Offshore Physical Environmental Guidelines
Appendix E – Meteorological Metadata Report Format
Meteorological metadata is collected so that better use can be made of the data Adjustments can be made to account for inhomogeneities in the data record, if changes in the instruments are known.
WMO Publication No. 47 (Pub47), the International List of Selected, Supplementary and Auxiliary Ships, [22] contains details about the names, call signs, layout, and types of instrumentation and methods of observation used on VOS ships. The reader should contact MSC for updates to this information.
The information may be reported in tabular format as given here, and/or in semi-colon delimited ASCII text format with all fields on one line. Previous records for the platform should be included, as well as a separate note indicating the field(s) that have changed, to prompt the update to the metadata report. The information is to be provided in electronic format readable by a simple text editor and suitable for printing. Fields that are not applicable should be left blank (for tabular format) or indicated as missing by consecutive delimiters (for the semi-colon delimited ASCII text format). Significant changes to the parameters should be reported to MSC in as near to real-time as possible, e.g. changes to the anemometer height (e.g. due to different water depth, for a anemometer on the leg of a jack-up, or change in position of the instrument), call sign. Meteorological Metadata Reports should be transmitted to the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) via email: National.Climate.Archive.Services@ec.gc.ca.
Table E-1: Proposed new delimited format for transmitting Pub47
| Order | Field Code Name |
Explanation | Table | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | rcnty; | Recruiting country. | E-2 | 2 letter code | CA |
| 2 | ver; | Version of Pub47 format. | E-2 | 2 letter code | 03 |
| 3 | Prepared; | Date of report preparation. | ddmmyyy | ||
| 4 | name; | Ship's name. | |||
| 5 | reg; | Country of registration. | E-2 | 2 letter code | CA |
| 6 | call; | Call sign or WMO Number. Some sea stations are identified by a WMO Number instead of a call sign. | |||
| 7 | IMOn; | IMO Number. Unique identifying number assigned by Lloyd's Register to the hull of the ship. | |||
| 8 | vssl; | Vessel type. | E -3 | ||
| 9 | vsslP; | Vessel digital image. | E-4 | ||
| 10 | lenvsslD; | Length overall of the ship, ignoring bulbous bow. | 0.0 m | ||
| 11 | brdvsslD; | Moulded breadth. The greatest breadth amidships. | 0.0 m | ||
| 12 | frbvsslD; | Freeboard. The average height of the upper deck above the maximum Summer load line. | 0.0 m | ||
| 13 | drfvsslD; | Draught. The average depth of the keel below the maximum Summer load line. | 0.0 m | ||
| 14 | chtvsslD; | Cargo height. Maximum height above the maximum Summer load line. | 0.0 m | ||
| 15 | brdg; | Distance of the bridge from the bow. | 0.0 m | ||
| 16 | rte; | Route No. 1. | E-5E-5 | ||
| 17 | rte; | Route No. 2. | E-5 | ||
| 18 | rte; | Route No. 3. | E-5 | ||
| 19 | rte; | Route No. 4. | E-5 | ||
| 20 | rte; | Route No. 5. | E-5 | ||
| 21 | rte; | Route No. 6. | E-5 | ||
| 22 | rte; | Route No. 7. | E-5 | ||
| 23 | rte; | Route No. 8. | E-5 | ||
| 24 | rte; | Route No. 9. | E-5 | ||
| 25 | rte; | Route No. 10. | E-5 | ||
| 26 | vosR; | Recruitment date of the current VOS participation. | ddmmyyyy | ||
| 27 | vosR; vosD; | De-recruitment date of the last VOS participation (report only if the vessel has been re-recruited). | ddmmyyyy | ||
