| AF |
SurfaceFrostIntensity |
Surface Frost Intensity |
An observation of frost amounts on surface objects, vegetation, etc. (see SHEF Table 20). |
| AG |
GreenVegPercent |
Green Vegetation, Percent |
Percent of green vegetation. |
| AM |
SurfaceDewIntensity |
Surface Dew Intensity |
An observation of dew amounts on surface objects, vegetation, etc. (see SHEF Table 2). |
| CM |
FrostIndex |
Frost Index |
Frost index. |
| CP |
PrecipStormTotal |
Storm Total Precipitation |
Storm total rainfall (see also NovaStar calculated data type PrecipAccum-Storm). |
| EA |
EvapPotential |
Evaporation, Potential |
The amount of moisture which would be removed from a fully vegetated land surface by evaporation if there were always an adequate water supply available. |
| ED |
EvapPanDepth |
Evaporation, Pan Depth |
The depth of water in an evaporation pan usually obtained with the aid of a hook gage set in a still well. |
| EM |
Evap |
Evaporation |
The total amount of water transferred from the earth's surface to the atmosphere. The amount is usually measured with an evapotranspirometer which consists of a vegetation soil tank so designed that all water added to the tank and all water left after evapotranspiration can be measured. |
| EP |
EvapPanIncrement |
Evaporation |
,Pan Increment |
| ER |
EvapRate |
Evaporation Rate |
The amount of liquid or solid transformed thorugh physical process into the gaseous state over a specified time. |
| ET |
EvapTotal |
Evaporation Total |
The evaporation from all water, soil, snow, ice, vegetative, and other surfaces plus transpiration. |
| EV |
EvapLake |
Evaporation, Lake |
The estimate of lake evaporation derived by use of pan evaporation. |
| FA |
FishChad |
Fish, Shad |
Fish count for shad. |
| FB |
FishSockeye |
Fish, Sockeye |
Fish count for sockeye. |
| FC |
FishChinook |
Fish, Chinook |
Fish count for chinook. |
| FE |
FishChum |
Fish, Chum |
Fish count for chum. |
| FK |
FishCoho |
Fish, Coho |
Fish count for coho. |
| FL |
FishLadder |
Fish Ladder |
Fish ladder (1=left, 2-right, 3=total). |
| FP |
FishPink |
Fish, Pink |
Fish count for pink. |
| FS |
FishSteelhead |
Fish, Steelhead |
Fish count for steelhead. |
| FT |
FishType |
Fish Type |
Fish type (1=adult, 2-jacks, 3=fingerlings). |
| FZ |
FishCount |
Fish Count |
Fish count for shad. |
| GC |
RoadSurfaceCondition |
Road Surface Condition |
The road surface conditions (dry, damp, wet, ice, salt, freezing, wet |
| GP |
FrostDepthPavement |
Frost Depth, Pavement |
The depth of frost on a pavement. |
| GS |
GroundState |
Ground State |
The ground state (see SHEF Table 18). |
| HA |
HeightOfReading |
Height of Reading |
The vertical or perpendicular elevation of an observation above a given datum. |
| HB |
DepthOfReading |
Depth of Reading |
The vertical or perpendicular elevation of an observation below a given datum. This can include the depth to the water table or groundwater. |
| HC |
HeightCeiling |
Height, Ceiling |
The height ascribed to the lowest layer of clouds or obscuring phenomena when it is reported as broken, overcast, or obscuration and not classified 'thin' or 'partial'. |
| HD |
HeightHead |
Height, Head |
The amount of energy per pound of fluid. |
| HE |
HeightRegulatingGate |
Height, Regulating Gate |
The height of a regulating gate opening. |
| HG |
WaterLevelRiver |
Height, River Stage |
The elevation of the water surface at a specified station above some arbitrary zero datum. |
| HH |
HeightOfReadingMSL |
Height, of Reading (MSL) |
The elevation above MSL at which an observation is taken. |
| HI |
StageTrend |
Stage Trend Indicator |
Such as rising, falling, and stationary. |
| HJ |
HeigthSpillwayGate |
Height, Spillway Gate |
Height of spillway gate opening above spillway crest. |
