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NCEP BUFR File Structure

NOAA/NWS/NCEP/EMC
(Last Revised 2/12/2018)

NCEP BUFR FILE STRUCTURE

with emphasis on embedded BUFR table (A,B,D) messages

Latest Revision - 04/02/2008

Every BUFR file that is presented to the NCEP BUFRLIB software, either for input (reading/decoding) or output (writing/encoding) purposes, must have a BUFR tables (A, B, D) file associated with it. These tables may be defined within a separate ASCII text file (see Description and Format of BUFR Tables for more information) or, in the case of an existing BUFR file, may be embedded within the first few BUFR messages of the file itself. When an NCEP "flavored" BUFR file is created for the first time, the BUFR tables are usually read from an external ASCII text file (although it is also possible to read the tables from table messages that are embedded within another BUFR file). The tables will then be written into the first few BUFR messages at the top of the new file (using as many messages as needed to encode the complete set of tables). This "feature" allows all NCEP BUFR files to be self-describing, i.e., anyone using the NCEP BUFRLIB routines can read an NCEP BUFR file without the need for external files containing BUFR tables A, B, D.

This document describes in detail the content of these embedded BUFR messages containing the BUFR tables, as they appear in NCEP BUFR files. It then follows with a less-detailed summary of the contents of the actual BUFR data messages which follow. The example shown here is for the NCEP BUFR tables associated with Table A (message) type 2 [vertical soundings (other than satellite)] as it appeared on 04/01/2008 (although the basic layout of the BUFR table messages is the same for all Table A types). These tables are embedded in the top messages of the NCEP "adpupa" BUFR data dump file. This file contains upper-air profile data for rawinsonde, dropwinsonde, PIBAL, ozonesonde, wind and spectral moment profiler, NEXRAD VAD wind, and RASS temperature reports.

Click here to view the ASCII text file (called /nwprod/fix/bufrtab.002 on the NCEP CCS machines) which is read in by the BUFRLIB software.

This text file will require three 10,000 byte BUFR messages in order to hold all of its information. These will be the first three messages in the "adpupa" BUFR data dump file. The BUFR messages containing the tables A, B, D are in Table A (message) type 11.

BUFR TABLE IN MESSAGE #1

Section 0 - Indicator Section:

BYTES	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
1-4	" BUFR "	start of BUFR message
5-7	9950	total length of BUFR message (including Section 0) in bytes
8	3	BUFR edition number (3 or 4)

Section 1 - Identification Section for BUFR Edition 3:

BYTES	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
1-3	18	length of section in bytes
4	0	BUFR master table (zero if standard WMO FM 94 BUFR tables are used)
5	3 (NCEP Central Operations)	originating/generating sub-center: Code table 0-01-034
6	7 (US NWS, NCEP)	originating/generating center: Code table 0-01-033
7	0	update sequence number (zero for original BUFR messages; incremented for updates)
8, Bit 1	0	= 0 no optional section, = 1 optional section follows
8, Bits 2–8	0	set to zero (reserved)
9	11 (BUFR tables, complete replacement or update)	data category (Table A)
10	1	data sub-category [defined by local automatic data processing (ADP) centers, always 1 here]
11	12	version number of master table used
12	1	version number of local tables used to augment the master table in use, always 1 here
13	0	year of century most typical for the BUFR message contents
14	0	month most typical for the BUFR message contents
15	0	day most typical for the BUFR message contents
16	0	hour most typical for the BUFR message contents
17	0	minute most typical for the BUFR message contents
18	0	reserved for local use by ADP centers (NCEP: century most typical for the BUFR message contents)

Section 2 - Optional Section:

(none per Byte 8, Bit 1 of Section 1)

Section 3 - Data Description Section:

(Note: Light shaded cells are replicated, dark shaded cells are nested replication)

