SEMI-ANNUAL UPDATES (See Table 1)
Consists of a list of all additional bulletins under your Centre's responsibility. The file must have the following fields:
"Region","RTH","Country","Centre","Date","Category","TTAAii","CCCC","CodeForm","TimeGroup","Content","Remarks"
Each record consists of 12 fields. The first record in the file shows the field names.
Each field is inserted between double quotation marks (“ ”) and delimited by a comma ( , ). (i.e. “a field” , “a field” , “a field” , . . . ).
Although the record length is variable, each record is in one line. The end of each record must be marked by a set of carriage return (CR) and line feed (LF).
Fields such as “RTH”,“Country”, “Centre”and “Remarks” are described only in English.
Both the Observational and Products files use the same fields.
TABLE 1
No |
Field Name |
Type |
Width |
Description |
| 1 |
Sequence No. |
Numeric |
4 |
Incremental sequence number (0001 to 9999) for “Observational” and “ Products” records. Both to be initialised at the beginning of the year. |
| 2 |
ChangeType |
Character |
2 |
For changes to records (fields 4 – 15)
DD = to indicate a deleted record (ie deleting a bulletin)
AA = to add a record (ie adding a new bulletin)
To modify a record:
DM = the current status of the record to be modified
AM = the modified record
The placement order of the records in the file is important. The “DM” record should be followed by the “AM” record. Indicating the the “DM” record is replaced by the “AM” record. |
| 3 |
ChangeDate |
Character |
10 |
Date from which this change becomes effective, in the form of day/month/year
(e.g. 01/01/2008 for 1st January 2008). |
| 4 |
Region |
Numeric |
1 |
WMO Region number in which the centre is located: 1=Region I; 2=Region II; 3=Region III; 4=Region IV; 5=Region V; 6=Region VI |
| 5 |
RTH |
Character |
Variable |
Name of RTH whose zone of responsibility corresponds to the bulletin. |
| 6 |
Country |
Character |
Variable |
Name of the country where the centre is located. |
| 7 |
Centre |
Character |
Variable |
Name of the centre (usually the NMC) which originates the bulletin or controls the originator of the bulletin. |
| 8 |
Date |
Character |
10 |
Date when record becomes effective. day/month/year (e.g. 05/12/2008 for 5th December 2008). |
| 9 |
Category |
Character |
1 |
- A= Additional data/products
- E= Essential data/products
- O= Other data/products
|
| 10 |
TTAAii |
Character |
6 |
Abbreviated heading of the bulletin (a):
- TT = standard data designators (b)
- AA = Geographical designator (b)
(a) See WMO Publication 386: Manual on the GTS, Att. II-5, Vol I, Pt II, para 2.3.2 for full details of abbreviated headings.
(b) See Attachment II-5 of the above-mentioned publication WMO No. 386 for WMO standard data designators ("TT....") and geographical designators ("..AA.."). |
| 11 |
CCCC |
Character |
4 |
International four-letter location indicator, used in the abbreviated heading (see Annex I) |
| 12 |
CodeForm |
Character |
Variable |
FM code form - (see WMO No 306 – Manual on Codes) used for coding of data or products contained in the bulletins for transmitting over the GTS, in accordance with the FM code system described in WMO No. 306 - Manual on Codes. Bulletins which are not transmitted in coded form are indicated by the words "PLAIN LANGUAGE".
|
| 13 |
TimeGroup |
Character |
Variable |
Time(s) in UTC (= "GG"): For bulletins containing meteorological reports: The standard time of observation, in UTC;
For aerodrome, route and area (aeronautical) forecasts: The hour (in UTC) during which the transmission is made (eg 15 is shown if the transmission time is 15:30)
For other forecasts and analyses: The standard time, in UTC, of the observation on which the forecast or analysis is based.
For other messages:
The time of issuing, in UTC as GG in YYGGgg group of the abbreviated heading. Day of month for the bulletin issued on a fixed day every month.
Other comment on issuance of a bulletin could be inserted in “Remarks” field. |
| 14 |
Content |
Character |
Variable |
Contents of the bulletin: the international station index number or the international four-letter indicator (ICAO location indicators) of stations whose reports are included in the bulletin.
For GRID and GRIB bulletins, area of coverage and grid spacing. |
| 15 |
Remarks |
Character |
Variable |
Memo field used for any information not described in the preceding fields.
In case that contents of a GRID/GRIB bulletin differ from those derived from the abbreviated heading, such information as parameters on actual contents should be inserted in this field. |
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