ATCF Fixes Format 6/10/2009 Common section, fields 1 - 32, followed by one of the following: Subjective dvorak Objective dvorak Microwave Radar Aircraft Dropsonde Analysis COMMON FIELDS ------------- Basin - WP, IO, SH, CP, EP, AL, LS 2 char. CY - annual cyclone number, 1-99, 2 char. YYYYMMDDHHMM = Fix date-time-group, 12 char. Fix format - 10 - subjective dvorak 3 char. 20 - objective dvorak 30 - microwave 31 - scatterometer 40 - radar 50 - aircraft 60 - dropsonde 70 - analysis fix type - DVTS - subjective Dvorak 4 char. DVTO - objective Dvorak SSMI - Special Sensor Microwave Imager SSMS - SSM/IS (Shared Processing Program) QSCT - QuikSCAT ERS2 - European Remote Sensing System scatterometer SEAW - SeaWinds scatterometer TRMM - Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission microwave and vis/ir imager WIND - WindSat, polarimetric microwave radiometer MMHS - Micorwave Humidity Sounder ALTG - geosat altimeter AMSU - Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit RDRC - conventional radar RDRD - doppler radar RDRT - TRMM radar SYNP - synoptic AIRC - aircraft ANAL - analysis DRPS - dropsonde UNKN - unknown Center/intensity - 10 char. C-center fix, lat/lon specifies a center fix position, I-intensity fix, V specifies the max wind speed assoc. with the storm, R-wind radii fix, P-pressure, Pressure specifies central mean sea level pressure N-none, C, I, P, R, CI, CP, IP, CIP, N ... Flagged indicator - 1 char. C-center location is flagged, I-intensity is flagged, R-wind radii is flagged, P-pressure is flagged, F-all of the above are flagged, " "-fix is not flagged. Lat N/S - Latitude (hundreths of degrees), 0-9000 5 char. N/S is the hemispheric index. Lon E/W - Longitude (hundreths of degrees), 0-18000 6 char. E/W is the hemispheric index. Height of ob - 0-99999 meters 5 char. Posit Confidence - 1-good, 2-fair, 3-poor 1 char. V - Wind speed (kts), 0 - 300 kts 3 char. V Confidence - 1-good, 2-fair, 3-poor 1 char. Pressure - Pressure, 0 - 1050 mb. 4 char. Pressure Confidence - 1-good, 2-fair, 3-poor 1 char. Pressure derivation - 4 char. DVRK - dvorak, AKHL - atkinson-holiday table, XTRP - extrapolated, MEAS - measured, Rad - Wind intensity (kts) - 34, 50, 64 3 char. for the radii defined in this record. Windcode - Radius code: 4 char. AAA - full circle NEQ - northeast quadrant Rad1 - If full circle, radius of specified wind intensity. Otherwise radius of specified wind intensity for northeast quadrant of circle. 0 - 1200 nm. 4 char. Rad2 - Radius of specified wind intensity for 2nd quadrant (southeast quadrant). 0 - 1200 nm. 4 char. Rad3 - Radius of specified wind intensity for 3rd quadrant (southwest quadrant). 0 - 1200 nm. 4 char. Rad4 - Radius of specified wind intensity for 4th quadrant (northwest quadrant). 0 - 1200 nm. 4 char. RadMod1 - E-Edge of Pass, C-Cut off by Land, B-Both 1 char. RadMod2 - E-Edge of Pass, C-Cut off by Land, B-Both 1 char. RadMod3 - E-Edge of Pass, C-Cut off by Land, B-Both 1 char. RadMod4 - E-Edge of Pass, C-Cut off by Land, B-Both 1 char. Radii confidence - 1-good, 2-fair, 3-poor 1 char. MRD - radius of max winds 0-999 nm 3 char. Eye - eye diameter, 0-120 nm. 3 char. Subregion - subregion code: W,A,B,S,P,C,E,L,Q 1 char. A - Arabian Sea B - Bay of Bengal C - Central Pacific E - Eastern Pacific L - Atlantic P - South Pacific (135E - 120W) Q - South Atlantic S - South IO (20E - 135E) W - Western Pacific Fix site/WMO Identifier - 5 char. Initials (fix enterer) - 3 char. -------------------------------------------------------------- SATELLITE DVTS -- Subjective dvorak technique Sensor type - vis, ir, microwave... 