| HK |
WaterLevelLake |
Height, Lake Above a Specified Pool |
The elevation of the water surface at a specified station above some arbitrary zero datum. This elevation is usually not MSL. |
| HL |
WaterLevelNatLake |
Height, Natural Lake |
The elevation of the water surface in MSL of a lake having no man-made outlet. |
| HM |
HeightTide |
Height, Tide |
The periodic height of water resulting from gravitational interactions between the sun, moon, and earth. 'MLLW' is defined as the Mean Lower Low Water. It is the mean of the lower low water heights in a mixed tide observed over a specific 19-year Metonic cycle. |
| HN |
WaterLevelRiverMin |
Height, Minimum River Stage |
The minimum elevation of the water surface at a specified station above some arbitrary zero datum for the day.This translates to HGIRZNZ. |
| HO |
HeightFloodStage |
Height, Flood Stage |
|
| HP |
WaterLevelPool |
Elevation, Pool |
The elevation of the impoundment not necessarily observed immediately above a dam or hydrolectric plant intake structure. The term is usually expressed in MSL. |
| HQ |
DistDatumToRiverLevel |
Distance from Datum to River Level |
Used to estimate stage (see SHEF section 7.4.6). |
| HR |
ElevRuleCurve |
Elevation, Rule Curve |
The elevation of a reservoir from an operation under specified conditions to obtain best or predetermined results. |
| HS |
ElevSpillwayForebay |
Elevation, Spillway Forebay |
Spillway crest elevation usually expressed in MSL. |
| HT |
ElevProjectTailwater |
Elevation, Project Tailwater Stage |
The elevation of the water surface immediately downstream from a dam or hydroelectric power plant. This elevation is usually expressed in MSL. |
| HU |
StageCautionary |
Stage, Cautionary |
Height that may require action by local officials. |
| HV |
DepthSurfaceWater |
Depth, Surface Water |
The depth of water on a surface. |
| HW |
ElevSpillwayTailwater |
Height, Spillway Tailwater |
The invert (lowest) elevation of a spillway. This elevation is usually expressed in MSL. |
| HX |
WaterLevelRiverMax |
Height, Maximum River Stage |
The maximum elevation of the water surface at a specified station above some arbitrary zero datum for the day.This translates to HGIRZXZ. |
| HY |
WaterLevelRiver7AM |
Height, River Stage at 7AM |
The elevation of the water surface at a specified station above some arbitrary zero datum at 7 AM local time just prior to the date-time stamp.This is translated to HGIRZZZ. |
| HZ |
ElevFreezingLevel |
Elevation, Freezing Level |
The lower altitude in the atmosphere, over a given location, at which the air temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celcius.The value is usually expressed relative to MSL. |
| IC |
IceCoverRiver |
Ice Cover, River |
The percentage of ice covering a given surface area of a river. |
| IE |
ExtentIce |
Extent of Ice from Reporting Area |
The extent of a river ice upstream '+' and downstream '-' observed at the reporting location. |
| IO |
ExtentOpenWater |
Extent of Open Water from Reporting Area |
The extent of open water downstream '+' and upstream '-' observed at the reporting location. |
| IR |
IceReport |
Ice Report |
Ice report including type, structure, and cover. |
| IT |
IceThickness |
Ice Thickness |
The measured thickness of ice in the rier. |
| LA |
LakeSurfaceArea |
Lake Surface Area |
The horizontal extent of surface area coverage by water. |
| LC |
LakeStorageVolumeChange |
Lake Storage Volume Change |
The change in lake volume storage over specified duration. |
| LS |
LakeStorageVolume |
Lake Storage |
The space occupied, as measured by cubic units, by water in a lake. |
| MI |
MoistureSoilIndex |
Moisture, Soil Index or API |