BYTES	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
1-3	38	length of section in bytes
4	0	set to zero (reserved)
5-6	1	number of data subsets
7, Bit 1	1	= 1 observed data, = 0 other data
7, Bit 2	0	= 1 compressed data, = 0 non-compressed data
7, Bits 3–8	0	set to zero (reserved)
8–37		a collection of element descriptors, replication descriptors, operator descriptors and sequence descriptors, which define the form and contents of individual data elements comprising one data subset in the data section, each descriptor occupies 2 bytes and contains 3 parts: F: 2 bits X: 6 bits Y: 8 bits
8-9	F-X-Y value: 1-03-000	use delayed replication for the next three data descriptors
10-11	F-X-Y value: 0-31-001	8-bit delayed replication factor (number of lines in Table A section of ASCII text file, see ¹ below)
12-13	F-X-Y value: 0-00-001	Table A: entry; 3-characters (parsed from columns 17-19 of each line in Table A section of ASCII text file)
14-15	F-X-Y value: 0-00-002	Table A: data category description, line 1; 32-characters (parsed from columns 3-10 and 22-45 of each line in Table A section of ASCII text file)
16-17	F-X-Y value: 0-00-003	Table A: data category description, line 2; 32-characters (parsed from columns 46-77 of each line in Table A section of ASCII text file)
18-19	F-X-Y value: 1-01-000	use delayed replication for the next one data descriptor
20-21	F-X-Y value: 0-31-001	8-bit delayed replication factor [number of lines in either Table B part 1 or Table B part 2 sections of ASCII text file (should be the same) plus 5 additional Table B entries which do not appear in the ASCII text file, see ¹ below]
22-23	F-X-Y value: 3-00-004	sequence containing F, X, Y part descriptors, element name, units name, scale sign, scale, reference sign, reference value, data width (see ² below)
24-25	F-X-Y value: 1-05-000	use delayed replication for the next five data descriptors
26-27	F-X-Y value: 0-31-001	8-bit delayed replication factor (number of lines in Table A plus Table D sections of ASCII text file plus 4 additional Table D entries which do not appear in the ASCII text file see ¹ below)
28-29	F-X-Y value: 3-00-003	sequence containing F, X and Y part descriptors (see ⁴ below)
30-31	F-X-Y value: 2-05-064	insert 64 characters (parsed from columns 3-10 and 22-77 of each line in Table A or Table D section of ASCII text file)
32-33	F-X-Y value: 1-01-000	use delayed replication for the next one data descriptor
34-35	F-X-Y value: 0-31-001	8-bit delayed replication factor [number of constituent Table B, C and D descriptors in the defining sequence for each F-X-Y value defined in 3-00-003 above, parsed from mnemonic character strings in columns 14-78 of each line in Table D defining sequence section of ASCII text file (one more more blank characters separate the constituent Table B and C descriptors while pairs of parentheses, curly brackets, square brackets or angle brackets denote various constituent Table D descriptors, the mnemonic character sting in columns 3-10 (left justified) is used as a line continuation indicator and is also used to define the sequence based on the matching mnemonic character string in columns 3-10 (left justified) of the corresponding line in the Table A or Table D section of ASCII text file]
36-37	F-X-Y value: 0-00-030	descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters [each constituent Table B or C mnemonic character string or Table D indicator (pairs of parentheses, curly brackets, square brackets or angle brackets) parsed out of columns 14-78 of each line (or lines if there is a continuation) in Table D defining sequence section of ASCII text file; the parsed mnemonic character sting is used to define the Table B or Table D element based on the matching mnemonic character string in columns 3-10 (left justified) of the corresponding line in Table B part 1 and part 2 or Table D section of ASCII text file]
38	0	reserved

¹ - Since the length of an NCEP BUFR message has an upper limit (the default being 10,000 bytes, as used in the "adpupa" BUFR data dump files, but with a maximum of 2.5 million bytes), this replication factor may be less than the actual number of lines in this section of the ASCII text file. In this case, the next BUFR message will resume at point left off in the replication here, and it will continue the replication until all lines in this section of the ASCII text file have been parsed out.

² - Expansion of sequence descriptor 3-00-004 (element name, units name, scale sign, scale, reference sign, reference value, data width):

           3-00-003 (Sequence containing F, X and Y part descriptors) (see ³ below)
             0-00-013 (Element name, line 1; 32 characters) (parsed from columns 3-10 and 22-45 of each line in Table B, part 1 section of ASCII text file)
            0-00-014 (Element name, line 2; 32 characters) (parsed from columns 46-77 of each line in Table B, part 1 section of ASCII text file)
            0-00-015 (Units name; 24 characters) (parsed from columns 41-64 of each line in Table B, part 2 section of ASCII text file)
            0-00-016 (Units scale sign "+" or "-"; 1 character) [parsed from column just before number parsed out of columns 15-17, right justified, of each line in Table B, part 2 section of ASCII text file, blank (" ") is interpreted as "+"]
            0-00-017 (Units scale; 3 characters) (parsed from numbers in columns 15-17, right justified, of each line in Table B, part 2 section of ASCII text file)
            0-00-018 (Units reference sign "+" or "-"; 1 character) [parsed from column just before number parsed out of columns 22-31, right justified, of each line in Table B, part 2 section of ASCII text file, blank (" ") is interpreted as "+"]
            0-00-019 (Units reference value; 10 characters) (parsed from numbers in columns 22-31, right justified, of each line in Table B, part 2 section of ASCII text file)
           0-00-020 (Element data width; 3 characters) (parsed from numbers in columns 35-37, right justified, of each line in Table B, part 2 section of ASCII text file)

³ - Expansion of sequence descriptor 3-00-003 (F, X and Y part descriptors):

           0-00-010 (F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character) (parsed from character 14 of each line in Table B, part 1 section of ASCII text file)
           0-00-011 (X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters) (parsed from columns 15-16 of each line in Table B, part 1 section of ASCII text file)
           0-00-012 (Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters) (parsed from columns 17-19 of each line in Table B, part 1 section of ASCII text file)

⁴ - Expansion of sequence descriptor 3-00-003 (F, X and Y part descriptors):

           0-00-010 (F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character) (parsed from character 14 of each line in Table A or Table D section of ASCII text file, for Table A section, the character "A" is changed to "3")
           0-00-011 (X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters) (parsed from columns 15-16 of each line in Table A or Table D section of ASCII text file)
           0-00-012 (Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters) (parsed from columns 17-19 of each line in Table A or Table D section of ASCII text file)

⁵ - Multiple successive lines may be used in a continuation fashion by repeating, within columns 3-10 of each continuation line, the left-justified mnemonic being defined.

