This table gives the list of codes found in the data files. These codes are used to provide whatever information accompanied the data.
| Code | Units | Meaning |
| ACC$ | text | MEDS accesion number |
| AC2$ | text | A unique number constructed from system hour, minute, second and profile number to allow us to connect all surface drift stations to the associated profiles. |
| APN$ | text | The Service Argos program number. |
| AVP$ | decibars | The average pressure while the float drifts at depth. |
| AVT$ | deg C | The average water temperature while the float drifts at depth. |
| BQA$ | text | Qa in BUOY code form (WMO code table 3302) |
| CNV$ | text | The controller board software version number for profiling floats |
| CSC1 | text | Chief scientist's name |
| DDB$ | date | The date as YYYYMMDD of deployment. |
| DLO$ | deg | Longitude (+/- 180 west +ve) at deployment |
| DLT$ | deg | Latitude (north +ve) at deployment |
| IND$ | hour | The time between the start of ascent and the descent after data transmission at the surface for a profiling float. This assumes the float begins its ascent from its parking depth. |
| INU$ | hour | The time between the start of descent from the surface and the start of the ascent after time spent at the parking depth. This assumes the float begins its ascent from its parking depth. |
| IST$ | text | Instrument name to collect T and S only. |
| MBN$ | text | The message block number from a Service Argos message. Each message gets a unique number |
| OCR$ | text | The originator's cruise number |
| OID$ | text | Originator's station identifier |
| PBP$ | number | Air bladder pressure in counts. |
| PBS$ | number | The position of the piston, in counts, for a profiling float at the parking depth. Counts vary from 0-256 with 256 being fully extended. |
| PBV$ | V | Battery voltage remaining for a profiling float. |
| PB1$ | V | Battery voltage at initial pump extension |
| PDR$ | text | Indicates if the profile was collected on the descent (D) or the ascent (A) of the instrument |
| PDT$ | date | The date as DDMMY of the first transmission from the surface. |
| PFL$ | number | Profile length (as the number of pressures) |
| PFN$ | number | Profile number generated by Service Argos |
| PFR$ | code | WMO codes 1770 (IxIxIx) + 4770 (XrXr) as used in the JJYY, JJVV and KKYY code forms |
| PIV$ | inches Hg | Internal vacuum recorded before the last descent of a profiling float. |
| PKT$ | deg C | Temperature at the parking depth of a profiling float |
| PLAT | code | Platform identifier |
| PMT$ | number | Pump motor time (in two second intervals) |
| PPS$ | number | The piston position for a profiling float as the instrument reaches the surface. Positions counts are from 0 to 256 with 256 being fully extended |
| PP1$ | number | Profile piston position in counts |
| PP2$ | number | The surface piston position for a profiling float. Positions counts are from 0 to 256 with 256 being fully extended |
| PRK$ | m/dbars | The depth or pressure of the parking depth of a profiling float. Units are the same as reported in the profile. . |
| PRO1 | text | Project name |
| PSP$ | decibars | Surface pressure + 5 decibars recorded before the previous descent of a profiling float |
| PTM$ | date | The time as HHMM/ of the first transmission from the surface |
| PTT$ | text | The Service Argos ptt number |
| QCF$ | text | The indicator encoding which MEDS QC tests have failed for T and S data. |
| QCP$ | text | The indicator encoding which MEDS QC tests have been executed for T and S data. |
| SAT$ | text | Satellite identifier |
| SER1 | text | Instrument serial number |
| WMO$ | text | WMO platform identifier number |