Data format for vertical profiles

General description

The measurements are presented as columns of data points at the units indicated in the header and a last line of default values at each station.

  • For vertical profiles the reference parameter must be the pressure (PRES) or depth (DEPH), and it has to be in the first position in the parameter list
  • BP = Beginning Position
  • SL = string length
  • NL= number of records lines
  • M= Mandatory

LINE

FIELD

Access to codification

DESCRIPTION

BP

SL

TYPE 

 

1

to

NL 

parameter 1

parameter 1 (PRES) in IS units 

nlen(1) 

num 

separator 

blank 

bp(2)-1 

 

parameter 2

parameter 2 in IS units 

bp(2) 

nlen(2) 

num 

separator 

blank 

bp(np)-1 

 

parameter NP

parameter NP in IS units 

bp(np) 

nlen(np) 

num 

separator 

blank 

bp(q1)-1 

 

QC Flag 1

Quality Flag parameter 1 

bp(q1) 

num 

QC Flag NP

Quality Flag parameter NP 

bp(q1)+np 

num 

NL+1

(Last

line

of the

profile) 

def. val. par.1 

'-999.9' or string of '9' 

nlen(1) 

num 

separator 

blank 

bp(2)-1 

 

def. val. par.2 

string of '9'as in header 

bp(2) 

nlen(2) 

num 

def. val. par.N 

P string of '9'as in header 

bp(NP) 

nlen(NP) 

num 

separator 

blank 

bp(q1)-1 

 

QC Flag 1

 Def. val.Quality Flag '9' 

bp(q1) 

num 

QC Flag NP 

 Def. val.Quality Flag '9'

bp(q1)+np 

num 

Detailed explanation

First column

Pressure in decibars (PRES) or depth in metres (DEPH) must be the reference co-ordinate (first column) of the vertical profiles. The reference parameter must be recorded in strictly increasing order.

Columns length

Each parameter p can have any length nlen(p), but this length must be constant in the profile, and the decimal points at a constant position. The separators are blanks of one character (or more), after each parameter value. The quality flags are grouped after the last separator, with no blank between them. Therefore if a total of NP parameters are recorded the beginning positions of parameter p (bp(p)) and its quality fmag (bpq(p)) in the record lines are:

  • bp(p)=nlen(1)+ ..+ nlen(p-1) + 1
  • bpq(p)= bp(NP) + nlen(NP) + p-1

nlen(p) includes the blanks separator(s) for the parameter p.

For missing data, the default characters are in numbers: 9 or -9 at the same format and length as the expected numbers. The number of decimals must implicitly indicate the accuracy of the measurements and not exceed the resolution.

Last line

The last line of a station is completed with default values.