Section 4 - Data Section:

BYTES	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
1-3	9882	length of section in bytes
4	0	set to zero (reserved)
5-9882	(see ¹ below)	binary data as defined by sequence descriptors in Section 3 (repeated just once since there is one subset in the BUFR message)

¹ - contents of bytes 5-9882

EXPANDED F-X-Y DESCRIPTOR LIST (from Section 3)	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
0-31-001	17	number of replications of Table A information (entry itself, text description 1, text description 2)
0-00-001	"`218`"	1st replication: Table A entry, 3 characters
0-00-002	"`NC002001 MSG TYPE 002-001 RAWIN`"	1st replication: Table A: data category description, line 1; 32-characters
0-00-003	"`SONDE - FIXED LAND` "	1st replication: Table A: data category description, line 2; 32-characters
0-00-001	"`219`"	2nd replication: Table A entry, 3 characters
0-00-002	"`NC002002 MSG TYPE 002-002 RAWIN`"	2nd replication: Table A: data category description, line 1; 32-characters
0-00-003	"`SONDE - MOBIL LAND` "	2nd replication: Table A: data category description, line 2; 32-characters
0-00-001	"`220`"	3rd replication: Table A entry, 3 characters
0-00-002	"`NC002003 MSG TYPE 002-003 RAWIN`"	3rd replication: Table A: data category description, line 1; 32-characters
0-00-003	"`SONDE – SHIP` "	3rd replication: Table A: data category description, line 2; 32-characters
**** 4th through 14th replications follow in the same way ****
0-00-001	"`208`"	15th replication: Table A entry, 3 characters
0-00-002	"`NC002015 MSG TYPE 002-015 OZONE`"	15th replication: Table A: data category description, line 1; 32-characters
0-00-003	"`SONDE (HIGH-RES) (FROM ASCII)` "	15th replication: Table A: data category description, line 2; 32-characters
0-00-001	"`206`"	16th replication: Table A entry, 3 characters
0-00-002	"`NC002016 MSG TYPE 002-016 EUROP`"	16th replication: Table A: data category description, line 1; 32-characters
0-00-003	"`EAN PROFILER WINDS` "	16th replication: Table A: data category description, line 2; 32-characters
0-00-001	"`235`"	17th replication: Table A entry, 3 characters
0-00-002	"`NC004005 MESSAGE TYPE 004-005 R`"	17th replication: Table A: data category description, line 1; 32-characters
0-00-003	"`ECCO - flight level` "	17th replication: Table A: data category description, line 2; 32-characters
0-31-001	78	number of replications of Table B information (F, X, Y part descriptors, element name, units name, scale sign, scale, reference sign, reference value, data width)
0-00-010	"`0`" (see ² below)	1st replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`63`"	1st replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`000`"	1st replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
0-00-013	"`BYTCNT` "	1st replication: Element name, line 1; 32 characters
0-00-014	" "	1st replication: Element name, line 2; 32 characters
0-00-015	"`BYTES` "	1st replication: Units name; 24 characters
0-00-016	"`+`"	1st replication: Units scale sign; 1 character
0-00-017	"`0` "	1st replication: Units scale; 3 characters
0-00-018	"`+`"	1st replication: Units reference sign; 1 character
0-00-019	"`0` "	1st replication: Units reference value; 10 characters
0-00-020	"`16`"	1st replication: Element data width; 3 characters
0-00-010	"`0`" (see ² below)	2nd replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`63`"	2nd replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`255`"	2nd replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
0-00-013	"`BITPAD` "	2nd replication: Element name, line 1; 32 characters
0-00-014	" "	2nd replication: Element name, line 2; 32 characters
0-00-015	"`NONE` "	2nd replication: Units name; 24 characters
0-00-016	"`+`"	2nd replication: Units scale sign; 1 character
0-00-017	"`0` "	2nd replication: Units scale; 3 characters
0-00-018	"`+`"	2nd replication: Units reference sign; 1 character
0-00-019	"`0` "	2nd replication: Units reference value; 10 characters
0-00-020	"`1` "	2nd replication: Element data width; 3 characters
0-00-010	"`0`" (see ² below)	3rd replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`31`"	3rd replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`000`"	3rd replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
0-00-013	"`DRF1BIT` "	3rd replication: Element name, line 1; 32 characters
0-00-014	" "	3rd replication: Element name, line 2; 32 characters
0-00-015	"`NUMERIC` "	3rd replication: Units name; 24 characters
0-00-016	"`+`"	3rd replication: Units scale sign; 1 character
0-00-017	"`0` "	3rd replication: Units scale; 3 characters
0-00-018	"`+`"	3rd replication: Units reference sign; 1 character
0-00-019	"`0` "	3rd replication: Units reference value; 10 characters
0-00-020	"`1` "	3rd replication: Element data width; 3 characters
0-00-010	"`0`" (see ² below)	4th replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`31`"	4th replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`001`"	4th replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
0-00-013	"`DRF8BIT` "	4th replication: Element name, line 1; 32 characters
0-00-014	" "	4th replication: Element name, line 2; 32 characters
0-00-015	"`NUMERIC` "	4th replication: Units name; 24 characters
0-00-016	"`+`"	4th replication: Units scale sign; 1 character
0-00-017	"`0` "	4th replication: Units scale; 3 characters
0-00-018	"`+`"	4th replication: Units reference sign; 1 character
0-00-019	"`0` "	4th replication: Units reference value; 10 characters
0-00-020	"`8` "	4th replication: Element data width; 3 characters
0-00-010	"`0`" (see ² below)	5th replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`31`"	5th replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`002`"	5th replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
0-00-013	"`DRF16BIT` "	5th replication: Element name, line 1; 32 characters
0-00-014	" "	5th replication: Element name, line 2; 32 characters
0-00-015	"`NUMERIC` "	5th replication: Units name; 24 characters
0-00-016	"`+`"	5th replication: Units scale sign; 1 character
0-00-017	"`0` "	5th replication: Units scale; 3 characters
0-00-018	"`+`"	5th replication: Units reference sign; 1 character
0-00-019	"`0` "	5th replication: Units reference value; 10 characters
0-00-020	"`16`"	5th replication: Element data width; 3 characters
0-00-010	"`0`"	6th replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`01`"	6th replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`001`"	6th replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
0-00-013	"`WMOB WMO BLOCK NUMBER` "	6th replication: Element name, line 1; 32 characters
0-00-014	" "	6th replication: Element name, line 2; 32 characters
0-00-015	"`NUMERIC` "	6th replication: Units name; 24 characters
0-00-016	"`+`"	6th replication: Units scale sign; 1 character
0-00-017	"`0` "	6th replication: Units scale; 3 characters
0-00-018	"`+`"	6th replication: Units reference sign; 1 character
0-00-019	"`0` "	6th replication: Units reference value; 10 characters
0-00-020	"`7` "	6th replication: Element data width; 3 characters
0-00-010	"`0`"	7th replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`01`"	7th replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`002`"	7th replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
0-00-013	"`WMOS WMO STATION NUMBER` "	7th replication: Element name, line 1; 32 characters
0-00-014	" "	7th replication: Element name, line 2; 32 characters
0-00-015	"`NUMERIC` "	7th replication: Units name; 24 characters
0-00-016	"`+`"	7th replication: Units scale sign; 1 character
0-00-017	"`0` "	7th replication: Units scale; 3 characters
0-00-018	"`+`"	7th replication: Units reference sign; 1 character
0-00-019	"`0` "	7th replication: Units reference value; 10 characters
0-00-020	"`10`"	7th replication: Element data width; 3 characters
**** 8th through 76th replications follow in the same way ****
0-00-010	"`0`"	77th replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`12`"	77th replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`107`"	77th replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
0-00-013	"`TMVR VIRTUAL TEMPERATURE` "	77th replication: Element name, line 1; 32 characters
0-00-014	" "	77th replication: Element name, line 2; 32 characters
0-00-015	"`DEGREES KELVIN` "	77th replication: Units name; 24 characters
0-00-016	"`+`"	77th replication: Units scale sign; 1 character
0-00-017	"`2` "	77th replication: Units scale; 3 characters
0-00-018	"`+`"	77th replication: Units reference sign; 1 character
0-00-019	"`0` "	77th replication: Units reference value; 10 characters
0-00-020	"`16`"	77th replication: Element data width; 3 characters
0-00-010	"`0`"	78th replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`13`"	78th replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`003`"	78th replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
0-00-013	"`REHU RELATIVE HUMIDITY` "	78th replication: Element name, line 1; 32 characters
0-00-014	" "	78th replication: Element name, line 2; 32 characters
0-00-015	"`%` "	78th replication: Units name; 24 characters
0-00-016	"`+`"	78th replication: Units scale sign; 1 character
0-00-017	"`0` "	78th replication: Units scale; 3 characters
0-00-018	"`+`"	78th replication: Units reference sign; 1 character
0-00-019	"`0` "	78th replication: Units reference value; 10 characters
0-00-020	"`7` "	78th replication: Element data width; 3 characters
0-31-001	0	number of replications of Table D information (F, X, Y part descriptors, text description, Table B and D descriptors defining sequence)

