The NOAA Regional Surface Data - 1989 (NCDC) Data Set documented within this report are hourly surface meteorological data from selected stations centered around the FIFE study area. This data set contains hourly surface meteorological data for the FIFE area.
The FIFE Staff Science effort covered those activities which were FIFE community level activities, or required uniform data collection procedures across sites and time. These activities included the acquisition, processing and archiving of meteorological parameters of the atmosphere. This data set contains hourly surface meteorological data for the FIFE area. This data may be used as input data and/or verification data for numerical simulation models.
The NOAA regional surface data were extracted from the NOAA operational analysis system, and were archived at the National Climatic Data Center. The data set documented within this report are hourly surface meteorological data from selected stations centered around the FIFE study area.
Staff Science.
Staff Science Meteorological Data Acquisition Program.
Contact 1:
Dr. Robert J .Lutz
NASA/GSFC
Greenbelt, MD
301-286-1272
lutz@pldsg3.gsfc.nasa.gov
Contact 2:
US Dept. of Commerce
NOAA/NESDIS
Asheville,N.C.
704-259-0682
The NOAA Regional Surface Data - 1989 (NCDC) were produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and archived by the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC).
Though the measurements presented in this data set were not taken precisely at the FIFE study area, it is hypothesized that they present a representative horizontal cross-section of meteorological variables and sky conditions in and around the site. It is also realized that many of the variables presented in this data set are somewhat subjective and dependent on the skill (and biases) of the observer, such as estimates of cloud amount and height.
A variety of instruments are used in gathering the NOAA surface weather data. Standard instruments include anemometers, tipping bucket rain gauges, psychrometers, and aneroid pressure sensors, and wet and dry bulb thermometers. Description of specific instruments at each regional site are not available to FIS staff at this time. Questions pertaining to instrumentation may be addressed to the National Climatic Data Center.
Ground-based.
Instruments were mounted within and in the proximity of standard NOAA surface meteorological stations.
To provide surface meteorology data from meteorological stations for the area surrounding the Konza Prairie.
Standard meteorological variables (temperature, wind, pressure, and humidity), weather variables (weather and visibility) and cloud parameters (type, height, amount).
Not available at this revision.
Not available at this revision.
Not available at this revision.
NOAA has established specific operational procedures for the instruments used in surface meteorological stations. It is beyond the scope of this documentation to describe this, but details may be found in Federal Meteorological Handbook No. 1 and Federal Meteorological Handbook No. 2 (see the Satellite/Instrument/Data Processing Documentation Section). In addition, NOAA uses the calibration factors supplied by the manufacturer for each instrument.
Not available at this revision
Not available at this revision
Not available at this revision
Not available at this revision
FIS staff acquired the data fro the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in the form of 6250 bpi magnetic computer tapes. The data was read from the tapes with documentation provided by NCDC. The data was then loaded into tables by FIS staff.
Not available.
None.
Data collection included all available reporting NOAA stations within a 256 km by 256 km area centered on the FIFE site. It should be noted that two stations that reported in the 1987 - 1988 data set (Falls City/Brenner Airport and Wichita/Jabarra Airport) were not available for this data set.
NOAA STATION LOCATION NORTHING EASTING
---------------------------------------- --------- --------
BEATRICE/MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 4465124 691182
CONCORDIA/BLOSSER MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 4378475 615994
CHANUTE/MARTIN JOHNSON AIRPORT 4171529 280964
EMPORIA/MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 4246304 744744
HUTCHINSON/MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 4213612 599418
SALINA/MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 4295241 617233
FORT RILEY/MARSHALL AIR FORCE BASE 4324491 693267
TOPEKA/BILLARD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 4327268 272167
LINCOLN/MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 4524331 689669
TOPEKA/FORBES AIR FORCE BASE 4314402 268903
WICHITA/MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE 4164493 652981
WICHITA/MID-CONTINENT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 4167957 639679
MANHATTAN/MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 4335807 701637
LATITUDE LONGITUDE
---------- ----------
40 19 00 96 45 00
39 33 00 97 39 00
37 40 00 95 29 00
38 20 00 96 12 00
38 04 00 97 52 00
38 48 00 97 39 00
39 03 00 96 46 00
39 04 00 95 38 00
40 51 00 96 45 00
38 57 00 95 40 00
37 37 00 97 16 00
37 39 00 97 25 00
39 09 00 96 40 00
Not available.
