SHIP

Report of surface observation from a sea station




Section 0

D.....D YY GG iw 99LaLaLa Qc LoLoLoLo

Section 1

iR ix h VV N dd ff (00 fff) 1sn TTT {2sn TdTdTd or 29 UUU}
3 PoPoPoPo 4 PPPP 5 a ppp 6RRR tr 7{ww W1W2 or wawa Wa1Wa2}
8 Nh CL CM CH 9 GGgg

Section 2

222 Ds vs (0 ss TwTwTw) (1 PwaPwa HwaHwa) (2 PwPw HwHw)
((3 dw1dw1dw2dw2) (4 Pw1Pw1 Hw1Hw1) (5 Pw2Pw2 Hw2Hw2))
({6 Is EsEs Rs or ICING + plain language})
(70HwaHwaHwa) (8sw TbTbTb) (ICE + {ci Si bi Di zi or plain language})
Sections 3, 4, 5 on meteorological conditions for regional or national exchange may follow. Please consult national Meteorological Service of your country for detailed information.


D.....D

Ship's call sign consisting of three or more alphanumeric characters.

YY

Day of the month (UTC), with 01 indicating the first day, 02 the second day, etc. on which the actual time of observation falls.

GG

Actual time of observation, to the nearest whole hour UTC.

iw

Indicator for source and units of wind speed.
  
0 Wind speed estimated Wind speed in m/s
1 Wind speed obtained from anemometer Wind speed in m/s
3 Wind speed estimated Wind speed in knots
4 Wind speed obtained from anemometer Wind speed in knots

LaLaLa

Latitude, in tenths of a degree.
Tenths shall be obtained by dividing the number of minutes by 6, disregarding the remainder.

Qc

Quadrant of the globe.

Code figure Latitude Longitude
1 North East
3 South East
5 South West
7 North West

Note: The choice is left to the observer in the following cases:
When the ship is on the Greenwich meridian or the 180th
meridian (LoLoLoLo = 0000 or 1800 respectively):
Qc = 1 or 7 (northern hemisphere) or
Qc = 3 or 5 (southern hemisphere);
When the ship is on the Equator (LaLaLa = 000):
Qc = 1 or 3 (eastern longitude) or
Qc = 5 or 7 (western longitude).

LoLoLoLo

Longitude, in tehths of a degree.
Tenths shall be obtained by dividing the number of minutes by 6, disregarding the remainder.

iR

Indicator for inclusion or omission of precipitation data
  
Code Precipitation data
figure are reported: Group 6RRRtR is:
0 In Sections 1 and 3 Included in both sections
1 In Section 1 Included
2 In Section 3 Included
3 In none of the two Omitted
Sections 1 and 3 (precipitation amount = 0)
4 In none of the two Omitted
Sections 1 and 3 (precipitation amount not available)

ix

Indicator for type of station operation (manned or automatic) and for present and past weather data

wawaWa1Wa2
Code
figure
Type of station operation Group 7wwW1W2 or 7
1 Manned Included
2 Manned Omitted (no significant phenomenon to report)
3 Manned Omitted (no observation, data not available)
4 Automatic Included using Code table 4677 and Code table 4561
5 Automatic Omitted (no significant phenomenon to report)
6 Automatic Omitted (no observation, data not available)
7 Automatic Included using Code table 4680 and Code table 4531


h

Height above surface of the base of the lowest cloud seen


  
Code
figure
0 0 to 50 m
1 50 to 100 m
2 100 to 200 m
3 200 to 300 m
4 300 to 600 m
5 600 to 1000 m
6 1000 to 1500 m
7 1500 to 2000 m
8 2000 to 2500 m
9 2500 m or more, or no clouds
/ Height of base of cloud not known or base of clouds at
a level lower and tops at a level higher than that of
the station
Notes:
(1) A height exactly equal to one of the values at the ends
of the ranges shall be coded in the higher range, e.g.
a height of 600 m shall be reported by code figure 5.
(2) Due to the limitation in range of the cloud-sensing
equipment used by an automatic station, the code figures
reported for h could have one of the three following
meanings:
(a) The actual height of the base of the cloud is
within the range indicated by the code figure; or
(b) The height of the base of the cloud is greater
than the range indicated by the code figure but
cannot be determined due to instrumental
limitations; or
(c) There are no clouds vertically above the station.

