Aye_.

SECRETARIAT DE L'ORGANISATION METEOROLOGIQUE INTERNATIONAL£.

INTERNATIONAL CODES AND FORMS OF CODES

FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF WEATHER REPORTS.

1937.

OS'- 06 ~8
COMES INTO OPERATIO ON JANUA RY, l st, 1937.

PRINTED BY EDWARD IJDO Ltd. - LEYDEN, 1937.

2

CONTENTS.

Pages.
Preface .... ... .... .. . .. . . ........ .. . ... ........ ... . .. . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . ...... 3
I. International codes and forms of codes ........ ... ....... ... ... . . ±-30
A. List of international forms of codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ±-7
B. The symbolic letters and their meanings . ............... . . 8-12
C. Specification of the codes ... . ... ....................... ....... . . 13-30
II. Hours of observation ..... ..... ..... . ......... . .... . ................... . 31
III. Codes for ice messages ..... .. .................. ................ ...... . 32--40
A. Code for reports of polar ice .. ............... ........ .... .. .. 32-38
I. The symboli c letters and their mea nin gs . . .. . . .. . . . . 33- 34
II. Detailed description of the ice-codes .. . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . 34--------38
B. Regional code for ice messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. 39- .JO

ANNEXES.
I. Table of symbols for use on rharts.... ..... ........... ........ .. .. . .f2- .f3
II. Table for conversion of de~rees Fahrenheit and degrees
Celsius . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
III. Table for converting barometric readings in millimeters into
millibars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
IV. Table for eonverting barometric readings in inches into
m illi hars . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . 46
 PREFACE.

This pamphlet is a summary of Volume I of publication no. 9 of

the Secretariat of the I nternational l\IIeteorologicai Organisation and
contains the full description of the international forms of code, the
symbolic lett ers and their meanings completed with some additional
code foTms and t he codes for ice-messages.
Publication 11'0. 9 of this Secretariat - entitled ,,L es Messages
synoptiques dn Temps" - cont ains information regar ding the meteo-
rolo gi·cal messages of the whole world and regardin g special codes
(i. e. Japan). The publication is edited i·n: French and is to be obtained
from this Secretariat (Utrechtsche weg 194 - De Bilt - Holland) .
Up to this moment the following volumes are publish ed :
Fascicule I Manuel des Codes internationaux.
Fascicule II Liste des chiffres indicatifs des stations qui figur ent
clans les mete-ogrammes synoptiques du temps emis
par TSF.
Fascicule III Meteogrammes pour l 'Europe et la l\IIediterranec.
Fascicule IV L es messages pour l 'aeronautique.
Fascicule V - Meteogrammes p our l 'Afrique.
Fascicule VI - l\IIeteogrammes pour l 'Amerique du Nord.
Fascicule VII - Meteogrammcs pour l 'Asie et l 'Extreme-Orient.
Fascicul c VIII - Meteogrammes pour l '.Ainstra lie, l 'Oceanie et la
N ouvelle-Zelande.
In preparation :
.b'ascicule I X - Meteogrammes pour l 'Amerique du Sud.

De Bilt, Decemb et 1936.

 I. INTERNATIONAL CO DES AND FORMS OF CODES.
A. LIST OF THE INTERNATIONAL FORMS OF CODES.

Reports from landstations.

W<wVhN 11 DDFV{N PPPTT UCHapp

2) IIICr,CM wwVhN11 DDFWN PPP TT UCnapp

3) IIICr,CM w·vvVh N11 DDFWN PPPT'l' UURRtw

4) IIICr,CM wwVhN11 DDFWN PP PTT UURRtw
Dr,CHDH/~ijj

Reports from ships at sea.

5) ,,Ship '' YQLLL lllGG DDF . ww PPVTT

6) ,, Ship '' YQLLL lllGG DDF'ww PPVTT 9SKDKW CN J11ATc1
7) ,,Ship " YQLLL lllGG DDFww PPVT'l' 3Cr,Ci.rCnN Tc1KDKWN11 dsvsapr
8) ,,Ship " YQLLL lllGG DDFww PPVT'r 6KDKCN Tc1dsAvVCn

Weather shipping messages.

9) DDF ww PPVTT

Nephoscopic observations.
10) ,,Neph" III Gddvrvr

Reports of upper winds.

11) ,,Pilot" IIIGG . H 1ddv 1 v 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... .. .. . . . . . . .
12) ,,Pilot Ship" YQLLL lllGG H 1-ddv1 v 1 . . . . . . . . . . . .

Reports of upper air temperature.

13) ,,Temp" IIIGG (i ) P 1 P 1 P 1 TTTUU .. .... P 1 P 1 P 1 TTTUU
(for the outstanding points of the curve (singula rities ) ) (ii) 00000
TTTUU .. .. .. .. . 'l'TTUU (for fixed pressures) (iii) 00000
TTTPP TTTPP (for standard geodynamic heights) .
(Preference shall be given to form i. )
14) ,,Temp ship " YQLLL lllGG (i) P 1 P 1 P 1 TTTUU ..... . P 1 P 1 P ,
TTTUU (for the outstand ing points of the cnrvc (s in gularities ) )
(ii) 00000 TTTUU .... .. 1.'TTUU (for fixed pressures) (iii) 00000
TTTPP ...... TTTPP (for standard geodynamic heights). (Pre-
ference shall be given to form i. )
 5

Aviation weather messages.