These are point data.
Not available.
Not available.
The overall time period of data acquisition was from October 1, 1988 through October 31, 1989.
Not available.
Observations are made at hourly intervals.
The SQL definition for this table is found in the NCDC_SUR.TDF file located on FIFE CD-ROM Volume 1.
Parameter/Variable Name
Parameter/Variable Description Range Units Source
SITEGRID_ID This is a FIS grid location code. = Site grid codes (SSEE-III) give the south (SS) and the east (EE) cell number in a 100 x 100 array of 200 m square cells. The last 3 characters (III) are an instrument identifier.
STATION_CALL_SIGN The station call sign of the reporting station.
OBS_DATE The date of the observations, in the format (DD-mmm-YY).
OBS_TIME The time that the observation was taken in GMT. The format is (HHMM).
CEILING_HT $ The height of the ceiling in [hundreds hundreds of feet. of feet]
FIRST_SKY_CONDITION # A general description of the first sky cloud cover (coded).
SECOND_SKY_CONDITION # A general description of the second sky cloud cover (coded).
THIRD_SKY_CONDITION # A general description of the third sky cloud cover (coded).
FOURTH_SKY_CONDITION # A general description of the fourth sky cloud cover (coded).
VISIBILITY ! The current visibility (coded).
PRESENT_WEATHER ** The present weather conditions as reported by the station (coded).
SEA_LVL_PRESS The sea level air pressure. [millibars]
DEWPT_TEMP The dewpoint temperature. [degrees Fahrenheit]
WIND_DIR + The wind direction. [degrees from North]
WIND_SPEED The wind speed. [knots]
SURF_PRESS The surface pressure. [inches of Mercury]
DRY_BULB_TEMP The dry bulb temperature, or the [degrees ambient air temperature. Fahrenheit]
WET_BULB_TEMP The wet bulb temperature. [degrees Fahrenheit]
REL_HUM The relative humidity. [percent]
TOTAL_SKY_COVER The amount of total sky coverage [tenths] by clouds.
LOWEST_CLOUD_AMOUNT The amount of clouds in the [tenths] lowest layer.
LOWEST_CLOUD_TYPE - The type of clouds in the lowest layer (coded).
LOWEST_CLOUD_HT $+ The height of the lowest cloud [hundreds layer. of feet]
SECOND_CLOUD_AMOUNT The amount of clouds in the [tenths] second layer.
SECOND_CLOUD_TYPE - The type of clouds in the second layer (coded).
SECOND_CLOUD_HT The height of the second cloud [hundreds layer. of feet]
THIRD_CLOUD_AMOUNT The amount of clouds in the third [tenths] layer.
THIRD_CLOUD_TYPE - The type of clouds in the third layer (coded).
THIRD_CLOUD_HT The height of the third cloud [hundreds layer. of feet]
FOURTH_CLOUD_AMOUNT The amount of clouds in the [tenths] fourth layer.
FOURTH_CLOUD_TYPE - The type of clouds in the fourth layer (coded).
FOURTH_CLOUD_HT The height of the fourth cloud [hundreds layer. of feet]
TOTAL_SKY_COVER_2 The total amount of opaque sky [tenths] coverage.
SECOND_CLOUD_AMOUNT_SUM The sum of the cloud amount at [tenths] the lowest and second layer.
THIRD_CLOUD_AMOUNT_SUM The sum of the cloud amount at [tenths] the lowest, second, and third layer.
FIFE_DATA_CRTFCN_CODE The FIFE Certification Code for * the data, in the following format: CPI (Certified by PI), CPI-??? (CPI - questionable data).
