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NCEP-GTS Marine Observations in BUFR format

Published by DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Metadata Last Checked: January 23, 2026 | Last Modified: 2012-08-20T00:00:00.000+00:00
The Global Telecommunications System (GTS) is a major component of transmitting global meteorological data, consisting of both in situ and satellite observations. This data is collected by a number of organizations, which archive and further process the data. The National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) collect this GTS data and formats it into BUFR (Binary Universal Form for the Representation of meteorological data) for their processing needs. After processing, the BUFR is transmitted to NCAR for archival and additional processing into the International Maritime Meteorological Archive (IMMA) format for the International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS). NCAR also archives this IMMA-formatted data. NCDC will use these data as source input for the new ICOADS Near-Real-Time (NRT) product and will archive the two data streams from NCAR--the NCEP-BUFR data as well as IMMA (International Maritime Meteorological Archive) formatted data files (converted from the NCEP-BUFR file format) that are produced by NCAR. The IMMA format has been adopted by many organizations as the preferred format for marine observations. The data consists of basic observations taken from ships, buoys, C-MAN (Coastal Marine Automated Network), and tide-gauge stations. Observations may include: air and sea surface temperature, wind direction/speed, waves, sea level pressure, etc.

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Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Surface Winds Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Winds > Surface Winds Earth Science > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Visibility Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Sea Level Pressure Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Air Temperature Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Dew Point Temperature Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Temperature > Sea Surface Temperature Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Types Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Frequency Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Waves > Swells Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Waves > Wave Period Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Waves > Wave Height Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Waves > Wave Speed/Direction Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Pressure Tendency Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Height Earth Science > Cryosphere > Sea Ice > Sea Ice Concentration Meteorological Station Buoys Ocean Platforms COASTAL STATIONS C-MAN > Coastal Marine Network MOORINGS Ships Buoys Anemometers Barometers Thermometers Thermometers hygrometer Pressure Gauges Visual Observations Wave Height Gauges Geographic Region > Global Ocean Geographic Region > Global Vertical Location > Land Surface Vertical Location > Sea Surface DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce

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