15 ) III CLC~1 wwVhN11 DDFWN
Special groups. ')
16 ) IIIGG flt::.!.::. 'P'f"P . .
CCC SVs
FFF CN11h
HHH hihhe ·
JJJ VVVDaVb
LLL CCLdivd1 (hhhe) (CN11h )
PPP DaN 3 n 3 q
QQQ DFxTTT 1
WWW Djjjj
yyy DaN 4 n 4 q
zzz EEE'E'
Warnings to aircraft of dangerous phenomena and improvements
of weather. ')
Dangel'ous pihenomena :
17) w 2 GGgg l\'FlVIMMM IIICLCM wwVhN11 DDFWN
Impro vement of ·weather:
18) w 2 GGgg BBBBB IIICLCM wwVhN1i DDFWN
Short period forecasts for aviation.' )
19) ,,Previ'' YYGGO t 1 L 1 L 1 L~l
VcVlt2 5 R 1 R 2 lt 2 6
Form of code for the transmission of monthly mean values of
meteorological elements.
20) ,,Clirnat ' ' III PP TTT RiR1 (DD vv) (T 1 T1T1)
21) ,,Occli'' QLlPP
Reports of Polar ice.
,, Ice'' YQLLL lllGG vs.ccJ uA 0 d 0 D 0 v 0
,,Ice Nom. YGGI. VS.ccJ uA 0 c1 0 D 0 v 0
- - - --
' ) Th ese co de forms a rc used ex clu s ively in ll'eather reports for a ir craft; see
fo r d esc ri ption the rrcnch edition of Pa1t I of publication no . 9 of th e Secretariat.
6

NOTES.
Reports from landstations (code forms 1-4) .
The second form of code is only used for the observations of 7 h
and 18 h. The meaning of the letters jjj varies according to time of
observation and b et'lveen inland and coastal stations and ligihtships as
foll ows :
Inland stations Costal stations Light ships
at 0700 Gl\1:T T,,TnE SVsE Tc1KDK
at 1800 GMT T/ r ,E SVsE- T,J(DK
I n tJh e m essages relating· to mountain stations a sp ecial group may
be given in the case wh en ther e are clouds whose base is below the
level of th e station.
The gro up betw een brac·k ets at the end of the co de forms 3 and 4
is inserted for the b en efit of stations in the tropics.
The code form s 1 nnd 2 are intended for use in temp erate and high
latitudes whel'C 1Jh e weather changes are of an irregular na1Jurc and
are asso cia ted with t h e passage of d epressions, anticyclones, et c.
The cod e fo rms 3 and 4 arc intended for nsc in lower latitudes, wh er e
t h e weather has often pronounced cl iurna l variations, and bar.ometric
changes are slight and regular.
Reports from ships at sea (code forms 5-8 ) .
Cod e fot·m 7 is r ecommen·d ed by the Director's Conference of
Copenhagen for select ed ships, eit h er SL'< or seven groups being used.
For otlrnr shi·p s eit·h er form can b e used and it is r ecommended
that at least 5 groups should be given in the message. In all cases the
first 4 groups have exactly the sa me fo nn.
Code form 6 is r ec ommend ed for ships whi ch d esir e to give also
the state of th e sea (S) .
Intercontinental collective messages (code fom1 9) .
'rhe m essa•gcs mentioned above are collect ed itl' tihe collective issues
for a whole continent or an analogue region.
The messages are lH·eced ed by the Index n umb ers of th e stations.
In some countries the group containing the index n umb ers is completed
to a group of 5 fi gures, indicatin g special information s, i.e. :
Egy1)te : IIIAvV
India : JICKW
'l'h e ships messages incl'uded in the inter continental issu es contain
at least 4 groups (code form 5).
Weather shipping messages (cod e fo Dm 9).
In the collective messages issued specially for t h e use of ships at
sea (weather shipping messages), the second and thii~cl groups of the
r eport should be in the form
DD1" ww PPVTT
 7

so t hat ships receiving th e messages would get t h em in th e same form

of code as that of the universal groups of the ships' messages.
Transmission of monthly mean values of meteorological elements
(code forms 20, 21).
'Dh e rm onthly mean values of met eorological elements for European
regions will he transmitted at th.e end of the collective messages of
13 h observations.
The information of t he continent will be distributed as soon as
possible and not later than the fifth of the month. W hen tJhis date is
a Sunday or a holiday the messages \rill be transmitted at the follo-
wing day.
Compleirnentary information may be added for some particular
stations :
a) for some isolated stations, especially on islands, the transport of
air masses (victor mean DDvv) for th e determination of the gradient
of th e mean pres&ure;
b) for some representative stations (coastal stations, island stations or
lig1ht ships) th e t emperature of the watersnrface (T 1 T 1 T,) may be
added.
Non meteorological information.
Non meteorological information and meteorological information other
than that normally included in synoptic messages might be inserted in
synoptic messages.') The repo1ts come at t he end of the messages.
Such reports arc normally prefixed by an indication of their non-
meteorological character.
The forms of collective messages as issued from a Wireless
Transmitting Station, containing· reports from a whole countr y and
from ships at sea (synoptic messages) .
Collective messages are normally arranged in sections, four of
whiC'h comprise observations from landstations and one cont ains obser-
vations from ships at sea.
Section I - preceded bij the word ,,SYNOP '' - contains the ordinary
observations fr om all stations.
Section II - preceded by the word ,,SHIP'' - contains observations
from ships at sea.
Section III - preceded by the word ,,NEPH;' - contains cloud obser-
vations taken by a nephoscope.
Section I V - preceded by the word ,,PILOT" - contains reports of
upper winds.
Section V - preceded by the word ,,TEMP" - contains observations
of upper air temperature.
' ) See for· d etails r esolution :)ti of the Confe r ence of Direc tors, \~arsaw , 1935.
8