LAST_REVISION_DATE data, in the format (DD-mmm-YY).
Footnotes:
= Translate the SITEGRID_ID field to station IDs, NOAA Weather Band IDs and station locations as follows:
NOAA Weather Station
SITEGRID STN_ID Band ID Location
-------- ------ ------------- ---------------
XICT-MET 450 03928 Wichita, KS
XIAB-MET 465 03923 McConnell, KS
XHUT-MET 453 13986 Hutchinson, KS
XCNU-MET 462 13981 Chanute, KS
XMHK-MET 460 03936 Manhatten, KS
XEMP-MET 452 13989 Emporia, KS
XTOP-MET 457 93964 Billard Top, KS
XCNK-MET 458 13984 Concordia, KS
XSLN-MET 454 3922 Salina, KS
XFRI-MET 455 13947 Ft. Riley, KS
XFOE-MET 464 13920 Forbes Field, KS
XLNK-MET 459 14904 Lincoln, NE
XBIE-MET 461 94947 Beatrice, NE
$ Decode the CEILING_HT field as follows:
000-990 hundred of feet (0-99,000 feet)
999 - unlimited
888 cirroform ceiling, height unknown
# Decode the SKY_CONDITION fields (first, second, third, and fourth) as follows:
0 - clear
1 - thin scattered
2 - scattered (cloud cover .1 through .5)
4 - thin broken
5 - broken (cloud cover .6 through .9)
7 - thin overcast (cloud cover 1.0)
8 - overcast (cloud cover 1.0)
9 - partial obscuration (0.1 or more but not all sky hidden by surface based layer)
10 - obscuration (all of sky hidden by a surface based layer)
! Decode the VISIBILITY field as follows:
000-006 - 0 to 3/8 miles (1/16 mile increments)
006-020 - 3/8 to 2 miles (1/8 mile increments)
020-027 - 2 to 2 ½ miles (1/4 mile increments)
027-030 - 2 ½ miles to 3 miles (1/2 mile increments)
030-150 - 3 to 15 miles (1 mile increments)
150-159 - 15 to 95 miles (5 mile increments)
990 - 100 miles or more
** The PRESENT_WEATHER field is an 8 digit encoded field where each digit represents a different parameter. The following list defines the parameter associated with each digit and the interpretation of the codes for that parameter.
Digit Parameter Code Interpretation
----- ----------- --------------------------------------
1 Extremely 0 = none
intensive 1 = thunderstorm
weather 2 = heavy thunderstorm/severe thunderstorm
conditions 3 = tornado (land); waterspout (water)
5 = squall
2 Liquid 0 = none
precipitation 1 = light rain
2 = moderate rain
3 = heavy rain
4 = light rain showers
5 = moderate rain showers
6 = heavy rain showers
7 = light freezing rain
8 = moderate freezing rain
9 = heavy freezing rain
3 Liquid 0 = none
precipitation 4 = light drizzle
5 = moderate drizzle
6 = heavy drizzle
7 = light freezing drizzle
8 = moderate freezing drizzle
9 = heavy freezing drizzle
4 Frozen 0 = none
precipitation 1 = light snow
2 = moderate snow
3 = heavy snow
4 = light snow pellets
5 = moderate snow pellets
6 = heavy snow pellets
8 = ice crystals
5 Frozen 0 = none
precipitation 1 = light snow showers
2 = moderate snow showers
3 = heavy snow showers
7 = light snow grains
8 = moderate snow grains
9 = heavy snow grains
6 Frozen 0 = none
precipitation 1 = light ice pellets
2 = moderate ice pellets
3 = heavy ice pellets
5 = hail
8 = small hail
7 Obstructions 0 = none
to vision 1 = fog
2 = ice fog
3 = ground fog
4 = blowing dust
5 = blowing sand
8 Obstructions 0 = none
to vision 1 = smoke
2 = haze
3 = smoke and haze
4 = dust
5 = blowing snow
6 = blowing spray
+ WIND_DIR:
True direction, in tens of degrees, from which wind is blowing.
