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NWS US Radiosonde B & C BUFR High Resolution

NWS B & C BUFR

browse graphicNOAA Data
The Binary Universal Form for the Representation of meteorological data (BUFR) is a binary data format maintained by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In 2015 part of the US upper air stations began to include the high resolution radiosonde measurement in their data package sent to the NCEI. These high resolution BUFR files have names as Cnnn, where nnn represents ascension number. The BUFR includes 1) metadata: station information, instrument information, balloon release information; 2) up to 1-second observations: elapsed time, level type, location displacement, pressure, height, temperature, dew point temperature, wind speed, wind direction. Time coverage is September 2015 to present, spatial coverage is US CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, and territories.
  • Cite as: National Weather Service (2021): NWS US Radiosonde B & C BUFR High Resolution.[indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Accessed [date].
  • NCEI DSI: 6213_02
  • gov.noaa.ncei:C01630
C01630
XML
Download Data
Distribution Formats
  • BUFR
Ordering InstructionsContact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
DistributorNOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact Yin, Xungang
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Time Period2015 to Present (time interval: 12-hour)
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
N: 72.0
S: -15.0
E: -64.0
W: 134.0
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Processing Documents
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2021
Dataset Progress StatusOngoing - data is continually being updated
Data Update Frequency Monthly
PurposeThe BUFR data provides the most complete upper air observations at each site, with up to 6,000 levels as compared to about 200 levels in the low resolution data. It also contains the spatial position at each level. The BUFR data enable us to study detailed upper air structure in both time and space. The data set has been highly demanded by researchers.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: National Weather Service (2021): NWS US Radiosonde B & C BUFR High Resolution.[indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
  • DOC/NOAA/NWS > National Weather Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Originators
  • DOC/NOAA/NWS > National Weather Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publishers
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Theme keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Upper Air Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Humidity
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)
  • Atmospheric - Surface - Air Temperature
Data Center keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NWS > National Weather Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Instrument keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
  • RADIOSONDES
Place keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Continent > North America > United States Of America
Stratum keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Vertical Location > Boundary Layer
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: National Weather Service (2021): NWS US Radiosonde B & C BUFR High Resolution.[indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Accessed [date].
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Lineage StatementData are created from the NWS managed upper air stations. Data are transmitted to NCEI in near-real time or monthly.
Processor
  • NCEI
Processing Steps
  • NWS upper air sites send observation data to NCEI daily (DSI-6214) or monthly (DSI-6212). NCEI extracts the C BUFR data from the data packages in DSI-6212 and DSI-6214.
    Rationale: This dataset is to ensure all upper air radiosonde B & C BUFR data are in a single standardized dataset.
Processing EnvironmentBUFR data are created at observation sites by software developed by radiosonde instrument providers. Data files are then transmitted to NCEI and ingested by NCEI ingest system on Linux OS.
Processing Documents
Source Datasets
  • NWS Radiosonde Monthly
    • NWS Radiosonde Monthly
    • Description of Source: NCEI DSI-6212
    • Temporal extent used: 2015-01-01 to Present
    • Spatial extent used: N:75 S:-15 E:180 W:-180
  • NWS Radiosonde Daily
    • NWS Radiosonde Daily
    • Description of Source: DSI-6214
    • Temporal extent used: 2015-01-01 to Present
    • Spatial extent used: N:75 S:-15 E:180 W:-180
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Last Modified: 2023-06-23
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov