WB Form 1210F (Log of Ship’s Weather Observations)
WB Form 615-5 (Revised 1-17-1958) (Formerly WB Form 1210F)
ESSA Form 72-1 (Revised 1-1968)
NOAA Form 72-1
Note: NOAA Form 72-1A (Revised 1-1982) is to be keyed using the incoming records marine format (very similar forms).

Position		Contents				Instructions

1			Form type				Set indicator to form type
								1 = 1210F (Octant of the globe)
								2 = 615-5 (Octant of the globe)							
								3 = 72-1   (Quadrant of the globe)

2			,					Comma delimited

3 - 30			Station Name				Left justify, blank fill.
For lightships pull name off official name list provided by NCDC; if unsure of match then key as it appears on form.

31			,					Comma delimited

32-36			WBAN Number			Provided by NCDC as part of the official name list for lightships.  If no match then use a negative number
unique for the lightship (e.g. -1234).  This will allow us to identify and correct later.  We do not expect this to be a problem as all lightships will be identified for keying.

37			,					Comma delimited

38 - 41			Year					e.g. 1947

42			,					Comma delimited

43- 44			Month					Month = 01-12

45			,					Comma delimited

46-47			Day of Month				Day of the month (01-31).  Date and times correspond to Greenwich Mean Time.
First field (position) on the Octant forms
Fifth field (position) on the Quadrant forms (YY)

48			,					Comma delimited

_			Day of Week				Do not key this parameter

49			Octant/Quadrant			The form type indicator establishes if the value entered is an Octant or Quadrant indicator:
								Octant = 0,1,2,3,5,6,7,8
								Quadrant = 1,3,5,7  
On the forms the Octant appears immediately before the latitude, while the Quadrant appears directly after the latitude.

50			,					Comma delimited

51-53			Latitude				Latitude to tenths of degrees, right justify, zero fill, decimal implied.

54			,					Comma delimited

55-58			Longitude				Longitude -
If Octant (LoLoLo) degree and tenths (000-900), enter into position 56-58, right justify and zero fill, decimal implied, blank fill position 55. 
If Quadrant (LoLoLoLo) degrees and tenths, right justify zero fill, decimal implied (0000-1800).
 
59			,					Comma delimited

60-61			Observational Time (GG)		Greenwich Mean Time (GG). Time 
								 to the nearest hour (00-23).  Key
								 only two positions of the time
								 (round to nearest hour - if near
								 midnight this could also affect the 
								day) even if four digits have been 
								entered.	

62			,					Comma delimited

63			Wind Speed indicator (iw) 		iw only appears on the Quadrant forms. Insure it is entered correctly; blank fill for the Octant forms.

								iw:	0 = m/s estimated
									1 = m/s anemometer
									3 = knots estimated
									4 = knots anemometer 

64			,					Comma delimited

65			N (total cloud amount)		N - The fraction of the celestial dome covered by cloud, in eighths  (0-9, /).

66			,					Comma delimited

67-68			dd Wind direction (36 pt)		Wind direction 00-36.  However, in 
								cases where the true wind speed 
								exceeds 99 knots, 50 is added to 
								“dd” and only the wind speed in
								excess of 100 knots will be reported 
								as “ff”. Observer occasionally  
								reported alpha characters. Alpha 
								to numeric conversion as follows:
								Entry            Keying Code
								   N		36
								NNE		02
								 NE		05
								ENE 		07
								  E		09
								ESE 		12
								 SE		14
								SSE 		16
								  S		18
								SSW		21
								 SW		23
								WSW		25
								   W		27
								WNW		29
								 NW		32
								NNW		34
								e.g. if entry is “NEG” or “Calm” 
								then:
								Position 67 = 0
								Position 68 = 0

69			,					Comma delimited 

70-71			ff (Wind Velocity) 			Wind speed (U.S. registered ships report in knots - should match iw), right justify zero fill.
								e.g. is entry is “NEG” or “Calm”
								then:
								Position 70 = 0
								Position 71 = 0

72			,					Comma delimited

73-74			VV (visibility)				Visibility coded (VV= 90-99)

75			,					Comma delimited

76-77			ww (present weather)			Present weather code (ww), code figures = 00-99.  Enter two digit code as entered on form.

78			,					Comma delimited

79			W (past weather)			Past weather code figures 0-9. 

80			,					Comma delimited

81-85			 Sea-level pressure 			Sea-level pressure reported in millibars (to tenths) or inches (to hundredths). Key the figure from field 16 from the Octant forms and field 15 from the Quadrant forms.  Field 16 restricted to three figures of the sea level pressure (measured in millibars) entered under parameter PPP. e.g. if value reported 168, then:
								Position 81-82 = blank
								Positions 83-85 = 168
Occasionally sea-level pressure (inches or millibars) entered in fields 13 and 14. Key only field 14 (Barometer Corrected) if sea level pressure is not reported in field 16.  Key field 13 (Barometer as Read) only if fields 14 (Barometer Corrected) 15 and 16 are not available. Right justify, decimal implied, blank fill.
								e.g. if value reported is 29.93
								Positions 81 = blank
								Positions 82-85 = 2993
								e.g. if value reported is 1016.7
								Positions 81-85 = 10167

86			,					Comma delimited

87			Temperature indicator			WB Form 615-5 has a box for the observer to check to indicate if the temperature reported is in oF or oC..
								If box oF checked set = 1
								If box oC checked set = 2
If neither checked blank fill position 87.  It is assumed that all temperatures reported on an observational form are on the same temperature scale.  If not then set position 87 = 3 (mixed scales, e.g. air temp oF & Sea temp oC).

88			,					Comma delimited

89-91			TT (dry bulb temperature) 		Position 89 reserved for negative sign when reported incorrectly; e.g. if TT reported as -01 then a - (dash) is to be entered in position 89 and the 01 into 90-91.  If no sign reported then position 89 should be blank filled.

WB Form 1210F Temperature is reported in oF.  For negative temperatures 100 was supposed to be added algebraically (100-TT); e.g. 
								-10 oF = 90 as entered on the form. 

WB Form 615-5 either oF or oC, important to capture the indicator box although not always filled in by the observer. Negative temperatures in oF were handled as above (WB Form 1210F).  If negative oC then 50 was added rather than 100.

ESSA Form 72-1 air temperatures were reported in oC, with tenths value appearing in field 33 rather than in field 16 where temperature to whole oC was reported.  If negative temperature, 50 was added to TT algebraically. 

Enter value as it appears under TT, right justify blank fill (positions 89-90) reserved for temperature in whole degrees.  If signed rather than properly coded then enter sign in position 88.

In some cases dry bulb oF temperatures are measured to tenths of a degree. When this situation occurs the value should be rounded to whole degrees oF.
e.g. if entry = 58.6
Position 89 = blank
Position 90 = 5
Position 91 = 9
e.g. if entry is 48.3
Position 89 = blank
Position 90 = 4
Position 91 = 8

92			,					Comma delimited

93			Nh 					 Nh - amount of all the CL  cloud(s) present or if no CL cloud present, the amount of all the CM cloud (s) present. Code figures (0-9, /).  Often not reported by lightships; blank fill when not reported.

94			,					Comma delimited

95			CL (low cloud type)			CL - low cloud type, code figures = (0-9, /).  Lightships rarely report cloud types.

96			,					Comma delimited

97			h (height of lowest cloud)		h - height above the ground (sea) of the base of the lowest cloud seen code figures = (0-9 or /). Blank fill if not reported.

98			,					Comma delimited

99			CM  (middle cloud type)		CM (middle cloud type), code fig. = (0-9, /).   

100			,					Comma delimited

101			CH  (high cloud type)			 CH (high cloud type), code fig. = (0-9, /).   

102			,					Comma delimited

103			DS (Ship’s Course)			Ship’s course (true) made good during the 3 hours preceding time of observation. Code figures (0-9).

104			,					Comma delimited

105			VS (Ship’s speed)			Ship’s average speed made good during the 3 hours preceding time of observation. Code figures (0-9).

106			,					Comma delimited

107			a (3 hour pressure characteristic)       Characteristic of pressure tendency 
during the three hours preceding the time of the observations, code figures (0-9).

108			,					Comma delimited

109-110		pp (3 hour pressure tendency)		Amount of pressure tendency (change) at station during the three hours preceding the time of the observation, expressed in tenths of millibars; e.g. if  1.2 mbs, then:
									Position 109 = 1
									Position 110 = 2
								If three hour pressure tendency 
								exceeds 9.9 mbs key two slashes (//)
and place the values in Positions 
154-156.
								e.g. if 12.8 mbs, then:
									Position 109 = /
									Position 110 = / 
								Sign provided in the characteristic of 
								pressure tendency (Position 107).
 
111			,					Comma delimited

112-115		Dry Bulb (Octant forms)		The dry bulb temperature is repeated but supposedly at a finer resolution (tenths of degrees).   However, most are observed/reported only to whole oF.  Position 112 = sign field. Positive = blank, negative = dash (-). Positions 113-114 whole degrees, position 115 = tenths of degrees when available, otherwise blank fill. 
								WB Form 615-5 either oF or oC.
								If negative oC then 50 was added 
								e.g. 51 = - 1  oC.

116			,					Comma delimited

117-120		Wet Bulb (Octant forms)		Position 117 = sign field. Positive = blank, negative = dash (-). Positions 118-119 whole degrees, right justify blank fill. Position 120 = tenths of degrees; if not available blank fill.
								50 was added to the value if negative; e.g. 51 = - 1  oC.

121			,					Comma delimited

122-123		Dew Point (Octant and			Dew point temperature, right justify
			Quadrant forms)			blank fill.  50 was added to the value if negative; e.g. 51 = - 1  oC.

