MADIS Multi-Agency Profiler (MAP) Variables

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Code       Name                                Units      Max     Notes      Max Number   Database
                                                       QC Level*              of Levels  FSL  AWIPS
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Integrated Profile                                                  1           202  
------------------

DD        wind direction                       deg          2       3                     X     X
FF        wind speed                           m/s          2       3                     X     X
U         u wind component                     m/s          2       3                     X     X
V         v wind component                     m/s          2       3                     X     X
W         w wind component                     m/s          0       4                     X     X
TV        virtual temperature                  K            2                             X     X
TVW       TV corrected for vertical wind       K            0                             X
HT        geometric height                     m            0                             X     X
P         pressure                             Pa           0       5                     X     X
CNOB1     consensus number       (Beam 1)                   0       6                     X
SNRB1     signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 1)      dB           0                             X
RDVB1     radial velocity        (Beam 1)      m/s          0       7                     X
CNOB2     consensus number       (Beam 2)                   0       6                     X
SNRB2     signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 2)      dB           0                             X
RDVB2     radial velocity        (Beam 2)      m/s          0       7                     X
CNOB3     consensus number       (Beam 3)                   0       6                     X
SNRB3     signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 3)      dB           0                             X
RDVB3     radial velocity        (Beam 3)      m/s          0       7                     X
CNOB4     consensus number       (Beam 4)                   0       6                     X
SNRB4     signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 4)      dB           0                             X
RDVB4     radial velocity        (Beam 4)      m/s          0       7                     X
CNOB5     consensus number       (Beam 5)                   0       6                     X
SNRB5     signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 5)      dB           0                             X
RDVB5     radial velocity        (Beam 5)      m/s          0       7                     X
RW        RASS w wind component                m/s          0                             X
RCNO      RASS consensus number                             0       6                     X
RSNR      RASS signal-to-noise ratio           dB           0                             X
LEVTYPE   level type                           code         0       8                     X 
UGUST     u wind component gust                m/s          0                             X     X
VGUST     v wind component gust                m/s          0                             X     X
USDEV     u wind component std dev             m/s          0                             X     X
VSDEV     v wind component std dev             m/s          0                             X     X
WSDEV     w wind component std dev             m/s          0                             X     X


Wind Mode 1 Parameters                                              1,2
----------------------

CRECW1    no. of consensus records used                     0       6                     X
CPASSW1   minimum number of records needed                  0       6                     X
          to pass consensus test
CWINW1    consensus window                     m/s          0       6                     X
NYQVW1    Nyquist velocity                     m/s
NCIW1     number of coherent integrations                   0                             X
NSPECW1   number of averaged spectra                        0                             X
PWW1      pulse width                          ns           0                             X
PRPW1     pulse repetition period              ns           0                             X
GSW1      gate spacing                         ns           0                             X
DG1W1     delay to first gate                  ns           0                             X
NLEVW1    number of levels                                  0                             X
APW1      averaging period in minutes                       0                             X

Wind Mode 1 Levels                                                  1            50      
------------------

DDW1      wind direction                       deg          2       3                     X
FFW1      wind speed                           m/s          2       3                     X
UW1       u wind component                     m/s          2       3                     X
VW1       v wind component                     m/s          2       3                     X
WW1       w wind component                     m/s          0       4                     X
HTW1      geometric height                     m            0                             X
PW1       pressure                             Pa           0       5                     X
CNOB1W1   consensus number       (Beam 1)                   0       6                     X
SNRB1W1   signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 1)      dB           0                             X
RDVB1W1   radial velocity        (Beam 1)      m/s          0       7                     X
CNOB2W1   consensus number       (Beam 2)                   0       6                     X
SNRB2W1   signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 2)      dB           0                             X
RDVB2W1   radial velocity        (Beam 2)      m/s          0       7                     X
CNOB3W1   consensus number       (Beam 3)                   0       6                     X
SNRB3W1   signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 3)      dB           0                             X
RDVB3W1   radial velocity        (Beam 3)      m/s          0       7                     X
CNOB4W1   consensus number       (Beam 4)                   0       6                     X
SNRB4W1   signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 4)      dB           0                             X
RDVB4W1   radial velocity        (Beam 4)      m/s          0       7                     X
CNOB5W1   consensus number       (Beam 5)                   0       6                     X
SNRB5W1   signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 5)      dB           0                             X
RDVB5W1   radial velocity        (Beam 5)      m/s          0       7                     X


