Format Descriptions

CSV Format Description

CSV Format Description

Date Time Format

The date and time are presented in the following format mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm UTC and mark the beginning of the wave sampling period.

Latitude/Longitude

Positions are presented in decimal degrees with latitudes north of the equator represented as positive values and longitudes west of the Prime Meridian represented as positive values.

Depth

The depth values are presented in metres.

Quality Codes

The quality codes are based on the IGOSS quality codes. For data posted before 2 April 2020, quality codes were 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 MEDS. No assessment of any additional reported parameters is implied by the quality code. Spectra-based QC was discontinued on 2 April 2020, but the off-position check (QC flag of 7) is still carried out.

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

Parameter Codes

Parameter codes are GF3 standard where applicable. For data posted before 2 April 2020, significant wave height and peak period were recomputed from the spectra by MEDS; this was discontinued on 2 April 2020, and only values reported by the buoy are provided.

Wave Height Codes

VCAR
Characteristic significant wave height (calculated by MEDS) (m)
VWH$
Characteristic significant wave height (reported by the buoy) (m)
VCMX
Maximum zero crossing wave height (reported by the buoy) (m)

Wave Period Codes

VTPK
Wave spectrum peak period (calculated by MEDS) (s)
VTP$
Wave spectrum peak period (reported by the buoy) (s)

Meteorological & Oceanographic Codes

WDIR
Direction from which the wind is blowing (° True)
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 (mbar)
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)
HAT$
Water temperature from high accuracy temperature sensor (°C)
FormatB for Non-Directional Spectral Wave Data

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:

  1. Station Identification Record
    • FORMAT (A10,5X,A20,5X,A10)
    • Station Type 10 character field A10 - See Wave Instrument Type Codes
    • Station Name 20 character field 5X,A20 e.g. West Sea Otter
    • MEDS Station Identifier 10 character field 5X,A10 e.g. C46204
  2. 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 and mark the beginning of the wave sampling period.
    • Length of Recording, Real F8.1 (Minutes)
    • Sampling Frequency, Real E12.3 (Hz)
    • Quality Code (spectra, VCAR & VTPK), 2 character field 2X,A2 - See Quality Codes
    • Number of Additional Parameters, Integer I4
    • Number of Wave Heights, Integer I3
    • Number of Wave Periods, Integer I3
    • Number of Spectral Estimates, Integer I4
  3. Additional Parameters Record(s) (Optional)
    • FORMAT (5(E12.5,A4))
    • Parameter 1, Real - See Parameter Codes for parameters
    • Parameter Code 1, 4 character field
    • Parameter n, Real
    • Parameter Code n, 4 character field
  4. Wave Heights/Periods Record(s)
    • FORMAT (8(F6.2,A4))
    • Wave Height 1, Real (m)
    • Wave Height Parameter Code 1, 4 character field - See Parameter Codes for parameters
    • Wave Height n, Real (m)
    • Wave Height Parameter Code n, 4 character field - See Parameter Codes for parameters
    • Wave Period 1, Real (sec)
    • Wave Period Code Parameter 1, 4 character field - See Parameter Codes for parameters
    • Wave Period n, Real (sec)
    • Wave Period Code Parameter n, 4 character field - See Parameter Codes for parameters
  5. 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)

Wave Instrument Type Codes

12
MSC Non-directional ODAS buoy. 12m Discus
3D
MSC Non-directional ODAS buoy. 3m Discus
6N
MSC Non-directional ODAS buoy. 6m NOMAD
AE
MSC Non-directional ODAS buoy. (6m NOMAD, 12m Discus, 3m Discus or 1.7m Watchkeeper)
AW
MSC buoy data with bad Watchman payload. (Truncated spectra, VCAR=VWH$, VTPK=VTP$)
EN
Directional Buoy, Endeco
HX
Hexoid buoy
KG
Kelk Pressure cell
MI
Miros Radar
PC
Pressure cell
ST
Staff gauge
SW
Swartz gauge
TG
Toga buoy
TR
Directional buoy, TriAxys
WC
Directional buoy, WAVEC information processing system (Datawell)
WD
Directional Waverider buoy, standard information processing system (Datawell)
WK
MSC Non-directional ODAS buoy. 1.7m Watchkeeper
WP
Non-directional Waverider buoy, WRIPS system (Datawell)
WR
Non-directional Waverider buoy, standard system (Datawell)

Quality Codes

The quality codes are based on the IGOSS quality codes. For data posted before 2 April 2020, quality codes were 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 MEDS. No assessment of any additional reported parameters is implied by the quality code. Spectra-based QC was discontinued on 2 April 2020, but the off-position check (QC flag of 7) is still carried out.