4 char. V, I, M, VI, IM, VM, VIM PCN code (deprecated) - 1 char. 1 = Eye/Geography 2 = Eye/Ephemeris 3 = Well Defined Circ. Center/Geography 4 = Well Definged Circ. Center/Ephemeris 5 = Poorly Defined Circ. Center/Geography 6 = Poorly Defined Circ. Center/Ephemeris Dvorak code - long term trend, 10 char. (18-30 hour change in t-number) T num, none or 0.0 - 8.0 CI num, none or 0.0 - 8.0 Forecast intensity change, + - or blank Past change - developed, steady, weakened (long term trend) Amount of t num change, none or 0.0 - 8.0 Hours since previous eval, 18 - 30 HRS Example: T4.0/4.0+/D1.0/24HRS Entry: 4040+D1024 Dvorak code - short term trend, 5 char. ( < 18 hour change in t-number. Only used when significant difference from long term trend, i.e., LTT is +1.0 strengthening, but STT over 6 hours shows - 0.5 weakening.) Past change - developed, steady, weakened (short term trend) Amount of t num change, none or 0.0 - 8.0 Hours since previous eval, 0 - 17 HRS Example: W0.5/06HRS Entry: W0506 CI 24 hr forecast - none or 0.0 - 8.0 2 char. Satellite type - 6 char. GMS, DMSP, DMSP45, TRMM, NOAA... center type - CSC, LLCC, ULCC 4 char. LLCC - lower level cloud center ULCC - upper level cloud center CSC - cloud system center Tropical indicator - 1 char. S-subtropical, E-extratropical, T-tropical Comments - 52 char. ----- DVTO -- Objective dvorak technique Data (IR) Sensor type - vis, ir, microwave... 4 char. V, I, M, VI, IM, VM, VIM CI num - 2 char. CI confidence - 1-good, 2-fair, 3-poor, 1 char. T num (average) 2 char. T num averaging time period - hours 3 char. T num averaging derivation - 1 char. L-straight linear, T-time weighted T num (raw) 2 char. Temperature (eye), -99 - 50 celsius 4 char. Temperature (cloud surrounding eye) - celsius 4 char. Scene type - CDO, EYE, EEYE, SHER... 4 char. CDO - central dense overcast EYE - definable eye EMBC - embedded center SHER - partially exposed eye due to strong wind shear with asymmetric convective structure Algorithm (Rule 9 flag, Rapid flag) - R9, RP 2 char. Satellite type - 6 char. GMS, DMSP, DMSP45, TRMM, NOAA... Tropical indicator - 1 char. S-subtropical, E-extratropical, T-tropical Comments - 52 char. ----- SSMI, TRMM, AMSU, ADOS, ALTI, ERS2, QSCT, SEAW -- MICROWAVE Rain flagged - "R" or blank 1 char. Rainrate - 0-500 mm/h 3 char. Process - 6 char. FNMOC algorithm, NESDIS algorithm, RSS... Wave height (active micr) - 0-99 ft 2 char. Temp (passive micr) - celsius 4 char. SLP (raw, AMSU only) - mb 4 char. SLP (retrieved, AMSU only) - mb 4 char. Max Seas - (alti) 0-999 ft. 3 char. Satellite type - 6 char. GMS, DMSP, DMSP45, TRMM, NOAA... Rad - Wind intensity (kts) - 34, 50, 64 3 char. for the radii defined in this record. Windcode - Radius code: 4 char. AAA - full circle quadrant designations: NEQ - northeast quadrant octant designations: XXXO - octants (NNEO, ENEO, ESEO, SSEO, SSWO, WSWO, WNWO NNWO) Rad1 - If full circle, radius of specified wind intensity. Otherwise radius of specified wind intensity of wind intensity of circle portion specified in windcode. 0 - 1200 nm. 4 char. Rad2 - Radius of specified wind intensity for 2nd quadrant/octant (counting clockwise from quadrant specified in windcode). 0 - 1200 nm. 4 char. Rad3 - Radius of specified wind intensity for 3rd quadrant/octant (counting clockwise from quadrant specified in windcode). 0 - 1200 nm. 4 char. Rad4 - Radius of specified wind intensity for 4th quadrant/octant (counting clockwise from quadrant specified in windcode). 0 - 1200 nm. 4 char. Rad5 - Radius of specified wind intensity for 5th octant (counting clockwise from quadrant specified in windcode). 0 - 1200 nm. 4 char. Rad6 - Radius of specified wind intensity for 6th octant (counting clockwise from quadrant specified in windcode). 