VV

horizontal visibility at surface

  
code
figure km
90 <0.05
91 0.05
92 0.2
93 0.5
94 1
95 2
96 4
97 10
98 20
99 >=50

N

Total cloud cover

  
Code
figure
0 0 (0)
1 1 okta or less, but not zero (1/10 or less, but not zero)
2 2 oktas (2/10 - 3/10)
3 3 oktas (4/10)
4 4 oktas (5/10)
5 5 oktas (6/10)
6 6 oktas (7/10 - 8/10)
7 7 oktas or more, but not 8 oktas
(9/10 or more, but not 10/10)
8 8 oktas (10/10)
9 Sky obscured by fog and/or other meteorological phenomena
/ Cloud cover is indiscernible for reasons other than fog
or other meteorological phenomena, or observation is not
made

dd

True dirction, in tens of degrees, from which wind is blowing

  
Code
figure
00 Calm
01 5-14
02 15-24
03 25-34
etc. etc.
36 335-4
99 Variable, or all directions or unknown or waves
confused, direction indetermininate

ff

Wind speed, in units indicated by iw

When the wind speed, in units indicated by iw, is 99 units or more;
(a) ff in the group Nddff shall be encoded 99;
(b) The group 00fff shall be included immediately following the group Nddff


fff

Wind speed, in units indicated by iw

See also ff


sn

Sign of the data

  
code
figure
0 Positive or zero
1 Negative

TTT

Air temperature, in tenths of a degree Celsius, its sign being given by sn

TdTdTd

Dew-point temperature, in tenths of a degree Celsius, its sign being given by sn

UUU

Relative humidity of the air, in per cent, the first figure being zero except for UUU=100 per cent.

PoPoPoPo

Pressure at station level, in tenths of a hectopascal, omitting thousands digit of hectopascals of the pressure value

PPPP

Pressure at mean sea-level, in tenths of a hectopascal, omitting the thousands digit of hectopascals of the pressure value.

a

Characteristic of pressure tendency during the 3 hours preceding the time of observation

  
Code
figure
0 Incresing, then decreasing; atmospheric pressure the same or higher
than 3 hours ago
1 Increasing, then steady;or increasing then increasing more slowly;
atmospheric pressure now higher than 3 hours ago
2 Increasing (steadily or unsteadily); atmospheric pressure now higher
than 3 hours ago
3 Decreasing or steady, then increasing; or increasing, then increasing
more rapidly; atmospheric pressure now higher than 3 hours ago
4 Steady; atmospheric pressure the same as 3 hours ago
5 Decreasing, then increasing; atmospheric presure the same or lower
than 3 hours ago
6 Decreasing, then steady; or decreasing, then decreasing more slowly;
atmospheric pressure now lower than 3 hours ago
7 Decreasing (steadily or unsteadily); atmospheric pressure now lower
than 3 hours ago
8 Steady or increasing, then decreasing; or decreasing, then decreasing
more rapidly; atmospheric pressure now lower than 3 hours ago

ppp

Amount of pressure tendency at station level during the three hours preceding the time of observation, expressed in tenths of a hectopascal

RRR

Amount of precipitation which has fallen during the period preceding the time of observation, as indicated by tR

  
Code Code
figure figure
000 Not used 990 Trace
001 1 mm 991 0.1 mm
002 2 mm 992 0.2 mm
etc. etc. 993 0.3 mm
988 988 mm 994 0.4 mm
989 989 mm or more 995 0.5 mm
996 0.6 mm
997 0.7 mm
998 0.8 mm
999 0.9 mm

tR

Duration of period of reference for amount of precipitation, ending at the time of the report