² - Table B entries 0-63-000 (BYTCNT), 0-63-255 (BITPAD), 0-31-000 (DRF8BIT), 0-31-001 (DRF8BIT) and 0-31-002 (DRF16BIT) do not appear in any ASCII text files but are encoded into embedded BUFR messages containing BUFR tables B for all Table A (message) types. They will later appear in special Table D entries used to define delayed replication for a single Table D sequence.

Section 5 - End Section:

BYTES	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
1-4	" 7777 "	end of BUFR message

BUFR TABLE IN MESSAGE #2

Section 0 - Indicator Section:

BYTES	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
1-4	" BUFR "	start of BUFR message
5-7	9924	total length of BUFR message (including Section 0) in bytes
8	3	BUFR edition number (3 or 4)

Section 1 - Identification Section for BUFR Edition 3:

Same as in BUFR Message #1

Section 2 - Optional Section:

(none per Byte 8, Bit 1 of Section 1)

Section 3 - Data Description Section:

Same as in BUFR Message #1

Section 4 - Data Section:

BYTES	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
1-3	9856	length of section in bytes
4	0	set to zero (reserved)
5-9856	(see ¹ below)	binary data as defined by sequence descriptors in Section 3 (repeated just once since there is one subset in the BUFR message)

¹ - contents of bytes 5-9856

EXPANDED F-X-Y DESCRIPTOR LIST (from Section 3)	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
0-31-001	0	number of replications of Table A information (entry itself, text description 1, text description 2)
0-31-001	40	number of replications of Table B information (F, X, Y part descriptors, element name, units name, scale sign, scale, reference sign, reference value, data width)
0-00-010	"`0`"	1st replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`13`"	1st replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`195`"	1st replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
0-00-013	"`STBS5 MODIFIED SHOWALTER STAB`"	1st replication: Element name, line 1; 32 characters
0-00-014	"`ILITY INDEX` "	1st replication: Element name, line 2; 32 characters
0-00-015	"`NUMERIC` "	1st replication: Units name; 24 characters
0-00-016	"`+`"	1st replication: Units scale sign; 1 character
0-00-017	"`0` "	1st replication: Units scale; 3 characters
0-00-018	"`-`"	1st replication: Units reference sign; 1 character
0-00-019	"`40` "	1st replication: Units reference value; 10 characters
0-00-020	"`8` "	1st replication: Element data width; 3 characters
0-00-010	"`0`"	2nd replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`15`"	2nd replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`003`"	2nd replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
0-00-013	"`MOPP MEASURED OZONE PARTIAL` "	2nd replication: Element name, line 1; 32 characters
0-00-014	"`PRESSURE (SOUNDING)` "	2nd replication: Element name, line 2; 32 characters
0-00-015	"`PA` "	2nd replication: Units name; 24 characters
0-00-016	"`+`"	2nd replication: Units scale sign; 1 character
0-00-017	"`4` "	2nd replication: Units scale; 3 characters
0-00-018	"`+`"	2nd replication: Units reference sign; 1 character
0-00-019	"`0` "	2nd replication: Units reference value; 10 characters
0-00-020	"`9` "	2nd replication: Element data width; 3 characters
**** 3rd through 38th replications follow in the same way ****
0-00-010	"`0`"	39th replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`35`"	39th replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`195`"	39th replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
0-00-013	"`SEQNUM CHANNEL SEQUENCE NUMBER`"	39th replication: Element name, line 1; 32 characters
0-00-014	" "	39th replication: Element name, line 2; 32 characters
0-00-015	"`CCITT IA5` "	39th replication: Units name; 24 characters
0-00-016	"`+`"	39th replication: Units scale sign; 1 character
0-00-017	"`0` "	39th replication: Units scale; 3 characters
0-00-018	"`+`"	39th replication: Units reference sign; 1 character
0-00-019	"`0` "	39th replication: Units reference value; 10 characters
0-00-020	"`32`"	39th replication: Element data width; 3 characters
0-00-010	"`0`"	40th replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`58`"	40th replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`008`"	40th replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
0-00-013	"`RRSTG RAW REPORT STRING` "	40th replication: Element name, line 1; 32 characters
0-00-014	" "	40th replication: Element name, line 2; 32 characters
0-00-015	"`CCITT IA5` "	40th replication: Units name; 24 characters
0-00-016	"`+`"	40th replication: Units scale sign; 1 character
0-00-017	"`0` "	40th replication: Units scale; 3 characters
0-00-018	"`+`"	40th replication: Units reference sign; 1 character
0-00-019	"`0` "	40th replication: Units reference value; 10 characters
0-00-020	"`64`"	40th replication: Element data width; 3 characters
0-31-001	43	number of replications of Table D information (F, X, Y part descriptors, text description, Table B and D descriptors defining sequence)
0-00-010	"`3`" (see ² below)	1st outer replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`60`"	1st outer replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`001`"	1st outer replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
2-05-064	" DRP16BIT "// " "	1st outer replication: insert 64 characters
0-31-001	2	1st outer replication: number of replications of descriptor defining sequence
0-00-030	" 101000 "	1st outer replication; 1st inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 031002 "	1st outer replication; 2nd inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-010	"`3`" (see ² below)	2nd outer replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`60`"	2nd outer replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`002`"	2nd outer replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
2-05-064	" DRP8BIT "// " "	2nd outer replication: insert 64 characters
0-31-001	2	2nd outer replication: number of replications of descriptor defining sequence
0-00-030	" 101000 "	2nd outer replication; 1st inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 031001 "	2nd outer replication; 2nd inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-010	"`3`" (see ² below)	3rd outer replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`60`"	3rd outer replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`003`"	3rd outer replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