0 - 1200 nm. 4 char. Rad7 - Radius of specified wind intensity for 7th octant (counting clockwise from quadrant specified in windcode). 0 - 1200 nm. 4 char. Rad8 - Radius of specified wind intensity for 8th octant (counting clockwise from quadrant specified in windcode). 0 - 1200 nm. 4 char. RadMod1 - E-Edge of Pass, C-Cut off by Land, B-Both 1 char. RadMod2 - E-Edge of Pass, C-Cut off by Land, B-Both 1 char. RadMod3 - E-Edge of Pass, C-Cut off by Land, B-Both 1 char. RadMod4 - E-Edge of Pass, C-Cut off by Land, B-Both 1 char. RadMod5 - E-Edge of Pass, C-Cut off by Land, B-Both 1 char. RadMod6 - E-Edge of Pass, C-Cut off by Land, B-Both 1 char. RadMod7 - E-Edge of Pass, C-Cut off by Land, B-Both 1 char. RadMod8 - E-Edge of Pass, C-Cut off by Land, B-Both 1 char. Radii confidence - 1-good, 2-fair, 3-poor 1 char. Comments - 52 char. ---------------------------------------------------------------- RADAR RDRC, RDRD, RDRT -- Radar, Conventional, Doppler and TRMM Radar Type: 1 char. L - Land; S - Ship; A - Aircraft; T - Satellite Radar Format: 1 char. R - RADOB; P - plain language; D - Doppler RADOB CODE - A S W a r t d d f f 10 char. c c c c t e s s s s See description below. Also enter slashes if reported and in place of blanks. Eye Shape - 2 char. CI - Circular; EL - Elliptic; CO - concentric Percent of Eye Wall Observed (99 = 100%) - 2 char. Spiral Overlay (degrees) - 2 char. Radar Site Position Lat N/S - 5 char. Lon E/W - 6 char. Inbound Max Wind - 0-300 kts 3 char. Azimuth - degrees, 1-360 3 char. Range - less than 400 nm, 3 char. Elevation - feet 5 char. Outbound Max Wind - 0-300 kts 3 char. Azimuth - degrees, 1-360 3 char. Range - less than 400 nm, 3 char. Elevation - feet 5 char. Max Cloud Height (trmm radar) - 70,000ft 5 char. Rain accumulation: Max. rain accumulation, hundreths of inches 0-10000 5 char. Time interval, 1 - 120 hours 3 char. Lat N/S - Latitude (hundreths of degrees), 0-9000 5 char. N/S is the hemispheric index. Lon E/W - Longitude (hundreths of degrees), 0-18000 6 char. E/W is the hemispheric index. Comments - 52 char. Note: The greater of the two inbound and outbound winds should be assigned to the V field. It is not mandatory to have both inbound and outbound winds. RADAR OBSERVATION CODE description 10314 30222 AcScWcacrt tedsdsfsfs Char Mvmnt Char. AcScWcacrt. Coded characteristics of the eye of the system Ac--Accuracy of the position of the center or the eye Code 1 Eye visible on radar scope, accuracy good (within 10km). 2 Eye visible on radar scope, accuracy fair (within 30 km). 3 Eye visible on radar scope, accuracy poor (within 50 km). 4 Position of the center within the area covered by the radar scope, determination by means of the spiral-band overlay, accuracy good (within 10km). 5 Position of the center within the area covered by the radar scope, determination by means of the spiral-band overlay, accuracy fair (within 30km). 6 Position of the center within the area covered by the radar scope, determination by means of the spiral-band overlay, accuracy poor (within 50km). 7 Position of the center outside the area covered by the radar scope, extrapolation by means of the spiral-band overlay. / Accuracy undetermined. Sc--Shape and definition of the eye. Code 0 Circular. 1 Elliptical-the minor axis at least 3/4 the length of the major axis. 2 Elliptical-the minor axis is less than 3/4 the length of the major axis. 3 Apparent double eye. 4 Other shape. 5 Ill defined. / Undetermined. Wc--Diameter or length of axis of the eye. Code 0 Less than 5 km. 1 5 to less than 10 km. 2 10 to less than 15 km. 3 15 to less than 20 km. 4 20 to less than 25 km. 5 25 to less than 30 km. 6 30 to less than 35 km. 7 35 to less than 40 km. 8 40 to less than 50 km. 9 50 km and greater. / Undetermined. ac--Change in character of the eye during the past 30 minutes preceding the time of observation. Code 0 Eye has first become visible during the past 30 minutes. 