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

Parameter Codes

Parameter codes are GF3 standard where applicable. For data posted before 2 April 2020, significant wave height and peak period were recomputed from the spectra by MEDS; this was discontinued on 2 April 2020, and only values reported by the buoy are provided.

Wave Height Codes

VCAR
Characteristic significant wave height (calculated by MEDS) (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)
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 (calculated by MEDS) (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
LCF$
Low frequency cut-off for wave spectra, calculated from the dispersion relation
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 (° True)
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 (mbar)
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)
HAT$
Water temperature from high accuracy temperature sensor (°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 (° true)
VPED
Wave spectrum peak energy direction (° true)
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
QCF$
The indicator encoding which MEDS QC tests have failed
QCP$
The indicator encoding which MEDS QC tests have been performed
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
UPD$
The update date of the record as YYYYMMDD
WOI$
The WAVEOB indicator group 00IaImIp from code section 0 of the code.
Directional Co-Quad Format (.CQ)

Directional Co-Quad Format (.CQ)

Co-Quad files are comprised of 2 header records, 3 parameters records and 64 data records by frequency (Hz).

Two Header Records

  1. Line number, MEDS Station Identifier, Station Name, UTC Date Time (YYYYMMDD HHMM), Latitude(+N), Longitude (+W), Depth (m) FORMAT(1X,I2.2,1X,A10,1X,A20,1X,A8,1X,A4,2(1X,F10.3),1X,F7.2)
  2. Line number, Wind Direction (from ° True), Wind Speed (m/s), Sampling Period (s), QC Flag, Sampling Rate (Hz) FORMAT(1X,I2.2,3(1X,F6.1),1X,A1,1X,F10.4)

Three Parameter Records

  1. Line number, Zeroth Spectral Moment (m**2), First Spectral Moment (m**2/s), Second Spectral Moment (m**2/s**2), Fourth Spectral Moment (m**2/s**4), Significant Wave Height (m), Peakedness Parameter, Spectral Minimum (m**2/Hz), Period of SPMIN (s), Spectral Maximum (m**2/Hz), Peak Period (s) FORMAT(1X,I2.2,10E11.4)
  2. Line number, Minimum Wave Height (m), N-S Slope of Minimum Wave, E-W Slope of Minimum Wave, Maximum Wave Height (m), N-S Slope of Maximum Wave, E-W Slope of Maximum Wave, Minimum N-S Slope, Minimum E-W Slope, Maximum N-S Slope FORMAT(1X,I2.2,10E11.4)
  3. Line number, Maximum E-W Slope, Minimum Slope, Maximum Slope, Direction of Peak Energy, Spectral Width Parameter, Average Period (s), Average Apparent Period (s), Apparent Crest Period (s), Spectral Narrowness Parameter (m/s**(.5)) FORMAT(1X,I2.2,10E11.4)

64 Spectral Records by Frequency

6 to 69 Line number, Frequency Number (1 to 64), Frequency (Hz), Spectral Density (m**2/Hz) (C011), Spectral Density from the N-S Slope (m**2/Hz) (C022), Spectral Density from the E-W Slope (m**2/Hz) (C033), Quad-Spectral Value between Heave and N-S Slope (QD12), Quad-Spectral Value between Heave and E-W Slope (QD13), Co-Spectral Value between N-S and E-W Slope (C023), Mean Direction at this Frequency, Angular Spread at this Frequency, Cosine spread factor at this Frequency FORMAT(1X,I2.2,1X,I2,9E11.4,F8.2)

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