Global BUFR Data Stream: Upper Air Reports from the NWS TG
Description
Raw radiosonde and pilot balloon observations from various global locations are transmitted in the World Meteorological Organization BUFR format. Variables likely include temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed, pressure, height, and launch displacement metadata. This data stream, beginning in May 2017, provides vertical atmospheric profiles with varying resolution for weather analysis.
Use Cases
Weather model initialization based on vertical profiles of temperature and humidity.
Atmospheric research on wind patterns using wind speed and direction data.
Climate trend analysis using long-term, global time-series observations.
Radiosonde instrument validation by comparing reported pressure and height measurements.
Studying atmospheric dynamics using data on position displacement since balloon launch.
Strengths
Provides a continuous global data stream of upper-air observations beginning in May 2017.
Contains detailed atmospheric variables including temperature, humidity, wind, pressure, and height.
Uses the standardized WMO BUFR format for meteorological data representation.
Is available on multiple platforms, indicating its recognized importance in the field.
Limitations
Key metadata such as row count, file size, specific update dates, and a complete column list are unknown across all sources.
The license is reported as 'closed' on one platform, restricting access and reuse.
Vertical and temporal resolution is described as varying, which may complicate consistent analysis.
Provenance
Source
NOAA NCEI, via the National Weather Service Telecommunications Gateway (NWSTG).
Collection Method
Transmitted raw observations from radiosonde and pilot balloon launches globally.
Time Range
Beginning May 2017 onward.
Geography
Various locations around the globe.
License is reported as 'closed', which may impose significant access and usage restrictions.