A measure of soil wetness based upon moisture depleted from a particular basin under specified meteorological conditions. |
| ML |
MoistureLowerZoneStorage |
Moisture, Lower Zone Storage |
In the Sacramento model, a measure of capacity of water that is available for drainageas baseflow or subsurface outflow not appearing in the channel. |
| MM |
FuelMoistureWood |
Fuel Moisture, Wood |
The water content of a fuel particle expressed as a percent of the oven dry weight of the fuel particle. |
| MN |
MoistureSoilSalinity |
Moisture, Soil Salinity |
The soil salinity (accumulationsof salt) at a specified depth. |
| MS |
MoistureSoil |
Moisture, Soil |
The amount of water which is held in the soil between the field capacity and the wilting point; water which may be taken up by the plants. See SHEF section 7.4.6. |
| MU |
MoistureUpperZoneStorage |
Moisture, Upper Zone Storage |
In the Sacramento model, a measure of capacity of water that is available for percolation to lower zones and for interflow. |
| MV |
MoistureVolumeOfWater |
Moisture, Volume of Water |
The volume of water at a specified depth. |
| MW |
MoistureSoilPercentByWeight |
Moisture, Soil, Percent by Weigth |
The amount of water in the soil expressed in terms of percentage of the weight of oven dry soil. |
| NC |
RiverControlSwitch |
River Control Switch |
River control switch (0=manual river control, 1=open river/uncontrolled). |
| NO |
GateOpening |
Gate Opening for a Specific Gate |
See SHEF section 7.4.6. |
| PA |
PressureAtmospheric |
Pressure, Atmospheric |
The pressure exerted by the atmosphere as a consequence of gravitational attraction exerted upon the 'column' of air lying directly above the point in question. |
| PC |
PrecipAccum |
Precipitation, Accumulator |
The summation of precipitation collected beginning at a specified time. |
| PD |
PressureNetChange3Hour |
Pressure, Net Change (3 hours) |
Pressure net change during past 3 hours. |
| PF |
PrecipFFG |
Precipitation, Flash Flood Guidance |
The precipitation needed to initiate flooding. This is translated to PPTCF for hour intervals. |
| PJ |
PrecipNormalDeparture |
Precipitation, Departure from Normal |
Precipitation departure from normal. |
| PL |
PressureSeaLevel |
Pressure, Sea Level |
Pressure, sea level. |
| PM |
PrecipProbability |
Precipitation, Probability of Measurable |
Probability of mesureable precipitation. |
| PN |
PreipNormal |
Precipitation, Normal |
|
| PP |
Precip |
Precipitation, Actual Increment |
The discrete increase in precipitation amount (including liquid amount of snowfall) over a specified duration. |
| PR |
PrecipRate |
Precipitation, Daily Rate |
The average precipitation rate (per day). |
| PT |
PrecipType |
Precipitation, Type |
The particular kind of precipitation as defined by the U.S. Department of Commerce, 'Surface Observations |
| PY |
Precip7AM |
Precipitation, 7AM Daily |
The precipitation amount at 7 AM local prior to the date-time stamp in a SHEF message. It is generally of a 24-hour duration. This is translated to PPDRZZZ. |
| QA |
RunoffVolumeAdjProjects |
Runoff Volume, Adjusted for Storage at Projects |
The amount of volume which reached a stream channel, adjusted to the volume which would have occurred except for storage changes at upstream reservoirs. This does not adjust for irrigation diversions. This term is used extensively in water supply forecasting. |
| QB |
RunoffDepth |
Runoff Depth |
The amount of water, expressed as a depth that reaches a stream channel. |
| QC |
RunoffVolume |
Runoff Volume |
The amount of water, expressed by cubic units, that reaches a stream channel. |
| QD |
DischargeDiversion |
Discharge, Canal Diversion |
The flow diverted to a canal or auxiliary channel. |
| QE |
DischargePercentDiverted |
Discharge, Percent Diverted |