| 28 | vclmR; | Last VOSClim recruitment date if within the current period of VOS participation. | ddmmyyyy | ||
| 29 | clmD; | Last VOSClim de-recruitment date if within the current period of VOS participation. | ddmmyyyy | ||
| 30 | vsslM; | Type of meteorological reporting ship. | E-6 | ||
| 31 | atm; | General observing practice. | E-7 | ||
| 32 | freq; | Satellite system for transmitting reports. | E-8 | ||
| 33 | prST; | General observing practice. | INMARSAT-C | ||
| 34 | logE; | Name and version of the electronic logbook software. | TurboWin 2.12 | ||
| 35 | wwH; | Visual wind/wave observing height. | 0.0 m | ||
| 36 | anmU; | General wind observing practice. | E-9 | ||
| 37 | blc; | Baseline check of the automatic weather station. | E-10 | ||
| 38 | awsM; | Make and model of the automatic weather station. | Vaisala Milos 500 | ||
| 39 | awsP; | Name and version of the automatic weather station processing software. | Yourlink 1.03.20 | ||
| 40 | awsC; | Name and version of the automatic weather station data entry/display software. | Milos 500 2.56 | ||
| 41 | barm; | Primary barometer type. | E-11 | ||
| 42 | barm; | Secondary barometer type. | E-11 | ||
| 43 | bMS; | Make and model of the primary barometer. | Vaisala PTB220B | ||
| 44 | bMS; | Make and model of the secondary barometer. | |||
| 45 | brmH; | Height of the primary barometer above the maximum Summer load line. | 0.0 m | ||
| 46 | brmH; | Height of the secondary barometer above the maximum Summer load line. | 0.0 m | ||
| 47 | brmL; | Location of the primary barometer. | E-12 | ||
| 48 | brmL; | Location of the secondary barometer. | E-12 | ||
| 49 | brmU; | Pressure units of the primary barometer. | hPa | hPa | |
| 50 | brmU; | Pressure units of the secondary barometer. | |||
| 51 | brmC; | Most recent calibration date of the primary barometer. | ddmmyyyy | ||
| 52 | brmC; | Most recent calibration date of the secondary barometer. | ddmmyyyy | ||
| 53 | thrm; | Dry bulb thermometer type No. 1. | E-13 | ||
| 54 | thrm; | Dry bulb thermometer type No. 2. | E-13 | ||
| 55 | thMS; | Make and model of the dry bulb thermometer No. 1. | Rosemount ST401 | ||
| 56 | thMS; | Make and model of the dry bulb thermometer No. 2. | |||
| 57 | thmE; | Exposure of the dry bulb thermometer No. 1. | E-14 | ||
| 58 | thmE; | Exposure of the dry bulb thermometer No. 2. | E-14 | ||
| 59 | thmL; | Location of the dry bulb thermometer No. 1 and hgyrometer No. 1. | E-15 | ||
| 60 | thmL; | Location of the dry bulb thermometer No. 2 and hgyrometer No. 2. | E-15 | ||
| 61 | thmH; | Height of the dry bulb thermometer No. 1 and hygrometer No. 1 above the maximum Summer load line. | 0.0 m | ||
| 62 | thmH; | Height of the dry bulb thermometer No. 2 and hygrometer No. 2 above the maximum Summer load line. | 0.0 m | ||
| 63 | tscale; | General reporting practice for dry bulb thermometer No. 1 and hygrometer No. 1. | E-16 | ||
| 64 | tscale; | General reporting practice for dry bulb thermometer No. 2 and hygrometer No. 2. | E-16 | ||
| 65 | hygr; | Hygrometer type No. 1. | E-17 | ||
| 66 | hygr; | Hygrometer type No. 2. | E-17 | ||
| 67 | hgrE; | Exposure of the hygrometer No. 1. | E-14 | ||
| 68 | hgrE; | Exposure of the hygrometer No. 2. | E-14 | ||
| 69 | sstM; | Primary method of obtaining the sea surface temperature. | E-18 | ||
| 70 | sstM; | Secondary method of obtaining the sea surface temperature. | E-18 | ||
| 71 | sstD; | Depth of the primary sea surface temperature observation below the maximum Summer load line. | 0.0 m | ||
