(1) maintain the software if data format changes are made, and

   (2) make the source code and documentation available to other NWS users.

This policy was set forth in a policy memo signed by John J. Kelly, Jr., Director, National Weather Service on January 21, 2000. The policy memo can be found in its entirety here .  

This web page identifies encoders and decoders to which the policy applies, identifies relevant code form standards, and links to individual web pages where encoder/decoder software and documentation reside.  The web page is under development and currently contains only a small portion of the software that will be available eventually.

For more information, you may email any member of the (IWT) by clicking on their name below:

Click on the highlighted ( in blue ) Generic Name to link to the encoder/decoder webpage. Each webpage provides access to the source code, documentation and other supporting information.

Generic Name and Organization Responsible	Description	Code Form	Date Last Updated
Aviation Data Decoders
ACARS Decoder NCEP	Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System(ACARS).   Parses ACARS reports into the NCEP Decoder Interface Format.	FM 94-IX Ext. BUFR	Version 1.5 02/13/2006
Aircraft Decoder NCEP	Parses aircraft reports into the NCEP Decoder Interface Format.	AMDAR - WMO FM 42-XI AIREP PIREP - FMH #12, Chapter 1 RECCO - WMO Manual 306, pp II-4-E-1 thru II-4-E-10	Version 1.8 02/14/2006
METAR Decoder NCEP	Parses aviation weather reports.	METAR - WMO FM 15-X SPECI - WMO FM 16-X SAO - FMH #1, FCM-H1-1994, Aug. 94	Version 1.5 02/17/2006
TAF MDL
BUFR Data Decoders
BUFR Encoder/Decoder NCEP	Encodes/decodes data in Binary Universal Form for representation of meteorological data (BUFR).  BUFR is a format defined by the WMO for storage and exchange of data.	FM 94-IX Ext. BUFR	Version 2.0 01/31/2006
GRIB Data Decoders/Encoders
GRIB Encoder/Decoder NCEP	Encodes/decodes data in Gridded Binary (GRIB)Format. GRIB is a bit oriented data exchange format.  It is a efficient vehicle for transmitting large volumes of gridded data.	FM 92-VIII Ext. GRIB
GRIB2 Encoder/Decoder NWS Official Version NCEP	Encodes data in Gridded Binary (GRIB) Edition 2 format.  This version is more flexible and will explicitly accommodate radar and satellite data options -- options not considered in GRIB.	FM 92-XII   For more information, click here	Version 1.0 8/2004
The GRIB2 Decoder MDL	Decodes data in Gridded Binary (GRIB) Edition 2 format.  This version is more flexible and will explicitly accommodate radar and satellite data options -- options not considered in GRIB.	FM 92-XII   For more information, click here	Version 1.5 10/2002
The GRIB2 Encoder MDL	Encodes data in Gridded Binary (GRIB) Edition 2 format.  This version is more flexible and will explicitly accommodate radar and satellite data options -- options not considered in GRIB.	FM 92-XII   For more information, click here	Version 1.4 10/2002
GRIB2 Decoder Driver MDL	Example of code that uses the GRIB libraries to: inventory GRIB (version 1 and 2) files, convert GRIB files to ESRI .shp file, GrADS .ctl files, .csv files, and some NetCDF formats, probe GRIB files at a given lat/lon point, and produce meta data about GRIB messages.	FM 92-VIII Ext. GRIB FM 92-XII   For more information, click here	Version 1.76 02/24/2006
Hydrologic Data Decoders
DCP (CPACC) (Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change - CPACC) OS	Environmental data gathered from Eighteen (18) Data Collection Platforms (DCPs) located throughout the Caribbean	A proprietary Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) National Ocean Service (NOS) style code form described in Appendix D of the Vitel, Inc. VX1100 Users Manual (19 April, 1999, Version 2.22. Appendix D, as it relates to CPACC, is available via a link from the OS web page.	Version 1.0 4/27/2000
DCP - HADS OHD	HADS delivers environmental data from Data Collection Platforms to all NWS field offices, in SHEF, using standard product formats.	SHEF and manufacturer specific DCP transmission formats
SHEF Decoder OHD	SHEF is used for exchange of hydrometeorological observations and forecasts.  It is used by the NWS and other U.S. and international organizations.	NWS Manual 10-944 Standard Hydrometeorological Exchange Format	Version 2.0 9/17/2002
Miscellaneous Data Decoders
BATHY Decoder NCEP	Parses oceanographic reports.	BATHY - WMO FM 63-X TESAC - WMO FM 64-IX TRACKOB - WMO FM 62-VIII	Version 1.5 02/17/2006
CREX Decoder NCEP	Decodes CREX data messages.  CREX is a format defined by the WMO for the representation and exchange of meteorological and other data.	FM 95-XII CREX	Version 1.0 01/08/2004
Drifting Buoy Decoder NCEP	Parses drifting buoy reports.	BUOY - FM 18-XI	Version 1.7 03/20/2006
Land Surface Decoder NCEP	Parses land surface reports (Synoptic Reports).	SYNOP - WMO FM 12-XI	Version 1.7 02/15/2006
Marine Surface Decoder NCEP	Parses marine surface reports (Ship, Cman and Fixed Buoy ).	SHIP - WMO FM 13-XI, CMAN and FIXED BUOY	Version 1.8 02/16/2006
NeXRaD Wind Decoder NCEP	Decodes the VAD (Velocity Azimuth Display) wind data (Part B) from NeXRaD RCM (Radar Coded Message) messages.	NeXRaD RCM	Version 1.5 02/15/2006
Profiler Decoder NCEP	Parses wind profiler reports into the NCEP Decoder Interface Format.	FM-94-IX Ext. BUFR	Version 1.7 02/13/2006
Rawinsonde Decoder NCEP	Parses rawinsonde reports (RAOB's).	PILOT - FM 32-IX PILOT SHIP - FM 33-IX PILOT MOBIL - FM 34-IX TEMP - FM 35-X TEMP SHIP - FM-36-X TEMP DROP - FM 37-X TEMP Mobil - FM 38-X	Version 1.6 02/14/2006
Run-Length Radar MDL	WSR-88D graphic product FORTRAN decoders, they return color-level data and navigational information for digital and rastor product output by the Radar Products Generator(RPG)	Current documentation for Run-Length Radar resides at the Radar Operations Center's Interface Control Document Webpage Click on document number 2620001G	Version 1.0 3/1/2000
Satellite Wind Decoder NCEP	Parses satellite wind reports.	SATOB - FM 88-XI	Version 1.5 02/16/2006
SCD Decoder NCEP	Parses supplementary climatological reports.	SCD	Version 1.5 02/17/2006
Tide Gauge Data Decoder NCEP	Decodes tide gauge data reports in CREX format.	FM 95-XII CREX	Version 1.1 09/01/2003