Table 5.  Code table for PREPBUFR report types used by Regional Rapid Refresh (RAP) GSI analysis (last revised 1/3/2013).
 

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:
          Cc - total cloud cover
          Ch - cloud height
          Cp - cloud top pressure
          Ct - cloud top temperature
          mta_cld - METAR cloud amount, height of cloud base, present weather, visibility, dewpoint
          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
          Td - dewpoint 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, while RED lines refer to observation types (or entire reports) that are not used by the assimilating analysis due to the reason(s) given.  BLACK lines refer to informational material.
   
     
MASS REPORTS
Report Type PREPBUFR Message Type Description Note
111 SYNDAT SYNTHETIC (BOGUS) TROPICAL CYCLONE STORM CENTER - q, Pstn Not created (SYNDAT_SYNDATA processing switched off) 
120 ADPUPA RAWINSONDE - Tv, q, Pstn, sst Tv, q, Pstn used by assimilation

sst not considered by RAP-GSI (even though set to monitor by convinfo file)
122 ADPUPA CLASS SOUNDING - Tv, q, Pstn Entire report neither monitored nor assimilated - not included in convinfo text file read by RAP-GSI

These data are rarely available.
126 RASSDA RASS [FROM NOAA PROFILER NETWORK (NPN) OR MULTI-AGENCY PROFILER (MAP) NETWORK]  - Tv Tv used by assimilation
130 AIRCFT AIREP AND PIREP AIRCRAFT - Ts Ts used by assimilation
131
R		 AIRCFT AMDAR AIRCRAFT - Ts Ts used by assimilation
132 ADPUPA FLIGHT-LEVEL RECONNAISSANCE AND PROFILE DROPSONDE - Tv, q, Pstn q (all drops, all levels), Pstn (all drops) [and surface level Tv (all drops)] flagged for non-use by assimilation by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards

Tv (all drops, above surface; reccos), q (reccos) used by assimilation

q (all drops, all levels), Tv (all drops, at surface), and Pstn (all drops) monitored by assimilation due to their being flagged by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
133
R		 AIRCAR MDCRS ACARS AIRCRAFT - Ts, q Ts, q used by assimilation
134
R		 AIRCFT TAMDAR (Mesaba, PenAir, Chautauqua) AIRCRAFT - Ts, q Ts, q used by assimilation

As of November 18, 2011, the NWS contract with AirDat for TAMDAR data ended and was not renewed due to cost increases.  As a result these data are no longer available. 
135
R		 AIRCFT CANADIAN AMDAR AIRCRAFT - Ts Ts used by assimilation
150 SPSSMI SSM/I SUPEROBED (1 DEGREE LAT/LON) FNMOC (OPERATIONAL) RAIN RATE (DMSP) - rr Not dumped
151 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V CLOUD TOP PRESSURE, TEMPERATURE; CLOUD AMOUNT (GOES) - Cp, Cc, Ct GOES-15 Cp, Cc, Ct used by assimilation


GOES-13 Cp, Cc, Ct flagged for non-use by assimilation by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
152 SPSSMI SSM/I SUPEROBED (1 DEGREE LAT/LON) FNMOC (OPERATIONAL) PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER OCEAN (DMSP) - PWt Not dumped
153 GPSIPW GPS-INTEGRATED PRECIPITABLE WATER (GPS-IPW) - PWt PWt used by assimilation
156 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V 4-LAYER PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER LAND - CLEAR (GOES) - PWl GOES-13 PWl, Pstn flagged for non-use by assimilation by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards

Entire report not considered by RAP-GSI (even though set to monitor by convinfo file)
157 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V 4-LAYER PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER LAND - CLOUDY (GOES) - PWl Not produced by NESDIS
158 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V 4-LAYER PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER OCEAN - CLEAR (GOES) - PWl GOES-13 PWl, Pstn flagged for non-use by assimilation by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards

Entire report not considered by RAP-GSI (even though set to monitor by convinfo file)
159 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V 4-LAYER PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER OCEAN - CLOUDY (GOES) - PWl Not produced by NESDIS
164 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V RADIANCES OVER LAND - CLEAR (GOES) - Tb Entire report neither monitored nor assimilated - not included in convinfo text file read by RAP-GSI

(The RAP-GSI read these data directly from the "goesnd" dump and either use or monitor them, check here)
165 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V RADIANCES OVER LAND - CLOUDY (GOES) - Tb Not produced by NESDIS
174 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V RADIANCES OVER OCEAN - CLEAR (GOES) - Tb Entire report neither monitored nor assimilated - not included in convinfo text file read by RAP-GSI