| 72 | sstD; | Depth of the secondary sea surface temperature observation below the maximum Summer load line. | 0.0 m | ||
| 73 | barg; | Primary barograph type, or method of determining pressure tendency. | E-19 | ||
| 74 | barg; | Secondary barograph type, or method of determining pressure tendency. | E-19 | ||
| 75 | anmT; | Primary anemometer type. | E-20 | ||
| 76 | anmT; | Secondary anemometer type. | E-20 | ||
| 77 | anmM; | Make and model of the primary anemometer. | Vaisala WAV151& WAA151 | ||
| 78 | anmM; | Make and model of the secondary anemometer. | |||
| 79 | anmL; | Location of the primary anemometer. | E-21 | ||
| 80 | anmL; | Location of the secondary anemometer. | E-21 | ||
| 81 | anDB; | Distance of the primary (fixed) anemometer from the bow. | 0.0 m | ||
| 82 | anDB; | Distance of the secondary (fixed) anemometer from the bow. | 0.0 m | ||
| 83 | anDC; | Distance of the primary (fixed) anemometer from the centre line. | 0.0 m | ||
| 84 | anSC; | Side indicator of the primary (fixed) anemometer from the centre line, if appropriate. | E-22 | ||
| 85 | anDC; | Distance of the secondary (fixed) anemometer from the centre line. | 0.0 m | ||
| 86 | anSC; | Side indicator of the secondary (fixed) anemometer from the centre line, if appropriate. | E-22 | ||
| 87 | anHL; | Height of the primary (fixed) anemometer above the maximum Summer load line. | 0.0 m | ||
| 88 | anHL; | Height of the secondary (fixed) anemometer above the maximum Summer load line. | 0.0 m | ||
| 89 | anHD; | Height of the primary (fixed) anemometer above the deck on which it is installed. | 0.0 m | ||
| 90 | anHD; | Height of the secondary (fixed) anemometer above the deck on which it is installed. | 0.0 m | ||
| 91 | anmC; | Most recent calibration date of the primary anemometer. | ddmmyyyy | ||
| 92 | anmC; | Most recent calibration date of the secondary anemometer. | ddmmyyyy | ||
| 93 | othI; | Other meteorological/oceanographic instrument No. 1. | E-23 | ||
| 94 | othI; | Other meteorological/oceanographic instrument No. 2. | E-23 | ||
| 95 | othI; | Other meteorological/oceanographic instrument No. 3. | E-23 | ||
| 96 | othI; | Other meteorological/oceanographic instrument No. 4. | E-23 | ||
| 97 | othI; | Other meteorological/oceanographic instrument No. 5. | E-23 | ||
| 98 | othI; | Other meteorological/oceanographic instrument No. 6. | E-23 | ||
| 99 | chgd; | Last date of change of any Pub47 metadata. | ddmmyyyy | ||
| 100 | fieldabbrev; | Code name of the field to which footnote No. 1 applies. | E-24 | vssl | |
| 101 | fieldabbrev; | Code name of the field to which footnote No. 2 applies. | E-24 | othI | |
| 102 | fieldabbrev; | Code name of the field to which footnote No. 3 applies. | E-24 | brmL | |
| 103 | fieldabbrev; | Code name of the field to which footnote No. 4 applies. | E-24 | othI | |
| 104 | fieldabbrev; | Code name of the field to which footnote No. 5 applies. | E-24 | ||
| 105 | fieldabbrev; | Code name of the field to which footnote No. 6 applies. | E-24 | ||
| 106 | fieldabbrev; | Code name of the field to which footnote No. 7 applies. | E-24 | ||
| 107 | fieldabbrev; | Code name of the field to which footnote No. 8 applies. | E-24 | ||
| 108 | fieldabbrev; | Code name of the field to which footnote No. 9 applies. | E-24 | ||
| 109 | fieldabbrev; | Code name of the field to which footnote No. 10 applies. | E-24 | ||
| 110 | footID; | Footnote No. 1 (Mandatory free-form detail whenever code OT is reported. Optional for other codes). | E-24 | Jack-up oil rig | |
