New BUFR entries for representing ASCAT in BUFR

[marijanacrepulja]

Initial request

The team is kindly invited to review proposal for inclusion into new version of BUFR tables.

Amendment details

In support to data assimilation of ASCAT observations, there is a need to define new BUFR descriptors for subsurface scattering regime and subsurface scattering probability. The data should include the surface flag which is defined as 013040.

The BUFR Template for ASCAT already exists as 312061.

The team will discuss how to proceed further. Do we need a new BUFR template, or we can use existing one and add descriptors for surface flag and subsurface scattering probability.

As for subsurface scattering regime, that will be available later, this should be confirmed with data provider.

1. Add new element in class 21 F X Y	ELEMENT NAME	UNIT	SCALE	REFERENCE VALUE	DATA WITH (bits)
0 21 167	Subsurface scattering probability	%	0	0	7

Update 013040 with frozen soil

2. Update CODE/FLAG TABLE 013040 Surface flag	Code	Lidar L2b classification type
12	Frozen soil
13-14	Reserved

Comments

No response

Requestor(s)

GeoSphere Austria

Stakeholder(s)

UK Met Office ECMWF

Publication(s)

Example: Manual on Codes (WMO-No. 306), Volume I.2, BUFR table B and D

Expected impact of change

MEDIUM

Collaborators

EUMETSAT, ECMWF

References

No response

Validation

No response

[amilan17]

https://github.com/wmo-im/CCT/wiki/Teleconference.17.18.October.2023 notes:

Giannokos and Sebastien, from Geosphere, introduced BUFR issue #184; the team discussed options and decided to add the two new descriptors to the end of 3 12 061; please provide samples by the next meetings in November.

[amilan17]

https://github.com/wmo-im/CCT/wiki/Teleconference.21.22.November.2023 notes:

• to provide sample data soon for validation by the end of the month (no need to provide the code for generating the sample)
• Marijana and Sergio will validate

[amilan17]

https://github.com/wmo-im/CCT/wiki/Teleconference.21.29.November.2023 notes:

still waiting for sample data

[marijanacrepulja]

ascat_sample.zip

A sample BUFR file is attached along with output of decoding.

[amilan17]

https://github.com/wmo-im/CCT/wiki/Teleconference.15.December.2023 notes:

Marijana decoded; @amilan17 validate branch