124			,					Comma delimited

125			Water method indicator			Bucket = 1
			(Quadrant forms)			Intake = 2
								Both checked = 3
Neither checked = blank

126			,					Comma delimited

127-129		Sea (Water) Temperature		Depending on the form the scale may
			(All forms)				 be F or C.  Set position 87 correctly to indicate scale. Positions 127-128 whole degrees right justify, blank fill.  Position 129 reserved for tenths; blank fill if not available. Negative 
								temperature may range from -0.1 
								degrees C to -2.8 degrees C. If 
								the temperature falls outside this 
								range contact NCDC for guidance.
								When observed temperature is 
								negative:
								Position 127 = negative (-)
								Position 128 = whole degree value
								Position 129 = tenths 
								For negative sea water temperature 
								values measured in degrees 
								Centigrade the observer occasionally
								added 50. e.g. -0.2 = 50.2 

130			,					Comma delimited

•				Air - Sea/Sea-Air			Do not key this parameter

131			tT (Quadrant form)			tT  - tenths of air temperature

132			,					Comma delimited

133-134		dwdw (Octant forms)			dwdw - wave direction (direction from which they come) (code figures = 00-36, 49).  50 is added to the direction (code figures become 50-86, 99) to change the wave height scale.  The wave refers to the higher of the sea and swell for marine observing until 1963 when two wave patterns could be reported separately (generally sea and swell- dwdw PwHw).  A comparison between the wind direction and wave directions enables the determination of sea and swell. E.g. if entry is “Neg” or “Calm” then:
								Position 133 = 0
								Position 134 = 0

135			,					Comma delimited

136-137		Pw (Octant forms)			If Pw reported place in position 136
			Pw Pw (Quadrant forms)		and blank fill position 137.  Pw is a coded value; if form reports Pw Pw (actual seconds) then right justify and zero fill. E.g. if entry is “Neg” or “Calm” then:
								Position 136 = “-” (Dash)
								Position 137 = blank

138			,					Comma delimited

139-140		Hw (Octant forms)			If Hw reported, place in position 139
			HwHw (Quadrant forms)		and blank fill position 140; if HwHw reported, right justify and zero fill.
E.g. if entry is “Neg” or “Calm” then:
								Position 139 = 0
								Position 140 = blank
								If fraction (e.g. ½) or a decimal  
								(e.g. 0.5) is entered on octant or
								quadrant forms, then enter the 									
								following coding instructions in Positions 139-140:

								Entry		Key

								¼		 0
								½ or 0.5	 1
								1.5		 3	
								
141			,					Comma delimited

142-143		dwdw (2nd wave group)			This parameter (dwdw) is either the second wave (pattern) direction reported on WB form 615-5 (1963 WMO code change, rarely reported) or the swell direction reported on the ESSA form 72-1 (1968 WMO code change).

144			,					Comma delimited

145			Pw (2nd Wave group)			Although the Pw code (0-9, /) is the same value, the meaning is different prior to January 1, 1968 then after that date.   In actuality it is probably more form type-related rather than date-related.  The meaning is different on the WB form 615-5 from the ESSA form 72-1.  This becomes an important conversion issue, but not a keying issue; key as it appears.

146			,					Comma delimited

147-148		Hw (WB form 615-5)             	 	If Hw (2nd wave group - below the
			HwHw (ESSA form 72-1)		first on the form) is reported, place 
			 (2nd Wave group)			in position 147 and blank fill position 148; if HwHw reported, right justify and zero fill.

149			,					Comma delimited

150			QC (latitude)				If the value in positions 51-53 is within 1 degree of latitude of the primary (standard) position of the lightship then:
								Set the QC indicator = 1 (valid 	entry)
If outside the limits set the QC indicator = 2 (suspect latitude)

151			,					Comma delimited

152			QC (longitude)				If the value in positions 55-58 is within 1 degree of longitude of the primary (standard) position of the lightship then:
								Set the QC indicator = 1 (valid 	entry)
If outside the limits set the QC indicator = 2 (suspect longitude)

153			,					Comma delimited

154-156		ppp (3 hour pressure tendency		Amount of pressure tendency 
			exceeding 9.9 mbs)			(change) at station during the three 
								hours preceding the time of the 
								observation, expressed in tenths of 
								millibars. If the value in Positions
								109-110 contains two slashes (//)
								then Positions 154-156 will contain 
								values exceeding 9.9 mbs, otherwise
								Positions 154-156 will be blank 
								filled. e.g. if 12.8 mbs, then:
								Position 154 = 1
								Position 155 = 2
								Position 156 = 8

Notes: 

1.	Whenever an element field has a value to be keyed, but the value cannot be determined
because of illegibility or non-recognizable characters by the keyer then place a tilde (~) 
in the last position of that element field. This will provide the data user with information
that an entry was made by the observer but could not be keyed. If sufficiently interested the user can view the image. 

2.  When the keyers encounter a “/” or “x” then they are to key a dash (-).