| 111 | footID; | Footnote No. 2 (Mandatory free-form detail whenever code OT is reported. Optional for other codes). | E-24 | Vaisala CT25K Ceilometer | |
| 112 | footID; | Footnote No. 3 (Mandatory free-form detail whenever code OT is reported. Optional for other codes). | E-24 | Radio Room | |
| 113 | footID; | Footnote No. 4 (Mandatory free-form detail whenever code OT is reported. Optional for other codes). | E-24 | Vaisala FD12P Present Weather Sensor | |
| 114 | footID; | Footnote No. 5 (Mandatory free-form detail whenever code OT is reported. Optional for other codes). | E-24 | ||
| 115 | footID; | Footnote No. 6 (Mandatory free-form detail whenever code OT is reported. Optional for other codes).. | E-24 | ||
| 116 | footID; | Footnote No. 7 (Mandatory free-form detail whenever code OT is reported. Optional for other codes). | E-24 | ||
| 117 | footID; | Footnote No. 8 (Mandatory free-form detail whenever code OT is reported. Optional for other codes). | E-24 | ||
| 118 | footID; | Footnote No. 9 (Mandatory free-form detail whenever code OT is reported. Optional for other codes). | E-24 | ||
| 119 | footID; | Footnote No. 10 (Mandatory free-form detail whenever code OT is reported. Optional for other codes). | E-24 |
The following tables E-2 through E-24 are provided to assist the user with the completion of Table H-1.
Table E-2: rcnty - Recruiting Country and reg - Country of registration
Use two letter codes, i.e. Canada = CA. For more information consult the International List of Selected, Supplementary and Auxiliary Ships.
Table E-3: vssl - Vessel type
| BA | Barges, including crane barges and tank barges |
| CA | Cable ships |
| DR | Dredgers including bucket, hopper, grab and suction dredgers |
| FP | Floating Production and Storage Units |
| FV | Fishing Vessels including purse seiners, long liners etc., but excluding trawlers |
| GT | Liquefied gas carriers/tankers including LNG and LPG carriers |
| IC | Icebreaking vessels (dedicated vessel). If the vessel fits in another category and is ice strengthened then include ‘ice strengthened' as a footnote |
| LT | Liquid tankers including oil product tankers, chemical tankers and crude oil tankers (including VLCC's and ULCC's) |
| LV | Light vessels |
| MI | Mobile installations including mobile offshore drill ships, jack up units, semi-submersibles |
| PI | Pipe Layers |
| RV | Research Vessels, including oceanographic, meteorological and hydrographic research ships and seismographic research ships |
| SV | Support vessels including offshore support vessels, offshore supply vessels, stand-by vessels, pipe carriers, anchor handling vessels, buoy tenders (including coastguard vessels engaged solely on buoy tending duties), diving support vessels, etc. |
| TR | Trawler fishing vessels |
| TU | Tugs, including fire-fighting tugs, salvage tugs, pusher tugs, pilot vessels, tenders etc |
| OT | Other (specify in footnote) |
Table E-4: vsslP - Vessel digital image
| AV | Available in separate digital file. The file naming convention is: 00 - IMO Number - photo_description - Date (ANSI format, i.e. yyyymmdd), e.g. 007417868aerial_starboard_profile_from_stern20030717.jpg |
| NA | Not available |
| PA | Photograph available, but not yet scanned and placed in separate digital file |
Table E-5: rte - Routes 1 to 10
The following routes apply to Canadian recruited platforms is an abbreviated list. Please consult the International List of Selected, Supplementary and Auxiliary Ships with MSC regarding the new list which will be published in the revised version of Pub47 for updated lists.