B. T HE SYMBOLIC LE'rTERS AND THEIR MEANINGS.

A Amount and characteristic of barometric tendency expressed

by a single figure.
See Code 01.
a Chara cteristic of barometric tendency during the period of
three hours preceding the time of observation. (Res. 77j of
Copenhagen and 45 of Warsa;w.)
See Code 02.
C Form of predominating clouu according to scale of cloud forms
when only one form is reported, as from ships at sea, or . for
nephoscope reports. (Res. 77i of Copenhagen, Res. 8 and 38
of Wat·saw.)
See Oode 1-0.
CL Form of low cloud. (Res. 77b of Cop enhagen, Res. 37 of War-
saw.)
See Oode 11. ·
CM Form of medium cl o•ud. (Res. 77b of Cop enhagen, Res. 38 of
Warsaw.)
See Code 12.
CH Form of cirrus cloud. (Res. 77b of Cop enhagen.)
See Code 13.
DD Direction *:') of the wind near the gro und on . the scale 01-32
with the indication of unusual gustiness or a squall or line
squall during the past hour or d irection from ·which a pheno-
meno n,- comes. (Res'. 71 of Copenha;gen. )
See Code 22.
D Direction;:' ) of th e wind 6r ·direction f rom whi ch a ph enomenon
c'omes on the scale 0-8 .
0 = stational'y. 1 = NE, etc.
See Code 20.
Di-i/M Direction'':') of motion of hig'h cloud · when high cloud is
r eported, and the ·direction of motion 6£ medi1Ullll cloud when
there is medium cloud but no high . cloud reported on the
scale 0-8. (Res: 54 of vVarsaw.)
See Code 20. ·
DK Direction *:' ) from · whi ch swell comes on scale 0- 8, in whi ch
1 =NE, 2 = E, ..... .'0 =no swell. (Res. 38 of London. )
See Code 20.
DL Direction ''') of motion of lo,¥ cloud on the scale 0-8 (Res. 54
of vV arsaw. )
See Code 20.
''') All d irnctio 11 s refer to t ru e N orth a11cl not to magneti c :.' fo rth.
 9

dd Direction() ) of wind in t he upp er air, or cloud movement, ori

the scale 01-36, i. e. degrees from North divided by 10 and
rounded off to tihe nearest whole number (00 = calm). 50 added
if speed greater than 99 units. (See v 1 v 1 below.) (Res. 55 a11'd
59 of London. )
See Code 23.
ds Direction~:·) of mov ement of ship on scale 0-8, in which 1 =
N ortheastwards, 2 = Eastwards, etc., ·O=no movement. (Res. 39
of London.)
See Code 20.
E State of gTOlllld . (R es. 41 of v\Tarsruw. )
See Code 24.
F Force of wind on th e Beaufort Scale. (Res. XXHb, etc. of
Vienna.)
See Cod e 30.
Forces above 9 a re reported as 9 jn all messages, with t he
actua l for ce in a wo1·d at th e end, c. g. for ce 10 is reported at
the end as ,,storm ten'', force 11 a s ,,storm eleven'', force 12 a s
,,storm twelv e ' ' . Ships at sea, ho\\" evc r, r epor t ,,ga le ten", ,,storm
eleven'', ,,hnni can e twelve' '.

1• x Maxi1J11um forc e of wind on t h e Beaufort Scale, with the fol-.

1

low·i ng· nwdification: {)=force 10, 1 =force 11, 2 =force 12,

3 =force 0-3, 4 = for ce 4, etc. (Res. 36 of \Va rsaw.)
See Code 31.
GG ( gg ) Greenwich tim e (horurs and minutes ) of observation ( 01 =
0100, 12 = 1200, 13=1300, 24 =midnight ).
H, H eight at which upp er wind is reported.
See Code 44.
h Hei o·ht above th e o·t·otrnd of the base of cloucl of form CL.
1

(Re~. 55 of Lon:c101~, Res. 39 of Warsaw. )

See Code 43.
If, how e ver , th er e i s no cloud of for111 Cr. aucl th e re is cloud
of form CM 1
wh ose base i s b elow 2300 · m, h . will r ef er to t his cloud.
If, h owever, t her e are only fragm ent s of cloud of form Cr.
.b elow a more- ext en sive cloud whose base is below 2.500 m, then h
nnd N h will rnfc r to t his more exte nsive cloud a nd t h e fragments
ll'ill b e r epor ted by a special addHional group. ( Res. 39 of Warsaw. )

III Index numb er of th e station .

jjj Mearning varies accordin g to tim e of observation and between
inland and coastal stations and lightships, as follows :
Inhwd Coa stal Light ships
station s sta t ion s
At 0700 GM'l' 'l'u'l\,E SVsE 'l'ctKDK
At 1800 GMT TxTxE sv.E Tc1KDK
•:•) All direction s r efo r tu t rue N orth and not to magnetic N orth.
10

K 'l'he state of the siwell in the open sea. (Res. 77 of Copen.hag·en.)