2-05-064	" DRPSTAK "// " "	3rd outer replication: insert 64 characters
0-31-001	2	3rd outer replication: number of replications of descriptor defining sequence
0-00-030	" 101000 "	3rd outer replication; 1st inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 031001 "	3rd outer replication; 2nd inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-010	"`3`" (see ² below)	4th outer replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`60`"	4th outer replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`004`"	4th outer replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
2-05-064	" DRP1BIT "// " "	4th outer replication: insert 64 characters
0-31-001	2	4th outer replication: number of replications of descriptor defining sequence
0-00-030	" 101000 "	4th outer replication; 1st inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 031000 "	4th outer replication; 2nd inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-010	"`3`"	5th outer replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`63`"	5th outer replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`218`"	5th outer replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
2-05-064	" NC002001 MSG TYPE 002-001 RAWIN "// " SONDE – FIXED LAND "	5th outer replication: insert 64 characters
0-31-001	24	5th outer replication: number of replications of descriptor defining sequence
0-00-030	" 301011 "	5th outer replication; 1st inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 004004 "	5th outer replication; 2nd inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 360002 "	5th outer replication; 3rd inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 352003 "	5th outer replication; 4th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 360002 "	5th outer replication; 5th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 352001 "	5th outer replication; 6th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 361121 "	5th outer replication; 7th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 360002 "	5th outer replication; 8th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 361122 "	5th outer replication; 9th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 360002 "	5th outer replication; 10th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 361123 "	5th outer replication; 11th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 360004 "	5th outer replication; 12th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 361129 "	5th outer replication; 13th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 360002 "	5th outer replication; 14th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 361131 "	5th outer replication; 15th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 360002 "	5th outer replication; 16th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 352002 "	5th outer replication; 17th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 360002 "	5th outer replication; 18th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 361128 "	5th outer replication; 19th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 360004 "	5th outer replication; 20th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 361130 "	5th outer replication; 21th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 001001 "	5th outer replication; 22nd inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 001002 "	5th outer replication; 23rd inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 001003 "	5th outer replication; 24th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-010	"`3`"	6th outer replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`63`"	6th outer replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`219`"	6th outer replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
2-05-064	" NC002002 MSG TYPE 002-002 RAWIN "// " SONDE – MOBIL LAND "	6th outer replication: insert 64 characters
0-31-001	21	6th outer replication: number of replications of descriptor defining sequence
0-00-030	" 301011 "	6th outer replication; 1st inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 004004 "	6th outer replication; 2nd inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 360002 "	6th outer replication; 3rd inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 352003 "	6th outer replication; 4th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 360002 "	6th outer replication; 5th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 352001 "	6th outer replication; 6th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 361121 "	6th outer replication; 7th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 360002 "	6th outer replication; 8th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 361122 "	6th outer replication; 9th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 360002 "	6th outer replication; 10th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 361123 "	6th outer replication; 11th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 360004 "	6th outer replication; 12th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 361129 "	6th outer replication; 13th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 360002 "	6th outer replication; 14th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 361131 "	6th outer replication; 15th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 360002 "	6th outer replication; 16th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 352002 "	6th outer replication; 17th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 360002 "	6th outer replication; 18th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 361128 "	6th outer replication; 19th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 001197 "	6th outer replication; 20th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 033024 "	6th outer replication; 21st inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
**** 7th through 42nd outer replications follow in the same way ****
0-00-010	"`3`"	43rd outer replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`61`"	43rd outer replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`134`"	43rd outer replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
2-05-064	" UAGP10 RADIOSONDE CLASS 10 GEO "// " POTENTIAL DATA "	43rd outer replication: insert 64 characters
0-31-001	1	43rd outer replication: number of replications of descriptor defining sequence
0-00-030	" 001008 "	43rd outer replication; 1st inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters

² - Table D entries 3-60-001 (DRP16BIT), 3-60-002 (DRP8BIT), 3-60-003 (DRPSTAK) and 0-60-004 (DRP1BIT) do not explicitly appear in an any ASCII text files but are encoded into embedded BUFR messages containing BUFR tables D for all Table A (message) types. Within the ASCII tables, 3-60-001 is represented by parentheses, "(" and ")", spanning the single Table D sequence descriptor that is being replicated from between 0 and 65535 times; 3-60-002 is represented by curly brackets, "{" and "}", spanning the single Table D sequence descriptor that is being replicated from between 0 and 255 times; 3-60-003 is represented by square brackets, "[" and "]", spanning the single Table D sequence descriptor that is being replicated from between 0 and 255 times under a special "event" structure; and 3-60-004 is represented by angle brackets, "<" and ">", spanning the single Table D sequence descriptor that is being replicated either 0 or 1 time.

Section 5 - End Section:

BYTES	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
1-4	" 7777 "	end of BUFR message

BUFR TABLE IN MESSAGE #3

Section 0 - Indicator Section:

BYTES	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
1-4	" BUFR "	start of BUFR message
5-7	2090	total length of BUFR message (including Section 0) in bytes
8	3	BUFR edition number (3 or 4)

Section 1 - Identification Section for BUFR Edition 3:

Same as in BUFR Message #1

Section 2 - Optional Section:

(none per Byte 8, Bit 1 of Section 1)

Section 3 - Data Description Section:

Same as in BUFR Message #1

Section 4 - Data Section:

BYTES	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
1-3	2022	length of section in bytes
4	0	set to zero (reserved)
5-2022	(see ¹ below)	binary data as defined by sequence descriptors in Section 3 (repeated just once since there is one subset in the BUFR message)

¹ - contents of bytes 5-2022

EXPANDED F-X-Y DESCRIPTOR LIST (from Section 3)	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
0-31-001	0	number of replications of Table A information (entry itself, text description 1, text description 2)
0-31-001	0	number of replications of Table B information (F, X, Y part descriptors, element name, units name, scale sign, scale, reference sign, reference value, data width)
0-31-001	19	number of replications of Table D information (F, X, Y part descriptors, text description, Table B and D descriptors defining sequence)
0-00-010	"`3`"	1st outer replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`61`"	1st outer replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`162`"	1st outer replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
2-05-064	" PFLEV PROFILER REPORT LEVEL D "// " ATA "	1st outer replication: insert 64 characters
0-31-001	8	1st outer replication: number of replications of descriptor defining sequence
0-00-030	" 007007 "	1st outer replication; 1st inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 025034 "	1st outer replication; 2nd inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 033195 "	1st outer replication; 3rd inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 011001 "	1st outer replication; 4th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 011002 "	1st outer replication; 5th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 011050 "	1st outer replication; 6th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 011006 "	1st outer replication; 7th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 011051 "	1st outer replication; 8th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
**** 2nd through 18th outer replications follow in the same way ****
0-00-010	"`3`"	19th outer replication: F descriptor to be added or defined; 1 character
0-00-011	"`62`"	19th outer replication: X descriptor to be added or defined; 2 characters
0-00-012	"`250`"	19th outer replication: Y descriptor to be added or defined; 3 characters
2-05-064	" EPSEQ1 EUROPEAN WIND PROFILER "// " SEQUENCE 1 "	19th outer replication: insert 64 characters
0-31-001	8	19th outer replication: number of replications of descriptor defining sequence
0-00-030	" 007007 "	19th outer replication; 1st inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 033002 "	19th outer replication; 2nd inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 033195 "	19th outer replication; 3rd inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 011001 "	19th outer replication; 4th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 011002 "	19th outer replication; 5th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 011006 "	19th outer replication; 6th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 007007 "	19th outer replication; 7th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters
0-00-030	" 021030 "	19th outer replication; 8th inner replication: descriptor defining sequence; 6 characters

Section 5 - End Section:

BYTES	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
1-4	" 7777 "	end of BUFR message

Now the actual BUFR data messages ....