The percent of flow divered from the channel. |
| QF |
DischargeVelocity |
Discharge, Velocity |
The flow measured at points along a stream. |
| QG |
DischargePower |
Discharge, from Power Generation |
The flow passing through turbines generating power. |
| QI |
DischargeInflow |
Discharge, Inflow |
The flow into a specified impoundment. |
| QL |
DischargeRuleCurve |
Discharge, Rule Curve |
The flow derived from a curve, or family of curves, indicating how a reservoir is to be operated under specified conditions to obtain best or predetermined results. |
| QM |
DischargePreproject |
Discharge, Pre-project |
The flow at a given point adjusted to eliminate the effects of all man-made development. |
| QN |
DischargeMin |
Discharge, Minimum |
The minimum flow over a duration of 24 hours. |
| QP |
DischargePumping |
Discharge, Pumping |
The flow measured from pumping. |
| QR |
DischargeRiver |
Discharge, River |
The flow measured at points along a stream. |
| QS |
DischargeSpillway |
Discharge, Spillway |
The flow measured at a structure which bypasses the streamflow at the dam after the reservoir has been filled to capacity. |
| QT |
DischargeProject |
Discharge, Project Total |
The flow at a project which includes power generation and spill to the downstream channel. This does not include pumping or diversion. |
| QU |
DischargeOutlet |
Discharge, Outlet |
The flow measured through regulating outlet(s). |
| QV |
DischargeVolumeIncrement |
Discharge, Volume Increment |
the discrete increase in volume over a specified duration. |
| QX |
DischargeMax |
Discharge, Maximum |
The maximum flow over a duration of 24 hours. This is translated to QRIRZXZ. |
| QY |
DischargeRiver7AM |
Discharge, River (7AM) |
The flow at 7 AM (local time) just prior to local time. This translates to QRIRZZZ. |
| RA |
RadiationAlbedo |
Radiation, Albedo |
The ratio of the amount of electromagnetic radiation reflected by a body to the amount incident upon it, commonly expressed as a percentage. |
| RI |
RadiationAccum |
Radiation, Accumulated Incoming Solar Over Specified Duration in Langleys |
The summation over specified duration of energy propogated through space in the form of an advancing disturbances in electric and magnetic fiedls existing in space. |
| RN |
RadiationNet |
Radiation, Net Radiation |
Balance between incoming and outgoing shortwave and longwave radiation. |
| RP |
RadiationSunshinePossible |
Radiation, Sunshine Percent of Possible |
The ratio of observed sunshine to astronomically possible sunshine as measured by an actinometer. |
| RT |
RadiationSunshineHours |
Radiation, Sunshine Hours |
The number of hours of observed sunshine. |
| RW |
RadiationSolarTotal |
Radiation, Total Incoming Solar Radiation |
Electromagnetic radiation that originates from the sun. |
| SA |
SnowArealExtent |
Snow Areal Extent |
The ratio of observed areal basin snow cover to maximum possible areal snow cover. |
| SD |
SnowDepth |
Snow Depth |
The actual depth of snow on the ground at any instant during a storm, or after any single snowstorm or series of storms. |
| SF |
SnowDepthNew |
Snow Depth, New |
The incremental depth of snow on the ground at any instant since last snow depth observation. |
| SI |
SnowDepthOnIce |
Snow, Depth on Top of River or Lake Ice |
The actual depth of snow on top of river or lake ice at any instant during a storm, or after any single snowstorm or series of storms. |
| SL |
SnowElev |
Snow, Elevation of Snow Line |
In general, the elevation of the outer boundary of a snow-covered area. |
| SM |
SnowMelt |
Snow Melt |
Snow melt. |
| SS |
SnowDensity |
Snow Density |
The ratio of the volume of melt water that can be derived from a sample of snow to the original volume of the sample strictly speaking; this is the specific gravity of the snow sample. |