See Code 51.
LLL Latitude in degrees and tenths, the minutes being obtained
by multiplying t he third fi.gure by 6.
1

111 Longitude in degrees and tenths, the minutes being obtained

as for latitude LLL.
N Total cloud anwnnt. (Res. 77 a of Copenhao·en.)
See Code 60.
Amount of cloud whose h eight is reported by h. (Res. 39 of
vVarsa1.v.)
See Code 60.
In ship s r epo r ts whcrn the heigh t of the cloud i s not given,
N" indicates cmly the amount of low cloud (CrJ See for further
d etails under h .

PP Pressure ·::') in whole milli'bars (Initial 10, 9, 8, etc. omitted) .

PPP Pressure'~) in millibars and tenths (In itial 10, 9, 8, etc. omitted).
P 1P 1P 1 Pressure":' ) in whole millibars. li'igure 1 is to be omitted when
pressure is above 1000 millibars. (Res. 46 of Warsaw.)
pp Amount of barometric tendency during the three hours
preceding the t ime of observation ex1)ressed in fifths of mil-
libars. (e.g. if bb = 27, the amount of bar.ornetric tendency
in the last 3 hours is 5,4 rnb. ) (Res. 77j ·Of Copenhagen.)
Q Octant of the globe in which sihip is situated. (Res. 77 m of
Copenha·gen.)
See Code 70.
RR Amoruint of rainfall for the precedirng tw elv e hours; this report
is issued twice a day. (Res. 77g of Copenh agen, R es. 55 of
London.)
See Code 74.
'r he am oun t of ·rainfall is given for a period of 11, 12 or
13 hours, ending at t h e hour of t h e morning or eve ning obser-
vation.
In Europe a s the sy noptic evening observ.a tion is made at
1800 GM'r, the amount of rninfoll given at 1800 GM'r, is the
amount during the preceding 11 hours and at 0700 GMT the amount
of rainfall dmi ng the preceding 13 hours.

R1R1 Monthly amount of rainfall in centimetres. (Res. 6 of ·warsaw .)

See Code 71.
s State of sea.
See Code 75.
*:') The values r efer to sea-level and includ e all corrnctio ns for index enor,
temperature and gravity.
1'.'or mountain station s above 800 m the nllucs may refer to one of the heigths
1.000 geod. m., 2.000. geod. m., 3.00 0 geod. rn.
 11

TT T emperature of th e air in whole degrees Centigrade or Fahren-

heit. For degrees Celsius under zero one adds 50 to the tempe-
rature . For degrees Fahrenheit under zero oll'e substracts th e
temperature from 100, i. e. a temperature minus T° Celsius
is reported as 50 +
T and a t emp erature minus T ° Fahrenheit
is reported as 100 - T.
TTT T em.p era1Jture of 1Jhe air in degrees and tenths Centigrade
(·5·00 added to n0gative values).
Minimum t emperature in the interval of 12 hours t) ending
at 0700 GlVI'l' (or at the hour 12 hours after the time of observing
the maximum tempera ture. (Res. 55 of London.)
t) In Europ e, t hi s peTiod is 13 homs.

T sT s D e1-v point temperature.

T, T, Maximum temperature in the interval of 12 hours ending at
1900 GlVIT t) (or th e one of the hours 1 h , 7 h , 13 h or 19 h
GlVIT following Jess t han 4 hours after noon, loral t ime). (Res. 55
of London. )
t) In E urope, a s the sy n optic eve ning observat ion i s made
at 1800 GM'J', t h e period covers 011 1~' 11 h ou rs.

Sea tem1)erature.
T empera1Jnre of the su rface of the sea on the same scale as
the temperature of the air. (R es. 6 of \Varsavv.)
Difference between sea and air temp erature. (Res. 77d of
Copenhaigen.)
See Code 80.
Time of commencement of t h e weath er reported by \f\,T_ (Res. 54
of W arsa'W.)
See Code 81.
u R elative humidity of t h e mr. (R es. 44 of \\Tarsaw.)
See Co de 84.
uu Relative humidity of t h e air in %.
v Hor~z·ontal
visibility or the gteatest distance at which an obj ect
can be recognised for w h at it is. (Res. 38 of London. )
See Code 85.
Th e tttblc mentio ne d on page 2i'i sha ll be co mplete d by the
add iti on of a table g ivin g the distance s at which lights of sp ecified
candle po1Yer become invisible under the same co ndit ions of
atmo sph eric transparen cy as those for w hi ch obj ects become
invisible b y day. 'l'hi s tab le is only provisionally . ( Res. 51 of
Warsaw. )

v. Horizontal visibility towards the sea. (Res. 55 of London) .

