Weather observation report from ship
This message provides weather information observed on a ship in navigation.
Two different messages can be transmitted:
.1 Weather observation report from ship; or
.2 WMO Weather observation report from ship.
Table 10.1 outlines the parameters associated with the Weather observation report from ship message.
Table 10.2 outlines the parameters associated with the WMO Weather observation report from ship message.
The WMO Weather observation report from ship message is intended for ships which have been recruited by national meteorological services to undertake weather observations at sea in accordance with the provisions of SOLAS chapter V, regulation 5, and the World Meteorological Organization's Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS) Scheme. Because national meteorological services are the intended primary users of this message it has been developed to reflect the coding principles prescribed by WMO in its Binary Universal Form for the Representation of meteorological data (BUFR), and as contained in Part B of WMO Publication No.306, (Manual Codes, Volume I.2). The parameters coded in this message are therefore not fully compatible with the recommendations set out in ITU M.1371-3.
10.4.2 The WMO Weather observation report from ship message includes all the parameters that are typically reported by voluntary observing ships, as well as additional parameters reported by ships that are recruited to the VOS Scheme to report climate quality weather observations (indicated as VOSClim parameters in the message description). The message format also accords with formats being developed for use in connection with shipboard automatic weather stations
Table 10.1
Weather observation report from ship
Parameter |
No of bits |
Description |
Message ID |
6 |
Identifier for Message 8; always 8. |
Repeat Indicator |
2 |
Used by the repeater to indicate how many times a message has been repeated. |
Source ID |
30 |
MMSI number of source station. |
Spare |
2 |
Not used. Should be set to zero. |
IAI |
16 |
DAC = 001; FI = 21 |
Type of Weather report |
1 |
Always 0 |
Geographic Location |
120 |
20 characters 6-bits ASCII as defined in ITU-R M. 1371-3, Table 44 |
Position of Observation, Longitude |
25 |
Longitude in 1/1,000 min, ±180 degrees as per 2's complement (East = positive, West = negative). 181 = not available = default |
Position of Observation, Latitude |
24 |
Latitude in 1/1,000 min, ±90 degrees as per 2's complement (North = positive, South = negative). |
Date and Time of Observation |
|
UTC Date and time of observation. |
UTC Day |
5 |
1 - 31 |
UTC Hour |
5 |
0 - 23 |
UTC Minute |
6 |
0 - 59 |
Present Weather |
4 |
(Based on WMO Code 45501) |
Horizontal Visibility |
8 |
Horizontal visibility, in 0.1 Nautical Miles steps (00000000 to 01111111). |
Relative Humidity |
7 |
Relative Humidity, in 1% steps. |
Average Wind Speed |
7 |
Average of wind speed values over the last 10 minutes, in 1 knot steps. |
Wind Direction |
9 |
Direction of the average wind over the last 10 minutes, in 1 degree steps. |
Air Pressure |
9 |
Air pressure at sea level, in 1 hPa steps. |
Air Pressure tendency |
4 |
Use WMO FM13 Codes for pressure characteristic over the last three hours. Codes 0 - 8 |
Air Temperature |
11 |
Dry bulb temperature in degrees Celsius (as per 2's complement), in 0.1 degree steps. -60.0 to +60.0 degrees ) -1,024 = data not available = default 601 - 1,023 (reserved for future use) -1,023 to -601 (reserved for future use) |
Water Temperature |
10 |
Temperature of the water in degrees Celsius (as per 2's complement), in 0.1 degree steps. -10.0 to +50.0 degrees
501 = not available=default 502-511(reserved for future use) -511 to - 101(reserved for future use) |
Wave period |
6 |
Wave period, in 1 second steps 0 - 60 seconds 63 = not available = default 61 - 62 (reserved for future use) |
Significant Wave height |
8 |
Height of the waves, in 0.1 metre steps. 0.0 - 25.0 metres 251 = height 25.1 metres or greater 255 = not available = default 252 - 254 (reserved for future use) |
Wave Direction |
9 |