Decode the CLOUD_TYPE fields (lowest, second, third, and fourth) as follows:
Code Interpretation
----- -----------------------------
0 none/clear
1 fog
2 stratus
3 stratocumulus
4 cumulus
5 cumulonimbus
6 altostratus
7 alto cumulus
8 cirrus
9 cirrostratus
10 stratus fractus
11 cumulus fractus
12 cumulonimbus fractus
13 nimbostratus
14 altocumulus castellanus
15 cirrocumulus
16 obscuring phenomena other than fog
$+ Decode the CLOUD_HT fields (lowest, second, third, and fourth) as follows:
000-990 - hundreds of feet (0 to 99,000 feet)
888 - unknown height of cirroform layer
999 - unlimited vertical visibility
Decode the FIFE_DATA_CRTFCN_CODE as follows:
The primary certification codes are: EXM Example or Test data (not for release) PRE Preliminary (unchecked, use at your own risk) CPI Checked by Principal Investigator (reviewed for quality) CGR Checked by a group and reconciled (data comparisons and cross checks)
The certification code modifiers are: PRE-NFP Preliminary - Not for publication, at the request of investigator. CPI-MRG PAMS data that is "merged" from two separate receiving stations to eliminate transmission errors. CPI-??? Investigator thinks data item may be questionable.
SITEGRID_ID STATION_CALL_SIGN OBS_DATE OBS_TIME CEILING_HT
----------- ----------------- --------- -------- ----------
XICT-MET ICT 10-NOV-88 1500 999
XICT-MET ICT 10-NOV-88 1600 999
XICT-MET ICT 10-NOV-88 1700 120
XICT-MET ICT 10-NOV-88 1800 120
FIRST_SKY_CONDITION SECOND_SKY_CONDITION THIRD_SKY_CONDITION
------------------- -------------------- -------------------
9 9 9
9 9 9
9 9 9
9 9 9
FOURTH_SKY_CONDITION VISIBILITY PRESENT_WEATHER SEA_LVL_PRESS DEWPT_TEMP
-------------------- ---------- --------------- ------------- ----------
9 150 1024.00 29
9 150 1023.70 29
9 150 1023.10 29
9 150 1022.80 29
WIND_DIR WIND_SPEED SURF_PRESS DRY_BULB_TEMP WET_BULB_TEMP REL_HUM
-------- ---------- ---------- ------------- ------------- -------
36 5 28.80 57 44 34
36 4 28.79 58 45 33
28.77 54 43 38
6 4 28.76 53 42 40
TOTAL_SKY_COVER LOWEST_CLOUD_AMOUNT LOWEST_CLOUD_TYPE LOWEST_CLOUD_HT
--------------- ------------------- ----------------- ---------------
888
3 3 -999 120
9 6 -999 120
10 6 -999 120
SECOND_CLOUD_AMOUNT SECOND_CLOUD_TYPE SECOND_CLOUD_HT THIRD_CLOUD_AMOUNT
------------------- ----------------- --------------- ------------------
-999 -999 -999
3 -999 250 -999
6 -999 250 -999
10 -999 250 -999
THIRD_CLOUD_TYPE THIRD_CLOUD_HT FOURTH_CLOUD_AMOUNT FOURTH_CLOUD_TYPE
---------------- -------------- ------------------- -----------------
8 -999 -999 -999
-999 -999 -999 -999
-999 -999 -999 -999
-999 -999 -999 -999
FOURTH_CLOUD_HT TOTAL_SKY_COVER_2 SECOND_CLOUD_AMOUNT_SUM
--------------- ----------------- -----------------------
-999 -999 -999
-999 -999 -999
-999 -999 -999
-999 -999 -999
THIRD_CLOUD_AMOUNT_SUM FIFE_DATA_CRTFCN_CODE LAST_REVISION_DATE
---------------------- --------------------- ------------------
-999 pre 01-APR-93
-999 pre 01-APR-93
-999 pre 01-APR-93
-999 pre 01-APR-93
This data set contains point data acquired from October 1, 1988 through October 31, 1989. The data was collected in hourly time intervals.
