From Ocean Teacher Library

Message Formats

Contents 1 Background 1.1 BATHY 1.2 TESAC & TRACKOB 2 Additional Resources 3 Subsections of this Article 4 Information about this article 5 Contact

Background

Over the decades, the WMO has developed many coded message forms for reporting weather and surface marine observations. These messages, when properly coded according to detailed specifications (see the WMO reference below) are transmitted through the GTS into the global system of data and product reports of WMO's World Weather Watch and of JCOMM. Of particular concern to marine scientists, especially now that global ocean observing systems are expanding, are the three message formats BATHY, TESAC and TRACKOB:

BATHY 

Report of bathythermal observation (i.e. temperature versus depth, as from an XBT). Can include wind, air temperature, surface current and depth. Always contains the sequence JJXX

TESAC 

Temperature, salinity and current report from a sea station (same as BATHY, but includes salinity). Always contains the sequence KKXX

TRACKOB 

Report of marine surface observation along a ship’s track. Always contains the sequence NNXX

Although the transmitted messages look "simple" they are based on very tightly controlled coding methods. Because the messages are actually transmitted over marine radio broadcasts, the possibility for errors (transmitted or received) is high, so one of the most important issues with GTS messages is error checking and quality control. It should be noted here that there are indications that these traditional message formats may be replaced by the use of the self-describing format BUFR.

BATHY

This is the example in the IOC Manual & Guide 3, cited below:

<SOH> 004
SOVD02 LOVE 071943
JJYY 07129 0000/ 73456 12802 88888
05205 00170 33171 39180 51183 89157
99901 04157 20141 28147 60110 80100
99902 19092 65080 99904 50057 99999
16573=
JJYY 07129 0000/ 75348 15841 10535
41075 88888 05205 00054 05054 25061
35058 70058 75042 90039 99901 30039
60040 65039 85040 99902 30040 35039
99904 05039 10038 50038 ZULU=
JJYY 07129 0204/ 73531 13944 01106
40242 88888 ///99 00180 78180 99901
00160 50143 80125 99902 00180 50098
99903 00091 50084 99904 00075 50067
66666 15850 32604 TGIF=
<ETX>

TESAC & TRACKOB

These messages are visually very similar to BATHY. Readers who want very detailed information on the differences, should consult the manual below.

Additional Resources

• IOC M&G 3 3rd Revision 1999
• Guide to Operational Procedures for the Collection and Exchange of Oceanographic Data (BATHY and TESAC) (IOC M&G 3) - Instructions on filling out the code forms: Annex II for BATHY; Annex III for TESAC; Annex IV for TRACKOB
• Manual on Codes, Vol. I (WMO No. 306) - All message codes, including BATHY, TESAC and TRACKOB
• Met Office MIDAS data - Message Types - Examples of message types

Subsections of this Article

No subsections available

Information about this article

Short title: Message Formats

Description: Highly specified, formal code sequences for reporting weather and surface marine observations.

Expertise level: beginner

Author: Murray.Brown

Approval status: approved

Approved by: Murray.Brown

Last change: 2009-9-4

Subsection of: Marine Data Format Types

Contact

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