See Code 85.
12·

v1 v1 The speed of the wind in the upper air in kilometres per hour.
(Res. 59 of London.)
For values greater than 99 the last two figures o11!ly are used,
and 50 is a·dded to t;he numb er indicating ·win d direction dd.
1

(Res. 36 of Copenhagen.)
Values above 199 shall be indicated as 199 km. p. h. is indicated,
the exact valllle shall be given in plain lall'!?:nage at the end
of the ,.Pilot".
v .. v.. Relative speed of clouds as determined by nephosc·ope and
expressed in radians per ho1ur. If ,,h' ', the heig,ht of cloud,
is expressed in metres, the actual speed of cloud (v 1 v 1 ) is given
in kilometres per hour by the equation (Res. 55 of London):
See Code 35.
h

vs Average speed of ship during the period from which the baro-
metric tendency is obtain·ed. (Res. 77k of Co·p enhagen.)
See Code 33.
'vV The weather in the interval preceding t1he time of the last
synoptic observation. (Res. 77c of Cope11'hagen, Res. 42 of
Warsaw.)
See Code 9·0.
'l'his in te n ·al is Ii homs for obse r vat ion s at 0100, 0700, 1300
and 1900 GM'l' and 3 hours for ob se rvation s at 0400, 1000, 1600
a.m l 2200 'l'MG. In Europe the observatio11 is mad e at · 1800 hours;
the n eriod at 1800 h is 5 h ours aud at 0100 h 7 hours.
For the int ermediate ob se rvations and the xrnrniugs of
dange rous phenomena a nd im prn,·e11H' n ts of weather t h e int erva l
will be the period e lapsed since the tim e of the last observation
transmitt ed . If th e fi r st observation of the day is mad e at au
h ou r oth er t h a n a s:vnoptic hou 1" the pr.rioc1 covered by 'i¥ will
be one hour.

ww The actual weather at the time of observation with which

is combined. whenever possible, the general c'h aracter of the
weather.
See Code 92.
Y Day of the week: 1 =Sunday, 2 =Monday, 3 =Tuesday,
4= Wednesday, 5 = 'l'hursday, 6 _:_Friday, 7 =Saturday. Thr
day refers to Gl\1T and not to local time, e. g., S1mday means
the period from 0000 to 2400 on Sunday at Greenwich. (Res. 38
of London. )
See Oo·de 94.
YY Day of the month.
 13 .

C. SPECIFICATION OF THE CODES . .

TABLE OF SYMBOLIC LETTERS.

(The symbolic letters are devided int o decades.)

I 0 I 1 I
2
I
3
I
4
I
5
I
6
I
o~ I I A I a I I I I I
io I c I cL I cM I c~ \ I I
I
I
20 IDK-DL·ds
D-Dttrn I
I DD I I I
dd E
I I
30 I F I F, I I Vs I I VrVr I I
40 I I I I h I HJ I I I
I . I
50 I K I I I I I I
60 I N-Nb I I I I I I I
I
70 I Q I R,Rl I I I RR I s I I
I I I I U I Vs-v \ I
80 Td tw
I I
,_I
90 w
I I I WW y
I I I I
14
DE CA DE 0. (C odes 01 and 02. )
CODE 01.
AMOUNT AND CHARACTERISTIC OF BAROMETRIC TENDENCY
EXPRESSED BY A SINGLE FIGURE (A).
Code figure Ch aracteristics Change in last 3 hour ~
in h alf-millibars
0 Barometer steady 0 or 1
1 Rising slowly 2 or 3
2 Rising 4 to 7
3 Rising qu ickly 8 to 12
4 Rising Yer y rapidl.r More than 12
5 Falling slowly 2 or 3
6 Falling 4 to 7
7 Falling q•uick ly 8 to 12
8 Falling very rapidl~' More than 12

C ODE 02.
CHARACTERISTIC OF BAROMETRIC TENDENCY DURING THE PERIOD OF
THREE HOURS PRECEDING THE TIME OF OBSERVATION ( a) .
Code
figu re
0 Risin g then falling .
] Rising th en steady, or rising then
rising more slowly.
I Barometer now highce

I
2 Unsteady. than or th e same as
3 Steady or rising. 3 hours ago.
4 Falling or steady, then r1s111g; or
rising- then r ising· mor e quickly.
5 Falling then nsuw:. )
6 Falling th en steady; or falling then
falling more slowly. . Bar ometer now lo wer
7 Unsteady.
8 Falling. ) th an 3 hours ago.
9 Steady or r ising then falling : or
falling then falling- mor e quickly.
Form of barogr am corresponding- with different code figures.
0 /' 5 \,,
I r~ 6 ~\......

2 ..r ~ 7 \
/_
3
4 = _/ ./,) 9
8

""'\
' "
In reg ions where th er e is a rnarkt'<l r egular diurnal \·ariation o:f: t he
bal'Ometer , :f'igm·es 2 aud 7 may be nsed when t he i·egular diurnal
:variation is interrupted in such a way that th e term ,,unstea dy '' gives
t he best description o:f: the character of the curve. (R es. 45 of -warsaw.)
 15

DE fi ADE 1. (Codes 10- 13.)