  
Code
figure Total precipitation during
1 the 6 hours preceding the observation
2 the 12 hours preceding the observation
3 the 18 hours preceding the observation
4 the 24 hours preceding the observation
5 the 1 hours preceding the observation
6 the 2 hours preceding the observation
7 the 3 hours preceding the observation
8 the 9 hours preceding the observation
9 the 15 hours preceding the observation
Notes:
If the duration of the period of reference is not covered by this table or the period does not end at the time of the report, tR shall be coded 0.

ww

Present weather reported from a manned weather station ( Code table 4677)

W1
W
2

Past weather (Code table 4561)

wawa

Present weather reported from an automatic weather station ( Code table 4680)

Wa1
W
a2

Past weather (Code table 4531)

Nh

Amount of all the Ch cloud present or, if no Chcloud is present, the amount of all the Cm cloud present. See N for the definition of the code figure.

CH

Clouds of the genera Cirrus, Cirrocumulus and Cirrostratus. ( Code Table 0509)

CM

Clouds of the genera Altocumulus, Altostratus and Nimbostratus. (Code Table 0515)

CL

Clouds of the genera Stratocumulus, Stratus, Cumulus and Cumulonimbus. (Code Table 0513)

GGgg

Time of observation, in hours and minutes (UTC)
This group shall be included
(a) when the actual time of observation differs by more than 10 minutes from the standard time GG reported in Section 0.
(b)When additionally specified by regional decision.

Ds

True direction of resultant displacement of the ship during the 3 hours preceding the time of observation

  
Code
figure
1 NE
2 E
3 SE
4 S
5 SW
6 W
7 NW
8 N
9 Unknown
/ Report from a coastal land station or displacement of
ship not reported

vs

Ship's average speed made good during the 3 hours preceding the time of observation

  
Code
figure knot km/h
0 0 0
1 1-5 1-10
2 6-10 11-19
3 11-15 20-28
4 16-20 29-37
5 21-25 38-47
6 26-30 48-56
7 31-35 57-65
8 36-40 66-75
9 Over 40 Over 75
/ Not applicable (report from a caostal landstation) or
not reported.

ss

indicator for sign and type of measurement of sea-surface temperature

  
Code
figure Sign Type of measurement
0 Positive or 0 Intake
1 Negative Intake
2 Positive or 0 Bucket
3 Negative Bucket
4 Positive or 0 Hull contact sensor
5 Negative Hull contact sensor
6 Positive or 0 Other
7 Negative Other

TwTwTw

Sea-surface temperature, in tenths of a degree Celsius, its sign being given by ss

PwaPwa

Period of waves, obtained by instrumental methods, in seconds

HwaHwa

Height of waves, obtained by instrumental methods, in units of 0.5 metre

PwPw

Period of wind waves, in seconds

HwHw

Height of wind waves, in units of 0.5 metre

dw1dw1, dw2dw2

True direction, in tens of degrees, from which swell waves are coming

  
Code
figure
00 Calm
01 5-14
02 15-24
03 25-34
etc. etc.
36 335-4
99 Variable, or all directions or unknown or waves
confused, direction indetermininate

Pw1Pw1
P
w2Pw2

Period of swell waves, in seconds

Hw1Hw1
H
w2Hw2

Height of swell waves, in the same units as HwHw


Is

Ice accretion on ships

  
Code
figure
1 Icing from ocean spray
2 Icing from fog
3 Icing from spray and fog
4 Icing from rain
5 Icing from spray and rain

EsEs

Thickness of ice accretion on ships, in centimetres.

Rs

Ice accretion on ships

  
Code
figure
0 Ice not building up
1 Ice building up slowly
2 Ice building up rapidly
3 Ice melting or breaking up slowly
4 Ice melting or breaking up rapidly

HwaHwaHwa

Height of waves, obtained by instrumental methods, in units of 0.1 metre

P
waPwaPwa shall be reported in addition to PwaPwaHwaHwa when the following conditions have been met:
(a) The sea is not calm (i.e. PwaPwaHwaHwahas not been reported as 0000)
(b) HwaHwahas not been reported as //
(c) The station has the capability of accurately measuring instrumental wave period in units of 0.1 meter

sw

Indicator for the sign and type of wet-bulb temperature reported

  
0 Positive or zero measured wet-bulb temperature
1 Negative measured wet-bulb temperature
2 Iced bulb measured wet-bulb temperature
5 Positive or zero computed wet-bulb temperature
6 Negative computed wet-bulb temperature
7 Iced bulb computed wet-bulb temperature