BUFR DATA IN MESSAGES #4 ON (TO END-OF_FILE)

Section 0 - Indicator Section:

BYTES	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
1-4	" BUFR "	start of BUFR message
5-7	(see ¹ below)	total length of BUFR message (including Section 0) in bytes
8	3	BUFR edition number (3 or 4)

¹ - The total length of the BUFR message varies from message to message, but is always 54 (bytes) for "dummy" messages which contain zero subsets (see ³ under Section 1 below and ¹ under Section 3 below).

Section 1 - Identification Section for BUFR Edition 3:

BYTES	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
1-3	18	length of section in bytes
4	0	BUFR master table (zero if standard WMO FM 94 BUFR tables are used)
5	3 (NCEP Central Operations)	originating/generating sub-center: Code table 0-01-034
6	7 (US NWS, NCEP)	originating/generating center: Code table 0-01-033
7	0	update sequence number (zero for original BUFR messages; incremented for updates)
8, Bit 1	0	= 0 no optional section, = 1 optional section follows
8, Bits 2–8	0	set to zero (reserved)
9	(see ¹ below)	data category (Table A)
10	(see ² below)	data sub-category [defined by local automatic data processing (ADP) centers]
11	12	version number of master table used
12	0	version number of local tables used to augment the master table in use, always 0 here
13	(see ³ below)	year of century most typical for the BUFR message contents
14	(see ³ below)	month most typical for the BUFR message contents
15	(see ³ below)	day most typical for the BUFR message contents
16	(see ³ below)	hour most typical for the BUFR message contents
17	(see ³ below)	minute most typical for the BUFR message contents
18	(see ³ below)	reserved for local use by ADP centers (NCEP: century most typical for the BUFR message contents)

¹ - The data category here is defined by the digital value stored in characters 3-5 of "Table A: data category description, line 1" in BUFR table message Section 4 (identified in BUFR table message Section 3 by descriptor 0-00-002 for the particular report type represented by the F-X-Y value stored in data message Section 3, bytes 10-11) ONLY when characters 3-8 in this value are all digits. This is the case for all BUFR data dump files, including "adpupa" where characters 1-5 are "NC002" and characters 6-8 are digits for all data types, thus the data category here is 2, defined in Table A as "vertical soundings (other than satellite)". For BUFR files where characters 3-8 of "Table A: data category description, line 1" are not all digits (e.g., PREPBUFR files), the data category here is defined by the digital value stored in the three-character "Table A: entry" in BUFR table message Section 4 (identified in BUFR table message Section 3 by descriptor 0-00-001).

² - The data sub-category here is defined by the digital value stored in characters 6-8 of "Table A: data category description, line 1" in BUFR table message Section 4 (identified in BUFR table message Section 3 by descriptor 0-00-002 for the particular report type represented by the F-X-Y value stored in data message Section 3, bytes 10-11) ONLY when characters 3-8 in this value are all digits. This is the case for all BUFR data dump files, including "adpupa" where for fixed land rawinsonde reports (F-X-Y value 3-63-218 in data message Section 3, bytes 10-11 ) characters 1-8 are "NC002001", thus the data category here is 2, defined in Table A as "vertical soundings (other than satellite)" and the data sub-category here is 1, defined as fixed land rawinsonde for reports in data category 2. For BUFR files where characters 3-8 of "Table A: data category description, line 1" are not all digits (e.g., PREPBUFR files), the data sub-category here is hardwired to always be 0.

³ - This holds the UTC date of the report time for all subsets (reports) contained in the message. Minute is always zero. Every subset in this message will have a UTC report time with the same century, year of century, month, day and hour as in Section 1, but the report minute can vary from 00.00 through 59.99. This allows reader codes to skip over messages that are outside a selected time window, without having to unpack and check the date of every subset in the message. There is an exception to this date rule. In some BUFR files (namely data dump files such as "adpupa"), the first two data messages immediately following the BUFR table messages (in this example messages 4 and 5) are "dummy" messages where the date in Section 1 is the century, year of century, month, day, hour and minute for the center dump time (UTC) in the first dummy message, and is the century, year of the century, month, day, hour and minute for the file creation time (UTC) in the second dummy message. Both of these dummy messages have zero subsets (i.e., Section 3 bytes 5-6 set to zero). This makes it easy for codes reading the dump file to perform a date check.