CODE 10.
FORM OF PREDOMINA TING CLOUD ACCORDING TO THE SCALE
OF CLOUD FORMS WHEN ONLY ONE FORM IS REPORTED, AS FROM
SHIPS AT SEA, OR FOR NEPHOSCOPE REPORTS (C).
Cod e figme
1 Cirrus Ci
2 Cirrostratus Cs
3 Cirrocu mulus Cc
4 Altocumulus Ac
5 Altostratns As
6 Stratoc'llmulus Sc
7 Nimbostratus Ns
8 Cumulus or Fractocumulus Cu or Fe
9 Cumulonimbus Cb
0 Stratus or Fractostratus St or Fs

CODE 11.
FORM OF LOW CLOUD (CL).
Code
figure
0 1) No low cl oud.
1 Fair weather Cumulus.
2 Large Cumulus with out anvi l.
3 Cumulonimbus.
4 Stra.tocumnlus formed by the spreading out of Cumulus.
5 l.iayer of Stratus or Stratocumulus.
6 Ragged low clouds of bad weather (Fractonimbus ) .
7 Fair weather Cumulus and Stratocumulus.
8 Large Cumulus (or Cmnulonimbus) and Stratocumulus.
9 Large Cumulus ( or Cumulonimbus) and ragged low clouds of
bad weather.

CODE 12.
FORM OF MEDIUM CLOUD ( CM).
Code
figure
0 1) No medium clouds.
1 Typical Altostratus (thin ) .
2 Typical Altostratns (thick ) (sun or moon inYisible) or Nimbo-
stratus.
3 Single layer of Alto c·nmulns or high Stra.tocumulus .
' ) ·wh en th e upper sk y, mediulll ·s ky or lo"· e 1· sky is invi sible, either through
darkness, through fog, duststorm or other surfa.ee phenom enon, or, in the case
of the middle or upper sky , through the obstruction of a co mplet e low er lay er
of cloud, th e cloud form shall b e indi cated b? a h?plH'n ( -) or a sol idu s (bane
de fraction ( /) . (Res. 72 of Copenhagen. )
 4 Altocnmulus m isolated bands. I ndividually decreasing (often
lenticular) .
5 Altocumulus in bands (increasing).
6 Altocumulus formed from the S'[)re:xding out of Cumu1'us.
7 Altocumulus associated with Altostratus or Altostratus with
parts· resembling Altocumulus.
8 Altocumulus Castellatus (or Alto cumulus in ragged fragments).
9 Altocumulu s in several layers generally associated with fibrous
veils and a ch aotic appearance of the sky.
N o t e: In the case of middle clouds Cirrocuniulus can appear
either alone or in combination with Altocumulw;;.

CODE 13.
FORM OF CIRRUS CLOUD (CH).
Code
figure
0 1)No cirriform cloud.
1 F ine Cirrus not increa·sing- : sparse.
2 Fine Cirrus not increasing: abundant but not a continuous
layer.
3 Anvil Cirrus, usually dense.
4 Fine Cirrus increasing: usually in tufts.
5 Cirrus or Cirrostratus increasing: still below 45 ° altitude: often
in polar ·b ands.
6 Cirrus or Cirrostratus increasing and reaching above 45° alti-
tude : often jn polar bands.
7 Veil of Cirrostratus covering whole sky.
8 Cirrostratus not increasing and not covering vvhole sky.
9 Cirrocumulus predominating, and a little cirrus.
Not e. Cirrocumulus may occ11r with any of the types 1 to 8.
DECADE 2. (Codes 20, 22, 23, 24.)
CODE 20.
DIRECTION FROM WHICH THE WIND OR A PHENOMENON COMES (D) .
DIRECTION OF MOTION OF IDGH CLOUD (Dnfai). ')
DIRECTION FROM WHICH SWELL COMES (DK).
DIRECTION OF MOTION OF LOW CLOUD (DL).
DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SHIP (d 5 ) .
Code
figure
0 stationary
1 NE
2 E
3 SE
4 s
5 SW
6 w
7 NW
8 N
') See note page 15.
") If there are no cirrus clouds, the direction of medium cloud s is given.
 17
CODE 22.
DIRECTION OF THE WIND NEAR THE GROUND (DD) .
Code number
With unusual With squall or
\Vind direction Code fi g ure gustiness a line squall
·Calm 00 33 . 67
NNE 02 3,5 69
NE 04 37 71
ENE 06 39 73
E 08 41 75
ESE 10 43 77
SE 12 45 79
SSE 14 47 81
s 16 49 83
SSW 18 51 85
SW 2·0 53 87
Wff\N 22 55 89
w 24 57 91
WNvV 26 59 93
NW 28 61 95
NNW 30 63 97
N 32 65 99
J o t e : The intermediate points of t h e windrose are used wh en
t h e accuracy of observati011s makes it possible.

C ODE 23.
DIRECTION OF WIND IN THE UPPER AIR OR CLOUD MOVEMENT (dd).
See description page 9.

CODE 24.
STATE OF GROUND (E) .
Cod e
figm e
0 Ground dry.
1 Ground wet.
2 GTo'lmd flood ed.
3 Ground frozen hard and dry.
4 Ground partly covered with snow or hail.
5 Ground covered wit h ice or glaze d frost.
6 Ground covered with thawing snow.
7 Ground cover ed with snow less than 6 111. (15 cm) but ground
not frozen.
8 Ground covered with snow less than 6 in. (15 cm) and ground
froz en.
9 Ground covered with snow greater than 6 in. (15 cm ) deep.
The fi gures 0- 3 give different cases of snowcover 0, t he figure 4
gives snowcover 1-3 and the figu r es 5-9 give different cases of snow-
cover 4 where the snowcover, i. e. the proportion of ground covered with
snow, is estimated on a scale 0-4.
18

DR CAD R 3. (Codes 30, 31, 33, 35.)