| ST |
SnowTemp |
Snow Temperature |
Snow temperature at depth measured from ground. See SHEF section 7.4.6. |
| SU |
SnowSurfaceSublimation |
Snow, Surface Sublimation |
Snow surface sublimation. |
| SW |
SnowWaterEquiv |
Snow Water Equivalent |
The depth of water that would result from melting a core sample of snow on the ground. The amount of liquid water resulting from this melting is referred to as the water content of snow. |
| TA |
TempAir |
Temperature, Air (Dry Bulb) |
Technically, the temperature registered by the dry-bulb thermometer of a psychrometer. However, it is identified with the temperature of the air and may also be used in that sense. |
| TB |
TempBareSoilAtDepth |
Temperature, Bare Soil at Specified Depth |
The temperature of the ground at various depths below bare soil. See SHEF section 7.4.6. |
| TC |
TempDegDaysCooling |
Temperature, Degree Days of Cooling |
A measure of the departure of the mean daily temperature from a given standard (in this case 65 DegF, 18.3 DegC) one degree day for each degree of departure above the standard during one day. |
| TD |
TempDewPoint |
Temperature, Dew Point |
The temperature to which a given parcel of air must be cooled at constant pressure and constant water vapor content in order for saturation to occur. |
| TE |
TempAirMSL |
Temperature, Air |
Air temperature at elevation above MSL. |
| TF |
TempDegDaysFreezing |
Temperature, Degree Days of Freezing |
A measure of the departure of the mean daily temperature from a given standard (in this case 32 DegF, 0 DegC). |
| TH |
TempDegDaysHeating |
Temperature, Degree Days of Heating |
A measure of the departure of the mean daily temperature from a given standard (in this case 65 DegF, 18.3 DegC) one degree day for each degree of departure below the standard during the day. |
| TJ |
TempNormalDeparture |
Temperature, Departure from Normal |
Temperature, departure from normal. |
| TM |
TempAirWetBulb |
Temperature, Air (Wet Bulb) |
The temperature an air parcel would have if cooled adiabatically to saturation at constant pressure by evaporation of water into it |
| TN |
TempAirMin |
Temperature, Air (Min) |
The minimum air temperature observed over a duration of 24 hours. This translates to TAIRZNZ. |
| TP |
TempPanWater |
Temperature, Pan Water |
The water temperature at the bottom of an NWS class-A evaporation pan. |
| TR |
TempRoadSurface |
Temperature, Road Surface |
Temperature, road surface. |
| TS |
TempSoilSurface |
Temperature, Bare Soil |
The surface temperature of bare soil at the surface. |
| TW |
TempWater |
Temperature, Water |
The temperature of water at a specified depth. |
| TX |
TempAirMax |
Temperature, Air (Max) |
The maximum air temperature observed over a duration of 24 hours. This translates to TAIRZXZ. |
| TZ |
TempFreezingRoadSurface |
Temperature, Freezing Road Surface |
Temperature, freezing road surface. |
| UC |
WindTravel |
Wind, Accumulated Wind Travel |
Wind, accumulated wind travel. |
| UD |
WindDir |
Wind, Direction |
The wind direction most frequently observed during a given period. |
| UE |
WindStdDev |
Wind, Standard Deviation |
Wind, standard deviation (degrees). |
| UG |
WindGust |
Wind, Gust |
Wind, wind gust at observation time. |
| UH |
WindGustDir |
Wind, Gust Direction |
Wind gust direction, associated with the wind gust (in tens of degrees). |
| UP |
WindSpeedPeak |
Wind, Speed (Peak) |
The peak velocity of air in motion relative to the surface of the earth. |
| UQ |
WindDirAndSpeed |
Wind, Direction and Speed |
Wind direction and speed combined (SSS.SDDD). A value of 23.0275 would indicate a wind of 23.0 mi/hr from 275 degrees. |
| UR |
WindDirPeak |
Wind, Direction (Peak) |