Direction of waves, in 1 degree steps. 0 - 359 degrees 360 = not available = default 361-511 (reserved for future use) |
Swell Height |
8 |
Height of the swell, in 0.1 metre steps. 0.0 - 25.0 metres 251 = height 25.1 metres or greater 255 = not available = default 252 - 254 (reserved for future use) |
Swell Direction |
9 |
Direction of swells, in 1 degree steps. 0 - 359 degrees 360 = not available = default 361-511 ( reserved for future use) |
Swell Period |
6 |
Swell period, in 1 second steps. 0 - 60 seconds 63 = not available = default 61 - 62 (reserved for future use) |
Spare |
3 |
Not used. Set to zero. |
Total |
360 |
Occupies 2 slots |
Table 10.2
WMO Weather observation report from ship
Parameter |
No of bits |
Description |
6 |
Identifier for Message 8; always 8. |
|
Repeat Indicator |
2
|
Used by the repeater to indicate how many times a message has been repeated. 0 - 3 0 = default 3 = do not repeat anymore |
Source ID |
30 |
MMSI number of source station |
Spare |
2 |
Not used. Set to zero. |
IAI |
16 |
DAC = 001; FI =21 |
Type of weather report |
1 |
always 1 |
Position of Observation, Longitude |
16
|
BUFR 006002 Longitude in 1/100 min, ±180 degrees (East = positive, West = negative) Lon = (Integer value / 100) - 180 for Integer = 0 - 36,000 65,535 = not available = default |
Position of Observation, Latitude |
15
|
BUFR 005002 Latitude in 1/100 min, ±90 degrees as per 2's complement (North = positive, South = negative) Lat = (Integer value / 100) - 9000 for Integer = 0 - 18,000 32,767 = not available = default |
Date and Time of Observation |
|
UTC Date and time of observation. |
UTC Month |
4 |
BUFR 004002 1 - 12 (offset = 0) Month = Integer value 15 = not available = default |
UTC Day |
6 |
BUFR 004003 1 - 31 (offset = 0) Day = (Integer value) for integer = 1-31 63 = not available = default |
UTC Hour |
5 |
BUFR 004004 0 - 23 (offset = 0) Hour = Integer value 31 = not available = default |
UTC Minute |
3 |
BUFR 004005 0 - 50 (offset = 0) Minute = (Integer value * 10) for integer = 0-5 7 = not available = default |
Ship's Course Over Ground |
7 |
BUFR 001012 (VOSClim parameter) 005 - 360 deg. (offset = 0) COG = (Integer value * 5) for Integer = 1 - 72 0 = stopped 127 = not available = default |
Average Speed Over Ground |
5 |
BUFR 001013 (VOSClim parameter) 0 - 14.5 m/s (offset = 0)
SOG = (Integer value * 0.5) for Integer = 0 - 29 31 = not available = default |
Average heading of the ship |
7 |
BUFR (tbd) (VOSClim parameter) 005 - 360 deg. (offset = 0) HDT = (Integer value * 5) for Integer = 1 - 72 127 = not available = default |
Pressure reduced to sea level |
11 |
BUFR 010051 900 - 1100 hPa (offset = 900) Pressure = (Integer value / 10) + 900 for Integer = 0 - 2,000 2,047 = not available = default |
3-hour pressure change |
10 |
BUFR 010061 -50 to +50 hPa (offset = -50) Tend. = (Integer value / 10) - 50 for Integer = 0 - 1,000 1,023 = not available = default |
Characteristic of pressure tendency |
4 |
BUFR 010063
WMO BUFR table 010063 for pressure characteristic 15 = not available = default |
True wind direction |
7 |
BUFR 011001 005 - 360 deg. (offset = 0) Direction = (Integer value * 5) for Integer = 1 - 72 0 = calm 127 = not available = default |
True wind speed (average over 10 minutes) |
8 |
BUFR 011002 0 - 127 m/s (offset = 0) Speed = (Integer value * 0.5) for Integer = 0 - 254 255 = not available = default |
Relative wind direction |
7 |
BUFR (tbd) (VOSClim parameter) 005 - 360 deg. (offset = 0) Direction = (Integer value * 5) for Integer = 1 - 72 0 = calm 127 = not available = default |
Relative wind speed |
8 |
BUFR (tbd) VOSClim parameter 0 - 127 m/s (offset = 0) Speed = (Integer value * 0.5) for Integer = 0 - 254 255 = not available = default |
Maximum wind gust speed |
8 |
BUFR 011041 0 - 127 m/s (offset = 0) Speed = (Integer value * 0.5) for Integer = 0 - 254 255 = not available = default |
Maximum wind gust direction |
7 |
BUFR 011043 005 - 360 deg. (offset = 0) Direction = (Integer value * 5) for Integer = 1 - 72 0 = calm 127 = not available = default |
Air temperature (dry bulb) |
10 |