CODE 30.
FORCE OF WIND ON THE BEAUFORT SCALE (F).

'l'elegraphic Limites of speed

numb er · Beaufort number km per h. m/s cc.
0 0 0- 1 0- 0.5
1 1 2- 6 0.6 - 1.7
2 2 7 - 12 1.8 - 3.3
3 3 13 18 3.4 - 5.2
4 4 19 26 5.3 7.4
5 5 27 35 7.5 9.8
6 6 36 44 9.9 12.4
7 7 45 5± 12.5 15.2
8 8 55 65 15.3 18.2
9 9 66 77 18.3 21.5
9 10 78 - 90 21.6 25.1
9 11 91 -104 25.2 - 29
9 12 > 104 > 29
The speeds refer to a h eight of 30 feet (6 m) above ground in
an open situation.
Forces above 9 arc reported as 9 in all messages, with the actual
force in a word at the encl, e. g. force 10 is reported at the end as
,,storm ten", force 11 as ,,storm eleven", force 12 as ,,storm twelve".
Ships at sea, however, report ,,gale ten " , ,,storm eleven " , ,,hurricane
twelve''.

CODE 31.
MAXIMUM FORCE OF WIND (F) ON THE BEAUFORT SCALE
WITH 'l'HE FOLLOWING MODIFICATION :

Code figur e Beaufort numbers

0 force 10
1 11
2 12
3 " 0 a3
4 4
5 5
6 6
7 7
8 8
9 " 9
 19

C ODE 33.
SPEED OF SHIP IN KNOTS (v ).
5

Code figur e Speed in n autical miles per hour

0 0
1 1- 3
2 4- 6
3 7- 9
4 10 - 12
5 13 - 15
6 16 - 18
7 19-21
8 22-24
9 > 24

CODE 35.
R ELATIVE SPEED OF CL OUDS (v,.v).

See descr iption on p age 12.

DECADE 4. (Codes 43, 44.)

C ODE 43.
HEIGHT OF BASE OF CLOUD OF FORM CL (h).

Code figur e H eigh t

0 0 to 50 m
1 50 to 100 m
2 100 to 200 m
3 200 to 300 m
4 300 to 600 Ill
5 600 to 1000 Ill
6 1000 to 1500 m
7 1500 to 2000 m
8 2000 to 2500 m
9 no low cloud
If, how ever , ther e is no cloud of form CL and there is cloud of
form C111 whose base is b elow 2500 m, h -will refer to this cloud. (Res. 39
of vV arsa:w.)
If, however, th ere ar e on ly fragments of cloud of form CL below
a more ext ensive clou d whose base is belo w 2500 m, then h and N h
will refer to this more extensive clou d and the frag ments will b e reported
by a special addit ional group . (R es. 39 of W arsa:w.)
20

CODE 44.
HEIGHTS A T W HICH UPPER WIND I S REPORTED (H, ) .

Code figure Metres above sea-level

1 200
2 5'00
3 1000
4 1500
5 2000
6 3000
7 4000
8 5000
9 6000
vYhen the heights are above 6000 m the following code is used:
Code figure Metres above sea-level
0 7000
1 8000
2 9000
3 10000
4 11000
5 12000
6 13000
7 14000
8 15000
9 16000
When the synoptic r eports do not include the observation of wind
at the surface at stations whose pilot-balloon results are transmitted,
the groups of figur es giving the upp er wind at each of these stations
are preceded by an additional group H, ddv,v, giving the wind at the
surface in the same code as the observations of upper wind, viz. di-
r ection on seale 01-36 and velocity in kil<ometres p er hour. Th e
figure 0 ('zero) is used as the first fi gure of this additio·nal group.

DECADE 5. (Code 51.)

CODE 51.
STATE OF SWELL IN OPEN SEA (K ) .
Code figure
0 None.
1 Short or average length }
2 Long Low.
3 Short
4 Average length Moderate height.
5 Long

~
6 Short
7 Average length H eavy.
8 Long
9 Confused.
 21
D ]!} CA DE 6. (Code 60. )
CODE 60.
CLOUD AMOUNT (N ).
AMOUNT OF CLOUD WHOSE H E IGHT I S R EPORT ED B Y h (Nh).
Code figure Cloud Amount
(in tenth s)
0 0
1 Tra ce.
2 1
3 2-3
4 4, 5, 6
5 7-8
6 9
7 More than 9 but with openings.
8 10
9 Sky obscured by fog , dust storm or
other phenomenon.
NO TES .
I. Code fig'ure 0 is to be used only wh en the sk y is complet ely fr ee
from cloud.
Co d e figure 8 is to be used only when the sky is completely covered
with cloud so that no blue sky is visible.
II. If the sun or stars c31n be seen through fog or mist and th ere is
no evidence of cloud above the fog or mist, the amount of doud N
should be taken as zero. If cloud can be seen th rou g'h th e fog or
mist the amount of cloud should b e estimated as well as possible
m1d the form or forms noted to t h e b est of the obs erver's ability.
The cloud fo rms and cl oud amount should t h en be reported in th e
ordinary way as if fog or mist were not present.
III. :B'or mountain stations N1i is obtained by counting the pla ces ·wh er e
mountains come through the clouds as if they were covered with
clouds.
IV . In ships reports where t he height of the cloud is not given N1i in-
dicates only the amount of low cloud ( Cd.