Wind Mode 2 Parameters                                              1,2
----------------------

CRECW2    no. of consensus records used                     0       6                     X
CPASSW2   minimum number of records needed                  0       6                     X
          to pass consensus test
CWINW2    consensus window                     m/s          0       6                     X
NYQVW2    Nyquist velocity                     m/s
NCIW2     number of coherent integrations                   0                             X
NSPECW2   number of averaged spectra                        0                             X
PWW2      pulse width                          ns           0                             X
PRPW2     pulse repetition period              ns           0                             X
GSW2      gate spacing                         ns           0                             X
GSW2      gate spacing                         ns           0                             X
DG1W2     delay to first gate                  ns           0                             X
NLEVW2    number of levels                                  0                             X
APW2      averaging period in minutes                       0                             X


Wind Mode 2 Levels                                                  1            50      
------------------

DDW2      wind direction                       deg          2       3                     X
FFW2      wind speed                           m/s          2       3                     X
UW2       u wind component                     m/s          2       3                     X
VW2       v wind component                     m/s          2       3                     X
WW2       w wind component                     m/s          0       4                     X
HTW2      geometric height                     m            0                             X
PW2       pressure                             Pa           0       5                     X
CNOB1W2   consensus number       (Beam 1)                   0       6                     X
SNRB1W2   signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 1)      dB           0                             X
RDVB1W2   radial velocity        (Beam 1)      m/s          0       7                     X
CNOB2W2   consensus number       (Beam 2)                   0       6                     X
SNRB2W2   signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 2)      dB           0                             X
RDVB2W2   radial velocity        (Beam 2)      m/s          0       7                     X
CNOB3W2   consensus number       (Beam 3)                   0       6                     X
SNRB3W2   signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 3)      dB           0                             X
RDVB3W2   radial velocity        (Beam 3)      m/s          0       7                     X
CNOB4W2   consensus number       (Beam 4)                   0       6                     X
SNRB4W2   signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 4)      dB           0                             X
RDVB4W2   radial velocity        (Beam 4)      m/s          0       7                     X
CNOB5W2   consensus number       (Beam 5)                   0       6                     X
SNRB5W2   signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 5)      dB           0                             X
RDVB5W2   radial velocity        (Beam 5)      m/s          0       7                     X


Wind Mode 3 Parameters                                              1,2
----------------------

CRECW3    no. of consensus records used                     0       6                     X
CPASSW3   minimum number of records needed                  0       6                     X
          to pass consensus test
CWINW3    consensus window                     m/s          0       6                     X
NYQVW3    Nyquist velocity                     m/s
NCIW3     number of coherent integrations                   0                             X
NSPECW3   number of averaged spectra                        0                             X
PWW3      pulse width                          ns           0                             X
PRPW3     pulse repetition period              ns           0                             X
GSW3      gate spacing                         ns           0                             X
GSW3      gate spacing                         ns           0                             X
DG1W3     delay to first gate                  ns           0                             X
NLEVW3    number of levels                                  0                             X
APW3      averaging period in minutes                       0                             X


Wind Mode 3 Levels                                                  1            50      
------------------

DDW3      wind direction                       deg          2       3                     X
FFW3      wind speed                           m/s          2       3                     X
UW3       u wind component                     m/s          2       3                     X
VW3       v wind component                     m/s          2       3                     X
WW3       w wind component                     m/s          0       4                     X
HTW3      geometric height                     m            0                             X
PW3       pressure                             Pa           0       5                     X
CNOB1W3   consensus number       (Beam 1)                   0       6                     X
SNRB1W3   signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 1)      dB           0                             X
RDVB1W3   radial velocity        (Beam 1)      m/s          0       7                     X
CNOB2W3   consensus number       (Beam 2)                   0       6                     X
SNRB2W3   signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 2)      dB           0                             X
RDVB2W3   radial velocity        (Beam 2)      m/s          0       7                     X
CNOB3W3   consensus number       (Beam 3)                   0       6                     X
SNRB3W3   signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 3)      dB           0                             X
RDVB3W3   radial velocity        (Beam 3)      m/s          0       7                     X
CNOB4W3   consensus number       (Beam 4)                   0       6                     X
SNRB4W3   signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 4)      dB           0                             X
RDVB4W3   radial velocity        (Beam 4)      m/s          0       7                     X
CNOB5W3   consensus number       (Beam 5)                   0       6                     X
SNRB5W3   signal-to-noise ratio  (Beam 5)      dB           0                             X
RDVB5W3   radial velocity        (Beam 5)      m/s          0       7                     X