BUFR 012101 223 - 323 K (offset = 223) (i.e. circa -50 to +50 °C) Temp. = (Integer value / 10) + 223 for Integer = 0 - 1000 1,023 = not available = default |
Relative humidity |
7 |
BUFR 013003 0 - 100 % (offset = 0) Rh = (Integer value) for Integer = 0 - 100 127 = not available = default |
Sea surface temperature |
9 |
BUFR 022042 268 to 318 K (offset = 268) (i.e. circa -5 to +45 °C) Sea Temp. = (Integer value / 10) + 268 for Integer = 0 - 500 511 = not available = default |
Horizontal visibility |
6 |
BUFR 020001 0 to 50,000 m (offset = 0) Visibility = ([(Integer value)**2] * 13.073) for Integer = 0 - 62 63 = not available = default |
Present weather |
9 |
BUFR 020003 (WMO BUFR table 020003 for present weather, Codes 0 - 510) 511 = not available = default |
Past weather 1 |
5 |
BUFR 020004 (WMO BUFR table 020004 for past weather, Codes 0 - 30) 31 = not available = default |
Past weather 2 |
5 |
BUFR 020005 (WMO BUFR table 020005 for past weather, Codes 0 - 30) 31 = not available = default |
Total cloud cover |
4 |
BUFR 020010 0 to 100 % (offset = 0) Cover = (Integer value * 10) for Integer = 0 - 10 15 = not available = default |
Cloud amount (low) |
4 |
BUFR 020011 (WMO BUFR table 020011 for cloud amount, Codes 0 - 14) 15 = not available = default |
Cloud type (low) |
6 |
BUFR 020012 (WMO BUFR table 020012 for cloud type, Codes 0 - 62) 63 = not available = default |
Cloud type (middle) |
6 |
BUFR 020012 WMO BUFR table 020012 for cloud type, Codes 0-62 63 = not available = default |
Cloud type (high) |
6 |
BUFR 020012 (WMO BUFR table 020012 for cloud type, Codes 0 - 62) 63 = not available = default |
Height of base of lowest cloud |
7 |
BUFR 020013 0 - 2,500 m (offset = 0) Height = ([(Integer value)**2] * 0.16) for Integer = 0 - 125 126 = more than 2500 m 127 = not available = default |
Period of wind waves |
5 |
BUFR 022012 0 - 30 s (offset = 0) Period = (Integer value) for Integer = 0 - 30 31 = not available = default |
Height of wind waves |
6 |
BUFR 022022 0 - 30 m (offset = 0) Height = (Integer value * 0.5) for Integer = 0 - 60 63 = not available = default |
Direction of first swell (from which the swell is coming) |
6 |
BUFR 022003 10 - 360 deg (offset 0). Direction = (Integer value * 10) for Integer = 1 - 36 0 = calm 63 = not available = default |
Period of first swell |
5 |
BUFR 022013 0 - 30 s (offset = 0) Period = (Integer value) for Integer = 0 - 30 31 = not available = default |
Height of first swell |
6 |
BUFR 022023 0 - 30 m (offset = 0) Height = (Integer value * 0.5) for Integer = 0 - 60 63 = not available = default |
Direction of second swell (from which the swell is coming) |
6 |
BUFR 022003 10 - 360 deg (offset 0). Direction = (Integer value * 10) for Integer = 1 - 36 0 = calm 63 = not available = default |
Period of second Swell |
5 |
BUFR 022013 0 - 30 s (offset = 0) Period = (Integer value) for Integer = 0 - 30 31 = not available = default |
Height of second swell |
6 |
BUFR 022023 0 - 30 m (offset = 0) Height = (Integer value * 0.5) for Integer = 0 - 60 63 = not available = default |
Ice deposit (thickness) |
7 |
BUFR 020031 0 - 126 cm (offset = 0) Thickness = (Integer value) for Integer = 0 - 126 127 = not available = default |
Rate of ice accretion |
3 |
BUFR 020032 (WMO BUFR table 020032 for rate of ice accretion, Codes 0 - 6) 7 = not available = default |
Cause of ice accretion |
3 |
BUFR 020033 (WMO BUFR table 020033 for cause of ice accretion, Codes 0 - 6) 7 = not available = default |
Sea ice concentration |
5 |
BUFR 020034 (WMO BUFR table 020034 for sea ice concentration, Codes 0 - 30) 31 = not available = default |
Amount and type of ice |
4 |
BUFR 020035 ( WMO BUFR table 020035 for amount and type of ice, Codes 0 - 14) 15 = not available = default |
Ice situation |
5 |
BUFR 020036 (WMO BUFR table 020036 for ice situation, 31 = not available = default |
Ice development |
5 |
BUFR 020037 (WMO BUFR table 020037 for ice development, Codes 0 - 30) 31 = not available = default |
Bearing of ice edge |
4 |
BUFR 020038 045 - 360 deg. (offset = 0) Bearing = (Integer value * 45) for Integer = 1-8 15 = not available = default |
Total |
360 |
Occupies 2 slots |