Drifting Buoy Data (F156)
This file format is used for time series data on ocean circulation determined by the tracking of drifting buoys, drogues, or other instrumented devices as they are carried with the flow. Movement is reported as point-to-point geographic locations determined by shore-based, surface ship, aircraft, or satellite observations. Data from both ocean currents and ice movement can be reported in this format over time periods ranging from minutes to months. Directions and speeds between individual observations may be computed from these data and presented in graphic or summary listing form to provide information on circulation patterns and mass transport in offshore and near-shore regions. Platform name (for platform acquiring data or deploying device), drogue characteristics, start and end positions and times, and observation frequency (if constant time interval) are reported for each series of observation. Other surface meteorological or oceanographic parameters (e.g., water temperature and salinity, air temperature and pressure, wind, waves) and subsurface data (depth, pressure, temperature) may also be reported. Text records may be used to report general comments or to describe individual drogue observations.
****4/1/85 RECORD 'C' - ADDED SALINITY FLAG****
****12/31/86 ADDED RECORD 'E' AND 'F'****
****9/18/91 ADDED PRESSURE TENDANCY TO RECORD TYPE 'C'****<
File Structure:
Seven 82-character records: (1) Header Record, (2) Launch Summary Record, (3) Data Record, (4) Subsurface Record, (5) Data Record 2, (6) Sub- surface Current Record, and (7) Text Record.
File Format:
| PARAMETER | DESCRIPTION | STARTING COLUMN | FILED LENGTH |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEADER RECORD | |||
| NODC FILE NUMBER | ALWAYS '156' | 1 | 3 |
| NODC TRACK NUMBER | 6-CHARACTER UNIQUE CRUISE OR DATA SET IDENTIFIER ASSIGNED BY NODC | 4 | 6 |
| RECORD TYPE | ALWAYS 'A' | 10 | 1 |
| DROGUE NUMBER | FIVE-CHARACTER FIELD ASSIGNED BY INVESTIGATOR - ANALOGOUS TO STATION NUMBER | 11 | 5 |
| DROGUE TYPE | FIVE CHARACTER FIELD FOR INDICATING TYPE OF DROGUE - DETERMINED BY INVESTIGATOR | 16 | 5 |
| PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR | 15-CHARACTER FIELD FOR NAME OF PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR | 21 | 15 |
| INSTITUTION OR AGENCY | 15-CHARACTER FIELD FOR NAME OF INSTITUTION OR AGENCY | 36 | 15 |
| PLATFORM NAME | 12-CHARACTER FIELD FOR NAME OF PLATFORM ACQUIRING DATA OR DEPLOYING BUOY | 51 | 12 |
| BUOY NUMBER | 5-CHARACTER FIELD FOR IDENTIFYING THE BUOY ASSOCIATED WITH DROGUE | 63 | 5 |
| BLANKS | 68 | 15 | |
| PARAMETER | DESCRIPTION | STARTING COLUMN | FILED LENGTH |
| LAUNCH SUMMARY RECORD | |||
| NODC FILE NUMBER | ALWAYS '156' | 1 | 3 |
| NODC TRACK NUMBER | 6-CHARACTER UNIQUE CRUISE OR DATA SET IDENTIFIER ASSIGNED BY NODC | 4 | 6 |