(The RAP-GSI read these data directly from the "goesnd" dump and either use or monitor them, check here)
175 GOESND NESDIS 1x1 F-O-V RADIANCES OVER OCEAN - CLOUDY (GOES) - Tb Not produced by NESDIS
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 not considered by RAP-GSI (even though set to monitor by convinfo file)
181
(R -
WMO Res 40 SYNOPS		 ADPSFC SURFACE LAND (SYNOPTIC, METAR) WITH REPORTED STATION PRESSURE - Tv, q, Pstn, sst, mta_cld (latter for METAR only-?) Tv, q, Pstn. mta_cld used by assimilation

sst not considered by RAP-GSI (even though set to monitor by convinfo file)
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, mta_cld (latter for METAR only-?) Tv, q, mta_cld used by assimilation

Pstn monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by RAP-GSI

 sst not considered by RAP-GSI (even though set to monitor by convinfo file)

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, mta_cld Tv, q, Pstn, mta_cld used by assimilation

sst not considered by RAP-GSI (even though set to monitor by convinfo file)

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 Tv, q, Pstn monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by RAP-GSI

Note: Tv, q, Pstn are used by RAP-GSI run at ESRL
191 SFCBOG AUSTRALIAN PAOB MEAN SEA-LEVEL PRESSURE BOGUS OVER OCEAN - Pstn No longer produced

  

WIND REPORTS
Report Type PREPBUFR Message Type Description Note
210 SYNDAT SYNTHETIC (BOGUS) TROPICAL CYCLONE - u, v Not created (SYNDAT_SYNDATA processing switched off) 
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, z Entire report neither monitored nor assimilated - not included in convinfo text file read by RAP-GSI

These data are rarely available.
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) AND ACOUSTIC SOUNDER (SODAR) - u, v, z u, v used by assimilation
228 PROFLR JAPANESE METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY (JMA) WIND PROFILER - u, v, z Not dumped
229 PROFLR WIND PROFILER DECODED FROM PILOT (PIBAL) BULLETINS - u, v, z Entire report not considered by RAP-GSI
230 AIRCFT AIREP AND PIREP AIRCRAFT - u, v u, v used by assimilation
231
R		 AIRCFT AMDAR 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 used by assimilation

As of November 18, 2011, the NWS contract with AirDat for TAMDAR data ended and was not renewed due to cost increases.  As a result these data are no longer available. 
235
R		 AIRCFT CANADIAN AMDAR AIRCRAFT - u, v u, v used by assimilation
241 SATWND INDIA IR AND VISIBLE CLOUD DRIFT (ALL LEVELS) (INSAT, KALPANA) - u, v Not dumped
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 due to its being flagged by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
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 u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by RAP-GSI
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) - CLOUD TOP & DEEP LAYER (GMS, MTSAT) - u, v u, v monitored by assimilation by switch in convinfo text file read by RAP-GSI
251 SATWND NESDIS VISIBLE CLOUD DRIFT (ALL LEVELS) (GOES) - u, v u, v monitored by assimilation due to its being flagged by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
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 due to its being flagged by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
254 SATWND EUMETSAT IMAGER WATER VAPOR (ALL LEVELS) - CLOUD TOP & DEEP LAYER (METEOSAT) - u, v u, v monitored by assimilation due to its being flagged by switch in PREPOBS_PREPDATA parm cards
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 above 600 mb 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 above 600 mb 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 used by assimilation
282 SFCSHP ANY BUOY (MOORED OR DRIFTING) WITH MISSING STATION PRESSURE AND MISSING MEAN SEA-LEVEL PRESSURE  - 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) FNMOC (OPERATIONAL) WIND SPEED OVER OCEAN - u, v Not dumped
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 used by assimilation

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 No longer produced
286 ERS1DA SCATTEROMETER WINDS OVER OCEAN (ERS) - u, v No longer produced
287 ADPSFC SURFACE LAND (METAR) WITH MISSING STATION PRESSURE - u, v u, v used by assimilation

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

Note: u, v are used by RAP-GSI run at ESRL
289 WDSATR NON-SUPEROBED SCATTEROMETER WINDS OVER OCEAN  (WINDSAT) - u, v u, v used by assimilation
290 ASCATW NON-SUPEROBED SCATTEROMETER WINDS OVER OCEAN  (ASCAT) - u, v Entire report neither monitored nor assimilated - not included in convinfo text file read by RAP-GSI