| 8 | EASTERN CANADIAN COASTAL WATERS |
| 9 | WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC WATERS |
| 10 | GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE |
| 11 | BAY OF FUNDY |
| 12 | CABOT STRAIT |
| 16 | NORTHUMBERLAND STRAIT |
| 28 | WESTERN CANADIAN COASTAL WATERS |
| 29 | EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC WATERS |
| 41 | WESTERN CANADIAN ARCTIC WATERS |
Table E-6: vsslM - Type of meteorological reporting ship
| 10 | Selected |
| 40 | Supplementary |
| 70 | Auxiliary |
| OT | Other (specify in footnote) |
Table E-7: atm - General observing practic
| 1 | Fully automated |
| 2 | Always supplemented by manual input |
| 3 | Occasionally supplemented by manual input |
| 4 | Unknown |
| 5 | Fully manual (no automation) |
Table E-8: freq - Scheduled observing frequency
| OPD | One observation per day (24 hour intervals) |
| TPD | Two observations per day (12 hour intervals) |
| FPD | Four observations per day (6 hour intervals) |
| EPD | Eight observations per day (3 hour intervals) |
| HLY | Hourly observations |
| IRR | Irregular observations |
Table E-9: anmU - General Wind Observing Practice
| 1 | Anemometer measurement generally used, true wind computed |
| 2 | Anemometer measurement generally used, true wind manually determined |
| 3 | Visual estimates (sea state) generally used |
| 4 | Visual estimate generally used for the open sea, anemometer used near port |
Table E-10: blc - Baseline check of the automatic weather station
| 1 | Yes |
| 2 | No |
| 3 | No automation |
Table E-11: barm - Barometer type
| AN | Aneroid barometer (issued by Port Meteorological Officer or Meteorological Agency) |
| DA | Digital aneroid barometer |
| ELE | Electronic digital barometer (consisting of one or more pressure transducers) |
| MER | Mercury barometer |
| SAN | Ship's aneroid barometer |
| OT | Other (specify in footnote) |
Table E-12: brmL- Location of the barometer
| CR | Chart room |
| PW | Pressurised wheelhouse |
| WH | Wheelhouse, not pressurised |
| OT | Other (specify in footnote) |
Table E-13: thrm - Dry bulb thermometer type
| ALC | Alcohol thermometer |
| ELE | Electric (resistance) thermometer |
| MER | Dry Bulb mercury thermometer |
Table E-14: thmE and hgrE- Exposure of the dry bulb thermometer and hygrometer
| A | Aspirated (Assmann type) |
| S | Screen (non ventilated, i.e. natural ventilation) |
| SG | Ship's sling |
| SL | Sling |
| SN | Ship's screen (property of the ship) |
| US | Unscreened |
| VS | Screen (ventilated, i.e. assisted ventilation) |
| W | Whirling psychrometer |
Table E-15: thmL - Location of the dry bulb thermometer and hygrometer
| 1 | Bridge wing port |
| 2 | Bridge wing starboard |
| 3 | Bridge wing both sides |
| 4 | Bridge wing windward side |
| 5 | Wheelhouse top port |
| 6 | Wheelhouse top starboard |
| 7 | Wheelhouse top both |
| 8 | Wheelhouse top center |
| 9 | Wheelhouse top windward side |
| 10 | Mainmast |
| 11 | Foremast |
| 12 | Mast on Wheelhouse top |
| 13 | Main deck port side |
| 14 | Main deck starboard side |
| 15 | Main deck both sides |
| OT | Other (specify in footnote) |
Table E-16: tscale - General reporting practice for dry bulb thermometer and hygrometer
| 1 | Centigrade to tenths |
| 2 | Half degrees centigrade |
| 3 | Whole degree Centigrade |
| 4 | Whole degree Fahrenheit |
| 5 | Fahrenheit to tenths |
| 6 | Dry bulb centigrade, wet bulb Fahrenheit |
| 7 | Dry bulb Fahrenheit, wet bulb centigrade |
| OT | Other combinations or scale (specify in footnote) |
Table E-17: hygr - Hygrometer type
| E | Electric |