Section 2 - Optional Section:

(none per Byte 8, Bit 1 of Section 1)

Section 3 - Data Description Section:

(Note: Light shaded cells are replicated, dark shaded cells are nested replication)

BYTES	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
1-3	20	length of section in bytes
4	0	set to zero (reserved)
5-6	(see ¹ below)	number of data subsets
7, Bit 1	1	= 1 observed data, = 0 other data
7, Bit 2	(see ² below)	= 1 compressed data, = 0 non-compressed data
7, Bits 3–8	0	set to zero (reserved)
8–19		a collection of element descriptors, replication descriptors, operator descriptors and sequence descriptors, which define the form and contents of individual data elements comprising one data subset in the data section, each descriptor occupies 2 bytes and contains 3 parts: F: 2 bits X: 6 bits Y: 8 bits
8-9	F-X-Y value: 0-63-000	byte count (points to the byte in Section 4 locating the beginning of the data subset; this allows the reader code to be faster and more efficient)
10-11	(see ³ below)	sequence descriptor representing Table B and Table D layout for the particular type of report in this message (see ³ below)
12-13	F-X-Y value: 1-02-000	use delayed replication for the next two data descriptors
14-15	F-X-Y value: 0-31-001	8-bit delayed replication factor
16-17	F-X-Y value: 2-06-001	the next descriptor is assigned the width of 1 bit
18-19	F-X-Y value: 0-63-255	bit pad (set to "on", 1; allows the data subset to end on a full machine word boundary, making the reader code faster and more efficient)
20	0	reserved

¹ - The number of data subsets varies from message to message, but is always zero for "dummy" messages (see ³ under Section 1 above).

² - Compression may occur for some types of data, however currently no types in the "adpupa" BUFR data dump file are compressed, so this value is always 0 here.

³ - In the "adpupa" BUFR data dump file, the current list of possible report type sequences is:
    F-X-Y value 3-63-218 : sequence containing fixed land rawinsonde reports (defined in Message # 2, Section 4, 5'th outer replication)
    F-X-Y value 3-63-219 : sequence containing mobile land rawinsonde reports (defined in Message # 2, Section 4, 6'th outer replication)
    F-X-Y value 3-63-220 : sequence containing rawinsonde ship reports (defined in Message # 2, Section 4, 7'th outer replication)
    F-X-Y value 3-63-221 : sequence containing dropwinsonde reports (defined in Message # 2, Section 4, 8'th outer replication)
    F-X-Y value 3-63-222 : sequence containing PIBAL reports (defined in Message # 2, Section 4, 9'th outer replication)
    F-X-Y value 3-62-207 : sequence containing Met Office low-resolution ozonesonde reports arriving in BUFR (defined in Message # 2, Section 4, 10'th outer replication)
    F-X-Y value 3-63-223 : sequence containing NOAA Profiler Network (NPN) wind reports (defined in Message # 2, Section 4, 11'th outer replication)
    F-X-Y value 3-63-224 : sequence containing NeXRaD Vertical Azimuth Display (VAD) wind reports (defined in Message # 2, Section 4, 12'th outer replication)
    F-X-Y value 3-61-200 : sequence containing profiler wind reports arriving in PILOT (PIBAL) format (defined in Message # 2, Section 4, 13'th outer replication)
    F-X-Y value 3-61-204 : sequence containing NOAA Profiler Network (NPN) and Cooperative Agency Profiler (CAP) profiler spectral moment reports (defined in Message # 2, Section 4, 14'th outer replication)
    F-X-Y value 3-52-201 : sequence containing Cooperative Agency Profiler (CAP) wind reports (defined in Message # 2, Section 4, 15'th outer replication)
    F-X-Y value 3-52-202 : sequence containing NOAA Profiler Network (NPN) and Cooperative Agency Profiler (CAP) Radar Acoustic Sounding System (RASS) temperature reports (defined in Message # 2, Section 4, 16'th outer replication)
    F-X-Y value 3-52-203 : sequence containing Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) profiler wind reports (defined in Message # 2, Section 4, 17'th outer replication)
    F-X-Y value 3-52-205 : sequence containing Hong Kong profiler wind reports (defined in Message # 2, Section 4, 18'th outer replication)
    F-X-Y value 3-62-208 : sequence containing high-resolution ozonesonde reports arriving in ASCII format (defined in Message # 2, Section 4, 19'th outer replication)
    F-X-Y value 3-52-206 : sequence containing European profiler wind reports (defined in Message # 2, Section 4, 20'th outer replication)
    F-X-Y value 3-63-235 : sequence containing flight level reconnaissance aircraft reports (defined in Message # 2, Section 4, 21'st outer replication)
Note: In "dummy" messages (see ³ under Section 1 above) this is usually set to the F-X-Y value of the first report type in the BUFR message, in this case 3-63-218. Since there are zero subsets in the dummy messages (see ¹ above) this is really meaningless.

Section 4 - Data Section:

BYTES	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
1-3	(see ¹ below)	length of section in bytes
4	0	set to zero (reserved)
5-end of section (as defined in bytes 1-3)	(see ² below)	binary data as defined by sequence descriptors in Section 3 (repeated based on the number of subsets in the BUFR message obtained from Section 3, bytes 5-6)

¹ - The length of Section 4 varies from message to message, but is always 4 (bytes) for "dummy" messages which contain zero subsets (see ¹ under Section 3 above) (meaning there are no binary data in Section 4 for the dummy messages).

² - Applies to non-"dummy" messages only: The binary data varies from message to message [it does not exist for "dummy" messages which contain zero subsets (see ¹ under Section 3 above)].

Section 5 - End Section:

BYTES	CONTENT (bold face font inside of quotes indicates character, otherwise numeric)	Description
1-4	" 7777 "	end of BUFR message

Here is the NCEP BUFR tables A, B, D in ASCII format for BUFR Table A type 2 [vertical soundings (other than satellite)] as it appeared on the NCEP CCS machines on 04/01/2008.

Dashboard

NCEP BUFR File Structure

NOAA/NWS/NCEP/EMC (Last Revised 2/12/2018)

NOAA/NWS/NCEP/EMC
(Last Revised 2/12/2018)