Wind Products                                                       1             1      
-------------

PBLHT     Planetary boundary layer             m            0                             X     


RASS Mode 1 Parameters
----------------------

CRECR1    no. of RASS consensus records used                0       6                     X
CPASSR1   minimum number of RASS records                    0       6                     X
          needed to pass consensus test
CWINR1    RASS consensus window                K            0       6                     X
NCIR1     RASS number of coherent integrations              0                             X
NSPECR1   RASS number of averaged spectra                   0                             X
PWR1      RASS pulse width                     ns           0                             X
PRPR1     RASS pulse repetition period         ns           0                             X
GSR1      gate spacing                         ns           0                             X
DG1R1     delay to first gate                  ns           0                             X
NLEVR1    number of levels                                  0                             X
APR1      averaging period in minutes                       0                             X
NYQVR1    Nyquist velocity                     m/s


RASS Mode 1 Levels                                                  1            30  
------------------

TVR1      virtual temperature                  K            2                             X     X
TVWR1     TV corrected for vertical wind       K            0                             X
HTR1      geometric height                     m            0                             X     X
PR1       pressure                             Pa           0       5                     X     X
RWR1      RASS w wind component                m/s          0                             X
RCNOR1    RASS consensus number                             0       6                     X
RSNRR1    RASS signal-to-noise ratio           dB           0                             X


Station Information                                                
-------------------

NWMODES   number of wind modes used                         0       1                     X
NRMODES   number of RASS modes used                         0       1                     X
NBEAMS    number of antenna beams used                      0       9                     X
AVGMIN    averaging period in minutes          min          0      10                     X
STATYPE   station type                                      0       1                     X
MIXLYR    sodar mixing layer elevation         m            0                             X     X
ABA1      antenna beam azimuth   (Beam 1)      deg          0       9                     X
ABE1      antenna beam elevation (Beam 1)      deg          0       9                     X
ABA2      antenna beam azimuth   (Beam 2)      deg          0       9                     X
ABE2      antenna beam elevation (Beam 2)      deg          0       9                     X
ABA3      antenna beam azimuth   (Beam 3)      deg          0       9                     X
ABE3      antenna beam elevation (Beam 3)      deg          0       9                     X
ABA4      antenna beam azimuth   (Beam 4)      deg          0       9                     X
ABE4      antenna beam elevation (Beam 4)      deg          0       9                     X
ABA5      antenna beam azimuth   (Beam 5)      deg          0       9                     X
ABE5      antenna beam elevation (Beam 5)      deg          0       9                     X
VCFLAG1   vertical correction flag (Mode 1)                 0      11                     X
VCFLAG2   vertical correction flag (Mode 2)                 0      11                     X
VCFLAG3   vertical correction flag (Mode 3)                 0      11                     X


MADIS Multi-Agency Profiler (MAP) Variables - Character
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Code       Name                                Character          Notes
                                               Size
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BEAM1     antenna beam name (Beam 1)           8                    9                     X
BEAM2     antenna beam name (Beam 2)           8                    9                     X
BEAM3     antenna beam name (Beam 3)           8                    9                     X
BEAM4     antenna beam name (Beam 4)           8                    9                     X
BEAM5     antenna beam name (Beam 5)           8                    9                     X
CSTMR1    consensus start time (RASS)          9                   12                     X
CSTMW1    consensus start time (Mode 1)        9                   12                     X
CSTMW2    consensus start time (Mode 2)        9                   12                     X
CSTMW3    consensus start time (Mode 3)        9                   12                     X