1 No significant change in characteristics or size of the eye. 2 Eye has become smaller with no other significant change in characteristics. 3 Eye has become larger with no other significant change in characterisitcs. 4 Eye has become less distinct, no significant change in size. 5 Eye has become less distinct and decreased in size. 6 Eye has become less distinct and increased in size. 7 Eye has become more distinct, no significant change in size. 8 Eye has become more distinct and decreased in size. 9 Eye has become more distinct and increased in size. / Change in character and size of eye cannot be determined. rt--Distance between the end of the outermost spiral band and the center. Code 0 0 to less than 100 km. 1 100 to less than 200 km. 2 200 to less than 300 km. 3 300 to less than 400 km. 4 400 to less than 500 km. 5 500 to less than 600 km. 6 600 to less than 800 km. 7 800 km or more. / Doubtful or undetermined. Mvmnt. tedsdsfsfs. Movement of the system. te--Time interval for which the system has been evaluated. dsds--The direction in tens of degrees toward which the system is moving. fsfs--The speed in knots at which the system is moving. ----------------------------------------------------------------- AIRCRAFT AIRC -- Aircraft Flight Level Flight Level - 100's of feet 2 char. Flight Level - millibars 3 char. Minimum height - meters 4 char. Maximum Surface Wind (inbound leg) Intensity - kts 3 char. Bearing - degrees 3 char. Range - nm 3 char. Maximum Flight Level Wind (inbound leg) Direction - degrees 3 char. Intensity - kts 3 char. Bearing - degrees 3 char. Range - nm 3 char. Minimum Sea Level Pressure - millibars 4 char. Temperature Outside Eye -99 to 99 Celsius 3 char. Temperature Inside Eye -99 to 99 Celsius 3 char. Dew Point Temperature -99 to 99 Celsius 3 char. Sea Surface Temperature 0 to 40 Celsius 2 char. Eye Character or Wall Cld Thickness (pre-2015) 2 char. NA - < 50% eyewall CL - Closed Wall PD - Poorly Defined N - open North NE - open Northeast E - open East SE - open Southeast S - open South SW - open Southwest W - open West NW - open Northwest SB - spiral band Eye Shape/Orientation/Diameter Shape: CI-circ.; EL-elliptic; CO-concentric 2 char. Orientation - degrees 3 char. Diameter (long axis if elliptical) - nm 2 char. Short Axis (blank if not elliptical) - nm 2 char. Accuracy Navigational - tenths of nm 3 char. Meteorological - tenths of nm 3 char. Mission Number 2 char. Comments - 52 char. ----------------------------------------------------------------- DROPSONDE DRPS -- Dropsondes Sonde environment - 10 char. EYEWALL, EYE, RAINBAND, MXWNDBND, SYNOPTIC Height of midpoint over lowest 150 m of drop, meters (75 - 999 m) 3 char. Speed of mean wind, lowest 150 m of drop - kts 3 char. Speed of mean wind, 0-500 m layer - kts 3 char. Comments - 52 char. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANALYSIS ANAL -- Analysis( HRD, personal, aircraft, model(GFD) ) Analyst initials - 3 char. Start time - YYYYMMDDHHMM 12 char. End time - YYYYMMDDHHMM 12 char. Distance to Nearest Data, 0 - 300 nm 3 char. SST - celsius 4 char Observation sources - 24 char. b - buoy, l - land station, m - SSMI, c - scat, t - trmm, i - ir, v - vis, p - ship, d - dropsonde, a - aircraft, r - radar, x - other 1 char. identifier for each ob source, concatenate the selected 1 char. identifiers to list all of the sources. Comments - 52 char. -----------------------------------------------------------------