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FormatB for Non-Directional Spectral Wave Data
ASCII FormatB provides heave spectra and the observed or derived parameters for all types of wave instruments producing non-directional wave data.
For each wave record there will be several 80 character records as follows:
- Station Identification Record
- Administrative Information Record
- One or more Additional Parameters Records (Optional)
- One or more Wave Height - Wave Period Records
- Several Frequency-Bandwidth-Spectral Density Records
- Station Identification Record
- FORMAT (A10,5X,A20,5X,A10)
- Station Type 10 character field A10 e.g. AE for AES buoy - See Table I
- Station Name 20 character field 5X,A20 e.g. West Sea Otter
- ISDM Station Identifier 10 character field 5X,A10 e.g. C46204
- Administrative Information Record
- FORMAT (2F10.4,F8.1,I4,2I2,I6,F8.1,E12.3,2X,A2,I4,2I3,I4)
- Latitude, Real F10.4 (degrees), Negative is south latitude
- Longitude, Real F10.4 (degrees), Negative is east longitude
- Depth of Water, Real F8.1 (meters)
- Year of Observation, Integer I4
- Month of Observation, Integer I2
- Day of Observation, Integer I2
- Time of Observation, Integer I5 (HHMM)
- Observation date and time are recorded in UTC.
- Length of Recording, Real F8.1 (Minutes)
- Sampling Frequency, Real E12.3 (Hz)
- Quality Code (spectra, VCAR & VTPK), 2 character field 2X,A2 - See Table II
- Number of Additional Parameters, Integer I4
- Number of Wave Heights, Integer I3
- Number of Wave Periods, Integer I3
- Number of Spectral Estimates, Integer I4
- Additional Parameters Record(s) (Optional)
- FORMAT (5(E12.5,A4))
- Parameter 1, Real - See Table III for parameters
- Parameter Code 1, 4 character field
- Parameter n, Real
- Parameter Code n, 4 character field
- Wave Heights/Periods Record(s)
- FORMAT (8(F6.2,A4))
- Wave Height 1, Real (m)
- Wave Height Parameter Code 1, 4 character field - See Table III for parameters
- Wave Height n, Real (m)
- Wave Height Parameter Code n, 4 character field - See Table III for parameters
- Wave Period 1, Real (sec)
- Wave Period Code Parameter 1, 4 character field - See Table III for parameters
- Wave Period n, Real (sec)
- Wave Period Code Parameter n, 4 character field - See Table III for parameters
- Frequency/Bandwidth/Spectral Density Records
- FORMAT (6E12.4)
- Frequency 1, Real (Hz)
- Bandwidth 1, Real (Hz)
- Density 1, Real (m²/Hz)
- Frequency n, Real (Hz)
- Bandwidth n, Real (Hz)
- Density n, Real (m²/Hz)
TABLE I - WAVE INSTRUMENT TYPE CODES
| TYPE CODE | Description |
|---|---|
| AE | AES ODAS buoy. (6m NOMAD, 3m DISCUS or Watchkeeper) |
| AW | AES buoy data with bad Watchman payload. (Truncated spectra, VCAR=VWH$, VTPK=VTP$) |
| MI | Miros Radar |
| PC | Pressure cell |
| ST | Staff gauge |
| SW | Swartz gauge |
| WA | Non-directional waverider buoy (Datawell) |
| WC | Directional WAVEC buoy (Datawell) |
| WD | Directional Waverider buoy (Datawell) |
| WP | Non-directional WRIPS buoy |
| WR | Non-directional Waverider |
TABLE II - QUALITY CODES
The quality codes are based on the IGOSS quality codes. Quality codes are assigned subjectively to individual spectral records based on the shape of the spectral curve and relative values of significant wave height (VCAR) and peak period (VTPK) as recomputed from the spectra by ISDM. No assessment of any additional reported parameters is implied by the quality code.