| RECORD TYPE | ALWAYS 'B' - ONLY ONE OF THESE RECORDS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED WITH EACH DROGUE DEPLOYMENT | 10 | 1 |
| DROGUE NUMBER | SEE RECORD 'A' | 11 | 5 |
| LAUNCH POSITION: POSITION AT DEPLOYMENT | |||
| LATITUDE | DDMMSS (DEGREES, MINUTES, SECONDS) | 16 | 6 |
| LATITUDE HEMISPHERE | 1-CHARACTER CODE - 'N' OR 'S' | 22 | 1 |
| LONGITUDE | DDDMMSS (DEGREES, MINUTES, SECONDS) | 23 | 7 |
| LONGITUDE HEMISPHERE | 1-CHARACTER CODE - 'E' OR 'W' | 30 | 1 |
| END POSITION: POSITION AT PICKUP OR TERMINATION OF OBSERVATIONS | |||
| LATITUDE | DDMMSS (DEGREES, MINUTES, SECONDS) | 31 | 6 |
| LATITUDE HEMISPHERE | 1-CHARACTER CODE - 'N' OR 'S' | 37 | 1 |
| LONGITUDE | DDDMMSS (DEGREES, MINUTES, SECONDS) | 38 | 7 |
| LONGITUDE HEMISPHERE | 1-CHARACTER CODE - 'E' OR 'W' | 45 | 1 |
| LAUNCH DATE(GMT) | YYYYMMDD | 46 | 8 |
| LAUNCH TIME(GMT) | XXXX-HOURS AND MINUTES | 54 | 4 |
| END DATE (GMT) | YYYYMMDD | 58 | 8 |
| END TIME (GMT) | XXXX-HOURS AND MINUTES | 66 | 4 |
| DROGUE DEPTH | XXXX-DEPTH IN METERS | 70 | 4 |
| OBSERVATION FREQUENCY | XXXX-HOURS AND MINUTES - USE WHEN BUOY POSITIONS ARE REPORTED AT SPECIFIC TIME INTERVALS | 74 | 4 |
| BLANKS | 78 | 5 | |
| PARAMETER | DESCRIPTION | STARTING COLUMN | FILED LENGTH |
| DATA RECORD | |||
| NODC FILE NUMBER | ALWAYS '156' | 1 | 3 |
| NODC TRACK NUMBER | 6-CHARACTER UNIQUE CRUISE OR DATA SET IDENTIFIER ASSIGNED BY NODC | 4 | 6 |
| RECORD TYPE | ALWAYS 'C' - EACH RECORD CONTAINS INDIVIDUAL DROGUE POSITION AND ASSOCIATED SEA SURFACE CONDITIONS | 10 | 1 |
| DROGUE NUMBER | SEE RECORD 'A' | 11 | 5 |
| OBSERVED POSITION | |||
| LATITUDE | DDMMSS (DEGREES, MINUTES, SECONDS) | 16 | 6 |
| LATITUDE HEMISPHERE | 1-CHARACTER CODE - 'N' OR 'S' | 22 | 1 |
| LONGITUDE | DDDMMSS (DEGREES, MINUTES, SECONDS) | 23 | 7 |
| LONGITUDE HEMISPHERE | 1-CHARACTER CODE - 'E' OR 'W' | 30 | 1 |
| OBSERVED DATE (GMT) | YYYYMMDD | 31 | 8 |
| OBSERVED TIME (GMT) | XXXX-HOURS AND MINUTES | 39 | 4 |
| SURFACE TEMPERATURE | XXX-DEG C (TO TENTHS) | 43 | 3 |
| SURFACE SALINITY | XXXX (PARTS PER THOUSAND OR PRACTICAL SALINITY UNITS - TO HUNDREDTHS) | 46 | 4 |
| ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE | XXXXXX-MILLIBARS (TO HUNDREDTHS) | 50 | 6 |
| WIND SPEED | XX-METERS PER SECOND | 56 | 2 |
| WIND DIRECTION | XX-TENS OF DEGREES | 58 | 2 |
| WIND FORCE | ONE-CHARACTER CODE - USE NODC CODE 0052 | 60 | 1 |
| WAVE HEIGHT | ONE-CHARACTER CODE - USE NODC CODE 0104 | 61 | 1 |
| WAVE PERIOD | ONE-CHARACTER CODE - USE NODC CODE 0378 | 62 | 1 |
| SEA STATE | ONE-CHARACTER CODE - USE NODC CODE 0109 | 63 | 1 |
| BOTTOM DEPTH | XXXX-BOTTOM DEPTH AT REPORTED BUOY POSITION (DEPTH IN METERS) | 64 | 4 |
| AIR TEMPERATURE | XXXX - DEG C TO TENTHS. NEGATIVE VALUES PRECEDED BY MINUS SIGN | 68 | 4 |
