which contain either commands or product lists in named files with descriptions to help you in using this service. You will have on hand a written set of instructions for future reference.

FTPmail Examplies

1. An example of a composed E-mail to get the latest METAR observation at Dulles International Airport would be:

e-mail address : ftpmail@weather.noaa.gov
Subject line : anything (suggest your e-mail address)
Message content :

     open
     cd data/observations/metar/decoded
     get KIAD.TXT
     quit

The file name KIAD.TXT can be found by using your favorite web browser and going to the data files as discussed on the Global Data and Products web page.

2. An example of a composed e-mail to get the current facsimile chart for Atlantic Ocean sea-state analysis would be:

e-mail address : ftpmail@weather.noaa.gov
Subject line : sea-state analysis
Message content for a TIFF version of a Chart :

     open
     cd fax
     get PJAA99.TIF
     quit

OR

Message content for a gif version of a Chart :

     open
     cd fax
     get PJAA99.gif
     quit

OR

OPTIONAL - Message content for accessing another NOAA FTP server service :

     open www.ncep.noaa.gov
     cd pub/data/mpc
     get atlsfc00.gif
     quit

NOTE : You have two choices of format for facsimile charts. Upper case and lower case alpha characters are used for the "TIFF" and "gif" versions of facsimile products, respectively. If you fail to use the right case, you will not get an attached product in your returned Email. Also, the "gif" version of the product will be a larger attached file than the "TIFF" version. However, the "TIFF" version requires a image viewer software application or browser plugin to manipulate and print the chart. These are only examples of the possibilities that can be requested.

Returned e-mail

Possible Status messages - You may get an e-mail status message back if the server is busy. The subject line will indicate that action is being taken upon your request.

EXAMPLE :
Subject: ftpmail job queueing for retry queue/01021045116.158296

This status informs you that the FTP server activity is heavy and you are queued in the process of the request. (This is an example and the numbers will change with each status.)

Returned e-mail content - The returned e-mail has a subject line containing the server address, path, and file name of the original request. Assuming the request was for the sea-analysis chart in example 2 above the resulting return e-mail would be.

EXAMPLE:
Subject: tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/fax/PJAA99.TIF

The e-mail body content may contain the requested file or it may be attached for you to file and display by an appropriate software application. This example would have an attachment containg the product. Another example, if you were to select a "gif" it would be contained in the body of the e-mail as it is displayable by the e-mail system on your computer. An example of this returned e-mail type would be the response back to you if you asked for the product in the optional example above, referencing another server (www.ncep.noaa.gov) for an "atlsfc00.gif" product.

Further details of this process and additional information on how to get data and products can be found in the response to the "help" request when you send an e-mail using your favorite e-mail service. Additional information can also be found on the Marine "Internet" web page about this service and also other ways to access NWS data and products.