| QC Flag | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | Blank - No quality control (QC) has been performed |
| 1 | Good - QC has been performed: record appears correct |
| 3 | Doubtful - QC has been performed: record appears doubtful |
| 4 | Erroneous - QC has been performed: record appears erroneous |
| 5 | Changes - The record has been changed as a result of QC |
| 6 | Acceptable - QC has been performed: record seems inconsistent with other records |
| 7 | Off Position - There is a problem with the buoy position or mooring. Data may still be useful. |
| 8 | Reserved |
| 9 | Reserved - indicates missing elements |
TABLE III - PARAMETER CODES
Parameter codes are GF3 standard where applicable.
| WAVE HEIGHT CODES | |
|---|---|
| VCAR | Characteristic significant wave height (m) |
| VWH$ | Characteristic significant wave height (reported by the buoy) (m) |
| VCMX | Maximum zero crossing wave height (reported by the buoy) (m) |
| SHE1 | WES sea height (m) |
| SWHT | Swell height (m) |
| VAV1 | Average heave from the non-synoptic part of WRIPS buoy data (m) |
| VCMX | Maximum zero crossing wave height (m) |
| VMNL | Depth of the deepest trough (m) |
| VMXL | Height of the highest crest (m) |
| VMX1 | Maximum zero crossing wave height from the non-synoptic part of WRIPS buoy data (m) |
| VST1 | Maximum wave steepness |
| WAVE PERIOD CODES | |
| VTPK | Wave spectrum peak period (s) |
| VTP$ | Wave spectrum peak period (reported by the buoy) (s) |
| SEP1 | WES sea period (s) |
| SWPR | Swell period (s) |
| VTD1 | Dominant period (s) |
| VTZA | Average zero crossing wave period (s) |
| VZA1 | Average zero crossing period from the non-synoptic part of WRIPS buoy data (s) |
| SPECTRAL CODES | |
| BAND | Bandwidth of spectral estimates |
| FREQ | Frequency of spectral estimates |
| VCXX | Autospectrum of north-south tilt (C22) |
| VCXY | Cospectrum of north-south and east-west tilt (C23) |
| VCYY | Autospectrum of east-west tilt (C33) |
| VCZX | Cospectrum of heave and north-south tilt (C12) |
| VCZY | Cospectrum of heave and east-west tilt (C13) |
| VQXY | Quadspectrum of north-south and east-west tilt (Q23) |
| VQZX | Quadspectrum of heave and north-south tilt (Q12) |
| VQZY | Quadspectrum of heave and east-west tilt (Q13) |
| VSDN | Spectral density (equivalent to C11) |
| VSMB | The ratio of spectral moments 0 and 1 (m0/m1) |
| METEOROLOGICAL & OCEANOGRAPHIC CODES | |
| WDIR | Direction from which the wind is blowing (°) |
| WSPD | Horizontal wind speed (m/s) |
| WSS$ | Horizontal scalar wind speed (m/s) |
| GSPD | Gust wind speed (m/s) |
| ATMS | Atmospheric pressure at sea level (mb) |
| DRYT | Dry bulb temperature (°C) |
| SSTP | Sea surface temperature (°C) |
| SLEV | Observed sea level |
| SST1 | Average sea temperature from the non-synoptic part of WRIPS buoy data (°C) |
| SSTP | Sea surface temperature (°C) |
| DIRECTION and POSITION CODES | |
| LTG$ | GPS latitude (reported by the buoy) (°) |
| LNG$ | GPS longitude (reported by the buoy) (°) |
| MAGN | Magnetic variation from true north (°) |
| SED1 | WES sea direction (°) |
| SWDR | Direction from which swell is coming (° relative to true north) |
| VPED | WAVE SPECTRUM PEAK ENERGY DIRECTION(°) |
| VSPR | Wave directional spread from cross spectra |
| OTHER CODES | |
| ADNB | Number of fourier transform blocks in analysis |
| ADST | DIWAR receiver signal strength |
| ADSV | DIWAR receiver signal strength variance |
| AST1 | Internal temperature from the non-synoptic part of WRIPS buoy data |
| AST2 | Internal temperature from the synoptic part of WRIPS buoy data |
| NBD1 | The number of bad samples in a surface elevation time series |
| RECD | The record number of the tape containing the raw data |
| SIDE | The side number of the tape containing the raw data |
| TAPE | The tape number of the tape containing the raw data |
| WOI$ | The WAVEOB indicator group 00IaImIp from code section 0 of the code. |