| H | Hair hygrometer |
| P | Psychrometer |
| Hg | Hygristor |
| C | Capacitance |
| T | Torsion |
| Cm | Chilled mirror |
| OT | Other (specify in footnote) |
Table E-18: sstM - Method of obtaining sea surface temperature
| BTT | Bait tanks thermometer |
| BU | Bucket thermometer |
| C | Thermometer in condenser intake on steam ships, or inlet engine cooling system on motor ships |
| HC | Hull contact sensor |
| HT | Through hull sensor |
| RAD | Radiation thermometer |
| TT | Trailing thermistor |
| OT | Other (specify in footnote) |
Table E-19: Barg - Primary barograph type, or method of determining pressure tendency
| OS | Open Scale barograph |
| OS1 | Open Scale barograph with 1 day clock |
| OS2 | Open Scale barograph with 2 day clock |
| OS3 | Open Scale barograph with 3 day clock |
| OS4 | Open Scale barograph with 4 day clock |
| OS5 | Open Scale barograph with 5 day clock |
| OS6 | Open Scale barograph with 6 day clock |
| OS7 | Open Scale barograph with 7 day clock |
| OS8 | Open Scale barograph with 8 day clock |
| OS9 | Open Scale barograph with 9 day clock |
| SS | Small Scale barograph |
| ET | Tendency obtained from an electronic digital barometer |
| OT | Other (specify in footnote) |
Table E-20: anmT - Type of Anemometer
| AN | Anemograph |
| CCV | Cup anemometer and wind vane (combined unit). |
| SCV | Cup anemometer and wind vane (separate instruments) |
| HA | Handheld anemometer |
| PV | Propeller vane |
| SON | Sonic anemometer |
| OT | Other (specify in footnote) |
Table E-21: anmL - Location of anemometer
| 1 | Not fitted |
| 2 | Mainmast |
| 3 | Mainmast port yardarm |
| 4 | Mainmast starboard yardarm |
| 5 | Aft mast |
| 6 | Foremast |
| 7 | Foremast port yardarm |
| 8 | Foremast Starboard yardarm |
| 9 | Meteorological mast |
| 10 | Mast on wheelhouse top |
| 11 | Mast on wheelhouse top port yardarm |
| 12 | Mast on Wheelhouse top starboard yardarm |
| 13 | Handheld |
| OT | Other (specify in footnote) |
Table E-22: anSC - Side indicator of the anemometer from the centre line
| P | Port |
| S | Starboard |
Table E-23: othI - Other meteorological/oceanographic instrument
| BAT | Bathythermometer |
| BT | Bathythermograph (towed) |
| FLM | Fluorometer |
| HA | Hand held anemometer |
| LWR | Long wave radiation |
| MAX | Maximum thermometer |
| MIN | Minimum thermometer |
| NTE | Nitrate sensor |
| NTT | Nutrient sensor |
| P | Pilot balloon equipment |
| CO2 | PCO2 system |
| PLK | Plankton recorder |
| PRS | Photosynthetic radiation sensor |
| PYG | Pyrogeometer |
| R | Radiosonde equipment |
| RG | Rain gauge |
| RSD | Radar storm and meteorological phenomena detection |
| RT | Reversing thermometer |
| SKY | Sky camera |
| SLM | Solarimeter |
| ST | Sea thermograph |
| SWR | Short wave radiation |
| SON | Sonic anemometer |
| TSD | Temperature/salinity/depth probe |
| TUR | Turbidity sensor |
| W | Radiowind or radarwind equipment |
| XBT | Expendable bathythermograph |
| OT | Other (specify in footnote) |
Table E-24: fieldabbrev - Code name of the field to which footnote applies
| fieldabbrev (1-10) |
Code name of the field to which the footnote, in the equivalently positioned footID, applies. It is used to convey: (1) additional detail whenever the code OT is selected from a code table, or (2) to provide additional comment about ANY field that is selected from a table. e.g. vssl |
| footID (1-10) |
Supplementary detail in free-form text, pertaining to the field specified in the equivalently positioned fieldabbrev. e.g. jack-up rig |
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