| SALINITY METHOD | ONE-CHARACTER CODE (P=PRACTICAL SALINITY S=SALINITY, BLANK=NOT SPECIFIED) | 72 | 1 |
| PRESSURE TENDENCY | ONE-CHARACTER CODE USE NODC CODE 0618 (WMO CODE 0200) | 73 | 1 |
| NET CHANGE IN BAROMETRIC PRESSURE IN LAST 3 HRS | XXX(MILLIBARS TO TENTHS) | 74 | 3 |
| BLANKS | 77 | 2 | |
| SEQUENCE NUMBER | XXXX-USE TO SORT RECORDS FOR EACH DROGUE/BUOY - SEQUENCE NUMBERS SHOULD BE IN ASCENDING ORDER | 79 | 4 |
| PARAMETER | DESCRIPTION | STARTING COLUMN | FILED LENGTH |
| SUBSURFACE RECORD | |||
| NODC FILE NUMBER | ALWAYS '156' | 1 | 3 |
| NODC TRACK NUMBER | 6-CHARACTER UNIQUE CRUISE OR DATA IDENTIFIER ASSIGNED BY NODC | 4 | 6 |
| RECORD TYPE | ALWAYS 'D' - EACH RECORD CONTAINS SUBSURFACE DATA ASSOCIATED WITH THE DROGUES. | 10 | 1 |
| DROGUE NUMBER | SEE RECORD 'A' | 11 | 5 |
| DEPTH | XXXXX - METERS TO HUNDREDTHS | 16 | 5 |
| PRESSURE | XXXXX - DECIBARS TO HUNDREDTHS | 21 | 5 |
| TEMPERATURE | XXX - DEG C TO TENTHS. NEGATIVE VALUES PRECEDED BY MINUS SIGN | 26 | 3 |
| DEPTH | XXXXX - METERS TO HUNDREDTHS | 29 | 5 |
| PRESSURE | XXXXX - DECIBARS TO HUNDREDTHS | 34 | 5 |
| TEMPERATURE | XXX - DEG C TO TENTHS | 39 | 3 |
| DEPTH | XXXXX - METERS TO HUNDREDTHS | 42 | 5 |
| PRESSURE | XXXXX - DECIBARS TO HUNDREDTHS | 47 | 5 |
| TEMPERATURE | XXX - DEG C TO TENTHS | 52 | 3 |
| DEPTH | XXXXX - METERS TO HUNDREDTHS | 55 | 5 |
| PRESSURE | XXXXX - DECIBARS TO HUNDREDTHS | 60 | 5 |
| TEMPERATURE | XXX - DEG C TO TENTHS | 65 | 3 |
| BLANKS | 68 | 9 | |
| SEQUENCE NUMBER | XXXX - SEE ABOVE | 77 | 4 |
| BLANKS | 81 | 2 | |
| DATA RECORD 2 | |||
| NODC FILE NUMBER | ALWAYS '156' | 1 | 3 |
| NODC TRACK NUMBER | 6-CHARACTER UNIQUE CRUISE OR DATA SET IDENTIFIER ASSIGNED BY NODC | 4 | 6 |
| RECORD TYPE | ALWAYS 'E' - EACH RECORD CONTAINS INDIVIDUAL DROGUE POSITION (OBSERVED OR INTERPOLATED) AND ASSOCIATED SURFACE CONDITIONS | 10 | 1 |
| DROGUE NUMBER | SEE RECORD 'A' | 11 | 5 |
| POSITION | |||
| LATITUDE | DDMMSS (DEGREES, MINUTES, SECONDS) | 16 | 6 |
| LATITUDE HEMISPHERE | 1-CHARACTER CODE - 'N' OR 'S' | 22 | 1 |
| LONGITUDE | DDDMMSS (DEGREES, MINUTES, SECONDS) | 23 | 7 |
| LONGITUDE HEMISPHERE | 1-CHARACTER CODE - 'E' OR 'W' | 30 | 1 |
| OBSERVED DATE (GMT) | YYYYMMDD | 31 | 8 |
| OBSERVED TIME (GMT) | XXXX - HOURS AND MINUTES | 37 | 4 |
| HEIGHT OF ANEMOMETER | XXX - METERS TO TENTHS | 41 | 3 |
| WIND SPEED | XXX - METERS/SEC TO TENTHS | 44 | 3 |
| WIND DIRECTION | XXXX - DEGREES TO TENTHS FROM NORTH- DIRECTION FROM | 47 | 4 |
| ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE | XXXXXX - MILLIBARS TO HUNDREDTHS | 51 | 6 |
| AIR TEMPERATURE | XXXX - DEG C TO TENTHS | 57 | 4 |
| COMPASS BEARING OF SURFACE UNIT | XXXX - DEGREES TO TENTHS FROM NORTH | 61 | 4 |
| BLANKS | 65 | 11 | |
| POSITION CODE | 1-CHARACTER CODE - (C = CALCULATED OR INTERPOLATED M = MEASURED OR OBSERVED) | 76 | 1 |