Notes

  1. The "Multi-Agency Profiler" dataset includes meteorological "profiles" from several different kinds of observing systems, primarily including wind and virtual temperature data from boundary layer profiling radars, and wind data from SODARs. Each station can have up to three modes of operation for winds, and one mode for Radio Acoustic Sounding System (RASS) temperatures. The number of levels at which data are obtained, the spacing between the levels, etc., are all a function of the "mode parameters" specified for each station, and available to the user via the variable codes listed above. The user can choose to retrieve each mode separately, or can request an integrated profile where the MADIS API will return all modes (wind and RASS) sorted in ascending order by height. The level type variable can be obtained by users wishing to know which modes were actually used in the integrated profile. The station type variable is used to specify the type of observing system that's in use, with these code values: Value Meaning ----- ------- 1 Boundary layer profiler 2 UHF tropospheric profiler 3 VHF tropospheric profiler 4 SODAR 5 Unspecified The mode parameters, consensus numbers, etc., are only used for the profiler station types. The U/V gust and standard deviation variables, and the mixing layer elevation, only apply to SODAR stations.

    The user can choose to retrieve each mode separately, or can request an integrated profile where the MADIS API will return all modes (wind and RASS) sorted in ascending order by height.

    The level type variable can be obtained by users wishing to know which modes were actually used in the integrated profile.

    The station type variable is used to specify the type of observing system that's in use, with these code values: 

           Value      Meaning
       -----      -------
         1        Boundary layer profiler
         2        UHF tropospheric profiler
         3        VHF tropospheric profiler
         4        SODAR       
         5        Unspecified

    The mode parameters, consensus numbers, etc., are only used for the profiler station types. The U/V gust and standard deviation variables, and the mixing layer elevation, only apply to SODAR stations.

  2. All of the wind mode parameters are specified individually for each antenna beam direction. As there can be up to five antenna beams, an array of 5 elements will be returned for each station.

  3. Depending on the station type, either u/v wind components or wind speed and direction may be stored in the database. The user can select either form of the wind data and it will be calculated and returned from whichever form is stored in the database. The results of QC checks applied to any form of the winds will be used, and if one of the map projections has been selected via the MSETDOM call, the winds will be rotated to match the projection.

  4. The w wind component is actually the radial velocity measured with the vertically-pointing antenna beam (with the sign negated). Because the level of error in the observed velocities is of the same magnitude as that expected for this observation, the user should take care when interpreting this variable.

  5. The true vertical coordinate is height. If the user selects pressure as the vertical coordinate, the heights are converted to pressure using the U.S. Standard Atmosphere calculation.

  6. The basic averaging technique employed for profiling radars is the "consensus average" applied to the radial velocities for each antenna beam, in the case of winds, or to the temperatures for RASS. This method examines the number of records taken to locate the largest subset of data values that are within a given window of each other. The number of values in the subset is called the "consensus number". The consensus test is passed when the consensus number is at least the minimum number specified for the given station/beam/mode, otherwise the test has been failed and no average value is created.

  7. The radial velocity uses the convention that positive values are towards the radar receiver (e.g., the ground), and negative values are away from the receiver.

  8. Level type codes: 
           Value      Meaning
       -----      -------
         1        Wind mode 1
         2        Wind mode 2
         3        Wind mode 3
         4        RASS mode 1

  9. The profilers can have up to 5 antenna beam directions. Typically, for a 5-beam system, 2 beams will be in the N/S plane, 2 in the E/W plane, and one beam will point in the vertical direction. The names of the beams generally indicate the plane (e.g., "NS 1" and "NS 2"), while the azimuth and elevation variables define the exact pointing direction.

  10. Profiler data are averaged over some time interval, specified in the averaging period variable. By convention, the observation time is the end of the averaging period. For example, a 30-minute average with observation time 12:00 covers data averaged over 11:30 - 12:00.

  11. Vertical correction flag codes: 
           Value      Meaning
       -----      -------
         1        Wind vertical correction:  off
         2        Wind vertical correction:  on
         3        Wind vertical correction:  unknown

    The profiler vertical correction, if selected, means that the radial velocities for the oblique beams are corrected for vertical motion using the radial velocity from the vertical beam.

  12. All times reported in the MADIS API are in Universal Coordinated Time, with the format of "YYJJJHHMM", where: 

        YY  = 2-digit year (good from 1980 - 2179)
    JJJ = Julian date of the year (1-366)
    HH  = Hour (0-23)
    MM  = Minute (0-59)

    If the time is missing, the 9-character field will be set to all blanks, e.g., " ".

    Users of the MADIS API mapdump program will get the time output in their chosen format, either YYJJJHHMM or YYYYMMDD_HHMM.

*The QC information is only available with the FSL database.