4.1 General
All meteorological data collected as part of the surface weather observation program are valuable information. Consequently, these data require retention, storage, and archival.
4.2 Scope
This chapter prescribes the minimum standards for maintaining a record of the operational status of weather reporting stations and maintaining records of surface weather reports. Because of the lasting value of all the data collected in the surface weather reporting program, agencies are encouraged to devise methods to store as much of the data as possible within their physical and financial constraints. Because of the generally common interest in historical and archived data, agencies shall provide records to the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC).
4.3 Types of Records
4.3.1 Station Information File. Each agency shall establish a Station Information File for each station under their jurisdiction. The file shall be a record of characteristics of each station. Table 4-1 presents a list of data required from most stations. Copies of all Station Information Files shall be available upon request from the responsible agency when needed to interpret weather records from a particular station.
Physical Characteristics Station Name Latitude/Longitude Type of Station Airport Name Climatological Elevation Description of Station Identifier Field Elevation Significant WMO Index Number Ground Elevation Topography Time Zone Station Elevation |
Observation Schedule Types of Schedule for Hours of Operations Reports Reports |
Observation Program Elements Observed SPECI Long-Line Communi- Transmitted (Y/N) cations Circuits |
Sensor Data System Configuration Location of Sensors Non-standard sensor Types of Sensors siting |
a. Maintenance of Station Information File. The Station
Information File should be created on or before the date of
station establishment to ensure the timely notification of the
station's existence. The file shall be updated when any data
in Table 4-1 or in the file changes, or the station closes,
noting the date when each change is implemented. Corrections
to erroneous station information shall be noted as such, along
with the historical extent of the error. Agencies shall establish
procedures to ensure the validity of their stations' Station
Information Files. It is recommended that the content of the
most recent file be reviewed as part of each station inspection.
b. Station Information File at NCDC. A copy of the Station
Information File for each observing location shall be sent to
the agency group representatives (NOAA, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air
Force) at the Federal Climate Complex, Asheville, North Carolina,
and made available to the DOC/NOAA/NCDC. A copy of the file shall
be sent when a station is established, when any data listed in
Table 4-1 or in the file changes or is corrected, and when a
station closes. This file shall become a part of that station's
archived record.
4.3.2 Retention of Station Observational Records. Station observational records include regularly observed meteorological data from manual stations and automated systems. Each agency shall define procedures for retaining all observational records in accordance with agency data retention and archival schedules under general METAR/SPECI guidelines:
a. Short-term Storage. Storage of observational records for
4 or more days is required to assist in sensor/system maintenance,
and verification of sensor/system records in the event of an
aircraft mishap.
b. Long-term Retention. Each agency shall establish procedures
to provide long-term retention of all observational records for
5 years to satisfy requirements for local studies and to support
litigation.
c. Archive. The DOC/NOAA/NCDC is responsible for archiving
observational records, as necessary, to satisfy requirements to
monitor the Nation's climate. Agencies shall include procedures
to ensure the delivery of observational records to the agency group
representatives (NOAA, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force) at the Federal
Climate Complex.
4.3.3 Station System/Sensor/Configuration Records. Each agency shall maintain information about changes in the configuration of each station's systems/sensors, and in their operational status. This information may be collected as part of the Station Information File or the Station Observational Records and, as such, maintained, retained, and archived as outlined in the preceding Sections.