| SEQUENCE NUMBER | XXXX - USE TO SORT RECORDS FOR EACH DROGUE/BUOY-SEQUENCE NUMBERS SHOULD BE IN ASCENDING ORDER | 77 | 4 |
| BLANKS | 81 | 2 | |
| PARAMETER | DESCRIPTION | STARTING COLUMN | FILED LENGTH |
| SUBSURFACE CURRENT RECORD | |||
| NODC FILE NUMBER | ALWAYS '156' | 1 | 3 |
| NODC TRACK NUMBER | 6-CHARACTER UNIQUE CRUISE OR DATA SET IDENTIFIER ASSIGNED BY NODC | 4 | 6 |
| RECORD TYPE | ALWAYS 'F' - EACH RECORD CONTAINS SUBSURFACE CURRENT DATA ASSOCIATED WITH THE DROGUES. IF MORE THAN TWO CURRENT METERS ARE DEPLOYED WITH A DROGUE, USE MULTIPLE 'F' RECORDS. | 10 | 1 |
| DROGUE NUMBER | SEE RECORD 'A' | 11 | 5 |
| POSITION | |||
| LATITUDE | DDMMSS (DEGREES, MINUTES, SECONDS) | 16 | 6 |
| LATITUDE HEMISPHERE | 1-CHARACTER CODE - 'N' OR 'S' | 22 | 1 |
| LONGITUDE | DDDMMSS (DEGREES, MINUTES, SECONDS) | 23 | 7 |
| LONGITUDE HEMISPHERE | 1-CHARACTER CODE - 'E' OR 'W' | 30 | 1 |
| OBSERVED DATE (GMT) | YYYYMMDD | 31 | 8 |
| OBSERVED TIME (GMT) | XXXX - HOURS AND MINUTES | 37 | 4 |
| ICE METHOD SPEED | XXXXX - CM/SEC TO TENTHS | 41 | 5 |
| ICE METHOD DIRECTION | XXXX - DEGREES TO TENTHS FROM NORTH- DIRECTION TOWARD | 46 | 4 |
| DEPTH OF CURRENT METER | XXXX - METERS TO TENTHS | 50 | 4 |
| ABSOLUTE CURRENT SPEED | XXXXX - CM/SEC TO TENTHS | 54 | 5 |
| ABSOLUTE CURRENT DIRECTION | XXXX - DEGREES TO TENTHS FROM NORTH- DIRECTION TOWARD | 59 | 4 |
| DEPTH OF CURRENT METER | XXXX - METERS TO TENTHS | 63 | 4 |
| ABSOLUTE CURRENT SPEED | XXXXX - CM/SEC TO TENTHS | 67 | 5 |
| ABSOLUTE CURRENT DIRECTION | XXXX - DEGREES TO TENTHS FROM NORTH- DIRECTION TOWARD | 72 | 4 |
| POSITION CODE | 1-CHARACTER CODE - (C = CALCULATED OR INTERPOLATED M = MEASURED OR OBSERVED) | 76 | 1 |
| SEQUENCE NUMBER | XXXX - USE TO SORT RECORDS FOR EACH DROGUE/BUOY-SEQUENCE NUMBERS SHOULD BE IN ASCENDING ORDER | 77 | 4 |
| BLANKS | 81 | 2 | |
| PARAMETER | DESCRIPTION | STARTING COLUMN | FILED LENGTH |
| TEXT RECORD | |||
| NODC FILE NUMBER | ALWAYS '156' | 1 | 3 |
| NODC TRACK NUMBER | 6-CHARACTER UNIQUE CRUISE OR DATA SET IDENTIFIER ASSIGNED BY NODC | 4 | 6 |
| RECORD TYPE | ALWAYS 'T' - USE FOR COMMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION | 10 | 1 |
| DROGUE NUMBER | SEE RECORD 'A' | 11 | 5 |
| TEXT | 61-CHARACTER FIELD FOR COMMENTS- MULTIPLE TEXT RECORDS MAY BE USED TO DESCRIBE INDIVIDUAL DROGUE OBSERVATIONS OR FOR GENERAL COMMENTS | 16 | 61 |
| SEQUENCE NUMBER | TEXT RECORDS MAY BE INSERTED BETWEEN OR FOLLOW DATA RECORDS DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE COMMENTS. THE ORDER OF SEQUENCE NUMBERS SHOULD REFLECT THE PROPER SORTING OF COMBINED DATA AND TRACK RECORDS FOR EACH DROGUE/BUOY. | 77 | 4 |
| BLANKS | 81 | 2 | |
| CODE NUMBER | CODE NAME |
|---|---|
| 0052 | WIND FORCE (BEAUFORT) |
| 0104 | WAVE HEIGHT (WMO 1555) |
| 0109 | SEA STATE (WMO 3700) |
| 0378 | WAVE PERIOD (WMO 3155) |
| 0618 | PRESSURE TENDENCY (WMO 0200) |