Peak wind direction associated with peak wind speed. |
| US |
WindSpeed |
Wind, Speed |
The velocity of air in motion relative to the surface of the earth. |
| UT |
WindMinuteOfPeak |
Wind, Minute of Peak |
Minute of the peak wind speed (in minutes past the hour 0-59). |
| VB |
VoltageBattery |
Voltage, Battery |
Electromotive force, or difference in electrical potential in a battery. |
| VU |
GeneratorStatus |
Generator Status |
The number of main units carrying load under the remote control of a control dispatch office (digits one and two); the number of main units on-line and generating or condensing at speed-no-load at end of the hour (digits three and four); and the number of main units available that could be on-line within 5 minutes if needed (digits five and six). |
| WC |
WaterConductance |
Water, Conductance |
A measure of the conducting power of a solution equal to the reciprocal of the reistance. |
| WD |
WaterDepth |
Water Depth |
The depth of water below soil surface used in computing the pore pressure of the soil Peizometer. |
| WO |
WaterDO |
Water, Dissolved Oxygen |
The amount of oxygen dissolved in water. |
| WP |
WaterPH |
Water, PH |
The reciprocal of the logarithm of the hydrogen-ion concentration. The concentration is the weight of hydrogen ions, in grams, per liter of solution. |
| WS |
WaterSalinity |
Water, Salinity |
Water salinity (parts per thousand, PPT). |
| WT |
WaterTurbidity |
Water, Turbidity |
An analytical quantity usually reported in turbidity units determined by measurements of light diffraction. |
| WV |
WaterVelocity |
Water, Velocity |
The velocity of a particle(s) of water in a stream. |
| WX |
WaterOxygenSaturation |
Water, Oxygen Saturation |
Water oxygen saturation (%). |
| WY |
WaterChlorophyll |
Water, Chlorophyll |
Water chlorophyll (ppg, ug/L). |
| XC |
SkyCover |
Sky Cover |
The amount of sky covered but not necessarily concealed by clouds or by obscuring phenomena aloft. |
| XG |
LightningGridStrike |
Lightning, Grid Strike |
The number of lightning strikes in a box of standard dimensions over specified duration. |
| XL |
LightningPointStrike |
Lightning, Point Strike |
The number of lightning strikes assumed to have occurred at the transmitted latitude and longitude. |
| XP |
WeatherPast |
Weather, Past |
NWS synoptic code. See SHEF appendix D. |
| XR |
HumidityRelative |
Humidity, Relative |
The ratio of the actual vapor pressure of the air to the saturation vapor pressure exp,essed in percent. |
| XU |
HumidityAbsolute |
Humidity, Absolute |
In a system of moist air, the ratio of the mass of water vapor present to the volume occupied by the mixture, i.e. the density of water vapor component. |
| XV |
WeatherVisibility |
Weather, Visibility |
The greatest distance in a given direction at which it is possible to see and identify with the unaided eye (a) in the daytime: a prominant, dark object against the sky at the horizon; and (b) at night: a known |
| XW |
WeatherNwsSynopticNode |
Weather, Present NWS Synoptic Node |
Weather, present NWS synoptic node. |
| YC |
RandomReportSeqNum |
Random Report Sequence Number |
Random report sequence number. |
| YF |
ForwardPower |
Forward Power |
A measurement of the data collection platform (DCP), antenna, and coaxial cable. |
| YR |
ReflectedPower |
Reflected Power |
A measurement of the DCP, antenna, and coaxial cable. Note: EIRP-effective power dBm + antenna gain-line loss where effective power=P forward-reflected. |
| YS |
SeqNumTransmitted |
Sequence Number of the Number of Times the DCP hs Transmitted |
Sequence number increased by one after each self-timed transmission and random transmission. |
| YZ |
TimeObservation |
Time of Observation |
Minutes of the calendar day. |