TbTbTb

Wet-bulb temperature, in tenths of a degree Celsius, its sign being given by sn

ci

Concentration or arrangement of sea ice
Code
figure
0 No sea ice in sight
1 Ship in open lead more than 1.0 nautical mile wide, or ship in fast ice with boundary beyond limit of visibility
2 Sea ice present in concentrations less than 3/10 (3/8), open water or very open pack ice Sea ice concentration is uniform in the observation area Ship in ice or within 0.5 nautical mile of ice edge
3 4/10 to 6/10 (3/8 to less than 6/8), open pack ice
4 7/10 to 8/10 (6/8 to less than 7/8), close pack ice
5 9/10 or more, but not 10/10 (7/8 to less than 8/8), very close pack ice
6 Strips and patches of pack ice with open water between Sea ice conentration is not uniform in the observation area
7 Strips and patches of clse or very close pack ice with areas of lesser concentration between
8 Fast ice with open water, very open or open pack ice to seaward of the ice boundary
9 Fast ice with close or very close pack ice to seaward of the ice boundary
/ Unable to report, because of darkness, lack of visibility, or because ship is more than 0.5 nautical mile away from ice edge

Si

Stage of development
Code
figure
0 New ice only (frazil ice, grease ice, slush, shuga)
1 Nilas or ice rind, less than 10cm thick
2 Young ice (grey ice, grey-white ice), 10 - 30 cm thick
3 Predominantly new and/or young ice with some first-year ice
4 Predominatly thin first-year ice with some new and/or young ice
5 All thin first-year ice (30 - 70 cm thick)
6 Predominatly medium first-year ice (70 - 120 cm thick) and thick first-year ice (more than 120 cm thick) with some thinner (younger) first-year ice
7 All medium and thick first-year ice
8 Predominatly medium and thick first-year ice with some old ice (usually more than 2 metres thick)
9 Predominatly old ice
/ Unable to report, because of darkness, lack of visibility or because only ice of land origin is visible or because ship is more than 0.5 nautical mile away from ice edge

bi

Ice of land orogin
Code
figure
0 No ice of land origin
1 1-5 icebergs, no growlers or bergy bits
2 6-10 icebergs, no growlers or bergy bits
3 11-20 icebergs, no growlers or bergy bits
4 Up to and including 10 growlers and bergy bits - no icebergs
5 More than 10 growlers and bergy bits - no icebergs
6 1-5 icebergs, with growlers and bergy bits
7 6-10 icebergs, with growlers and bergy bits
8 11-20 icebergs, with growlers and bergy bits
9 More than 20 icebergs, with growlers and bergy bits - a major hazard to navigation
/ Unable to report, because of darkness, lack of visibility or because only sea ice is visible

Di

True bearing of principal ice edge
Code
figure
0 Ship in shore or flaw lead
1 Principal ice edge toward NE
2 Principal ice edge toward E
3 Principal ice edge toward SE
4 Principal ice edge toward S
5 Principal ice edge toward SW
6 Principal ice edge toward W
7 Principal ice edge toward NW
8 Principal ice edge toward N
9 Not determined (ship in ice)
/ Unable to report, because os darkness, lack of visibility or becase only ice of land origin is visible

zi

Present ice situation and trend of conditions over preceding three hours
Code
figure
0 Ship in open water with floating ice in sight
1 Ship in easily penetrable ice; conditions improving Ship in ice
2 Ship in easily penetrable ice;conditions not changing
3 Ship in easily penetrable ice;conditions worsening
4 Ship in ice difficult to penetrate; conditions improving
5 Ship in ice difficult to penetrate; conditions not changing
6 Ice forming and floes freezing together Ship in ice difficult to penetrate and conditions worsening
7 Ice under slight pressure
8 Ice under slightmoderate or severe pressure
8 Ship beset
/ Unable to report, because of darkness or lack of visibility