A general description of data granularity as it applies to the IMS appears in the EOSDIS Glossary.
The CD-ROM file format consists of numerical and character fields of varying length separated by commas. The character fields are enclosed with a single apostrophe. There are no spaces between the fields. Each file begins with five header records. Header records contain the following information: Record 1 Name of this file, its table name, number of records in this file, path and name of the document that describes the data in this file, and name of principal investigator for these data. Record 2 Path and filename of the previous data set, and path and filename of the next data set. (Path and filenames for files that contain another set of data taken at the same site on the same day.) Record 3 Path and filename of the previous site, and path and filename of the next site. (Path and filenames for files of the same data set taken on the same day for the previous and next sites (sequentially numbered by SITEGRID_ID)). Record 4 Path and filename of the previous date, and path and filename of the next date. (Path and filenames for files of the same data set taken at the same site for the previous and next date.) Record 5 Column names for the data within the file, delimited by commas. Record 6 Data records begin.
Each field represents one of the attributes listed in the chart in the Data Characteristics Section and described in detail in the TDF file. These fields are in the same order as in the chart.
Not available at this revision.
FIS staff obtained the initial data from the National Climatic Data Center in the form of 6250 bpi magnetic computer tapes. Data was read from the tapes and inserted into appropriate data columns. Much of the data in encoded, and users of this data set will have to use the Other Relevant Information Section to interpret these values. In addition, FIS staff filled missing values with the value of 9999.
NOAA identifies surface stations with WBAN surface station identification numbers. This number is different than the identification numbers that were used in the 1987-1988 data set (FIS identification numbers). FIS staff converted the WBAN numbers to corresponding FIS identification numbers. the Other Relevant Information Section contains documentation for both numbers. FIS staff inserted the value of 9999 where missing values were noted.
None performed by FIS staff.
None.
None.
None.
Most remote station problems are detected at the base by direct observation of data being received and displayed. Determining the nature of most problems is generally straightforward. Typical problems experienced in the field, which introduce errors in the data are :
It is assumed that NOAA/NESDIS does a quality check of the data, before archiving and delivery to researchers. In addition, FIS staff performed preliminary data quality control, checking maximums and minimums in all data fields.
FIS staff believes this data to be of high quality.
Not available at this revision.
Not available at this revision.
The data verification performed by the ORNL DAAC deals with the quality of the data format, media, and readability. The ORNL DAAC does not make an assessment of the quality of the data itself except during the course of performing other QA procedures as described below.
The FIFE data were transferred to the ORNL DAAC via CD-ROM. These CD-ROMs are distributed by the ORNL DAAC unmodified as a set or in individual volumes, as requested. In addition, the DAAC has incorporated each of the 98 FIFE tabular datasets from the CD-ROMs into its online data holdings. Incorporation of these data involved the following steps:
Each distinct type of data (i.e. "data set" on the CD-ROM), is accompanied by a documentation file (i.e., .doc file) and a data format/structure definition file (i.e., .tdf file). The data format files on the CD-ROM are Oracle SQL commands (e.g., "create table") that can be used to set up a relational database table structure. This file provides column/variable names, character/numeric type, length, and format, and labels/comments. These SQL commands were converted to SAS code and were used to create SAS data sets and subsequently to input data files directly from the CD-ROM into a SAS dataset. During this process, file names and directory paths were captured and metadata was extracted to the extent possible electronically. No files were found to be corrupted or unreadable during the conversion process.
Additional Quality Assurance procedures were performed as follows:
As errors are discovered in the online tabular data by investigators, users, or DAAC staff, corrections are made in cooperation with the principal investigators. These corrections are then distributed to users. CD-ROM data are corrected when re-mastering occurs for replenishment of CD-ROM stock.
Not available.
Not available at this revision.
Users of the data set will need to use the documentation contained in the Other Relevant Information Section to interpret the information contained in the data columns.
Not available at this revision.
This data may be used as input data and/or verification data for numerical simulation models.
The FIFE field campaigns were held in 1987 and 1989 and there are no plans for new data collection. Field work continues near the FIFE site at the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network Konza research site (i.e., LTER continues to monitor the site). The FIFE investigators are continuing to analyze and model the data from the field campaigns to produce new data products.
ORNL DAAC User Services
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Telephone: (865) 241-3952
FAX: (865) 574-4665
Email: ornldaac@ornl.gov
ORNL Distributed Active Archive Center
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
USA
Telephone: (865) 241-3952
FAX: (865) 574-4665
Email: ornldaac@ornl.gov
\DATA\SUR_MET\NCDC_SUR\GRIDxxxx\YyyMmm\ydddgrid.NCS
Where xxxx is the four digit code for the location within the FIFE site grid, yy is the last two digits of the year (e.g., Y87 = 1987) and mm is the month of the year (e.g., M12 = December). Note: capital letters indicate fixed values that appear on the CD-ROM exactly as shown here, lower case indicates characters (values) that change for each path and file.
The format used for the filenames is: ydddgrid.sfx, where grid is the four-number code for the location within the FIFE site grid, y is the last digit of the year (e.g., 7 = 1987, and 9 = 1989), and ddd is the day of the year (e.g., 061 = sixty-first day of the year). The filename extension (.sfx), identifies the data set content for the file (see the Data Characteristics Section) and is equal to .NCS for this data set.
Documentation supplied by the National Climatic Data Center is :
Reference Manual
WBAN Hourly Surface Observations -1440
Data Processing Division, ETAC, USAF
National Climatic Center, NOAA
Additional information :
Federal Meteorological Handbook No. 1
Surface Observations
Third Edition - 1982
U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
Washington, D. C.
Federal Meteorological Handbook No. 2
Surface Synoptic Codes
FCM-H2-1988
U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Washington, D. C.
Hall, F.G., P.J. Sellers, I. MacPherson, R.D. Kelly, S. Verma, B. Markham, B. Blad, J. Wang, and D.E. Strebel. 1989. FIFE: Analysis and Results - A Review. Adv. Space Res. 9(7):275-293.
Pike, J.M. 1985. Field calibration of humidity instruments in the natural atmosphere. Proceedings of International Symposium on moisture and humidity. Washington, DC. 15-18 April. Instrument Society of America. Research Triangle Park, NC. p111-119.
Wade, C.G. 1987. A quality control program for surface mesometeorological data. J. Atmos. Oceanic Tech. 4:435-453.
Contact the EOS Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, Tennessee (see the Data Center Identification Section). Documentation about using the archive and/or online access to the data at the ORNL DAAC is not available at this revision.
A general list of acronyms for the DAAC is available at Acronyms.
April 24, 1994 (citation revised on October 16, 2002).
Warning: This document has not been checked for technical or editorial accuracy by the FIFE Information Scientist. There may be inconsistencies with other documents, technical or editorial errors that were inadvertently introduced when the document was compiled or references to preliminary data that were not included on the final CD-ROM.
Previous versions of this document have been reviewed by the Principal Investigator, the person who transmitted the data to FIS, a FIS staff member, or a FIFE scientist generally familiar with the data.
Lutz, R. J. 1994. Surface Meteorology Data: NCDC (FIFE). Data set. Available on -line [http://www.daac.ornl.gov] from Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A. doi:10.3334/ORNLDAAC/122. Also published in D. E. Strebel, D. R. Landis, K. F. Huemmrich, and B. W. Meeson (eds.), Collected Data of the First ISLSCP Field Experiment, Vol. 1: Surface Observations and Non-Image Data Sets. CD-ROM. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S.A. (available from http://www.daac.ornl.gov).