DECADE 7. (Codes 70, 71, 74, 75. )

CODE 70.
OCT A N T OF T H E GLOB E IN WHICH SH I P I S SITU ATED (Q ).
Code figure Longitude from H emispher e
Green wich
w
~
0 0- 90
1 90--180 w Northern.
2 180 - 90 E
3 90- 00 E
5 0- 90 vV
6 90- 180 \!.,T (
So uthern . .
~
7 180 - 90 E
8 90- 00 E
22

C ODE 71.
MONTHLY AMOUNT OF RAINFALL IN CENTIMETRES (R 1R 1 ) .

For amounts above 8 mm and less than 91 cm the value is given

in whole centimetres. For amounts of 8 mm or less and above 90 cm the
following code numbers are used:
Code figure Signification
91 1 mm
92 2 mm
93 3 mm
94 4 mm
95 5 mm
96 6 mm
97 7 mm
98 8 mm
99 more than 90 cm
When fig ure 99 is reported in the code group the actual precipitation
m cm is added in a separate group of 2 or 3 figures. ·

CODE 74.
AMOUNT OF RAINFALL FOR THE PRECEDING 12 HOURS (RR).

The amount of r ainfall is expressed in whole millimetres with the

following exceptions :
Specification of certain meanings.
Code figure Meaning
91 0.1 mm.
92 0.2 mm.
93 0.3 mm.
94 0.4 mm.
95 0.5 mm.
96 0.6 mm.
97 Some rain but not measu ra·bi e.
98 More than 90 mm.
99 Measurem ent impossible or unreliable.

The amount of rainfall is given for a p eriod of 11, 12 or 13 hours,

ending at the hour of the morning or evening observation.
In Europe, as t he synoptic evening observation is made at 1800 GMT
the amount of rainfall given at 1800 GMT is the amount during the pre-
ceding 11 hours and at 0700 mwr
the amount of rainfall during the
preceding 13 hours.
 23

Com!: 73.
STATE OF SEA (S) .
Code
figure
0 Calm.
1 Smooth.
2 Slight.
3 Moderate.
4 Roug·h.
5 Very rough.
6 High.
7 Very high .
8 Precipitous.
9 Confused.

DECADE 8. (Codes 80, 81, 84, 85.)

CODE 80.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEA AND AIR TEMPERATURE (Tct).
Code
figure
0
1
2
> 5.0° C.
3.1-5.0
1.6-3.0
; Air temperature same as or hig·her than sea
3
4
0.6 - 1.5
0.0 - .0.5 ~ temperature.

5 0.1-0.5
6 0.6 -1.5
7
8
9
1.6-3.0
3.1-5.0
> 5.0 ! Air temperature lo wer than sea temperature.

CODE 81.
TIME OF COMMENCEMENT OF THE WEATHER REPORTED BY W (t w) .
Code figuTc
0 nothing to report.
1 0 - 1h )
2 1 - 2 h
3 2 - 3 h
-±
5
6
3 -
g = 4 h
~ j~ . before the time of observation.
7 6 - 7 h

9
8 8 - 10 h
above 10 h 1
- or I no observation.
24
CODE 84.
RELATIVE HUMIDITY (U) .
Code f ig ure %
1 0 - 19
2 20 - 29
3 30 - 39
:I: 40 - :1:9
5 50 - 59
6 60 -- 69
7 70 - 79
8 80 - 89
9 90 - 94
0 95 - 100
If a Service desires to distinguish separately humidity of 0- 9 %
this should be done by reporting 0- 9 by a solidus (/) or a hyphen (-) .

CODE 85.
HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY OR THE GREATEST DISTANCE AT WHICH AN
OBJECT CAN BE RECOGNISED FOR WHAT IT IS (V-V.).
See table page 25 .
NO TES.
Obscuring matter in the atmosphere such as mist or fog limits
the distance to which objects can be seen. The horizontal visibility V
is the gr eatest distance at which an object can be recognised for what
it is. The obj ects for observations of visibility must be large enough
for the observer to be able to recognise them readily in a perfectly
clear atmospher e.
At night or when the light is poor, observations of visibility are
made with the assistance of lights.
In order to ensure comparable observations at night, specifications
are included in the table mentioned on page 25, r egarding t he distances
and candle powers of lights for use with night observations. This section
of the table is to be regarded as provisional.
HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY FROM SHIPS AT SEA (V 5 ).
Visibility towards the sea for coastal stations (V) or visibility for
ships on sea CV. ) . Nearly the same scale is used.
Code
figure
0 Dense fog, obj ects not visible at 50 yards.
1 Thick fog, ob j ects not visible at 1 cable.
2 Fog, ob j ects not visibl e at 2 cables.
3 Moderate fog , objects not visible at 112 mile (na•utical).
4 Thin fog· or mist, obj ects not visible at 1 mile (naut ical ),
5 Visibility poor, obj ects not visible at 2 miles (nautical ).
6 Visibility moderate, obj ects not visible at 5 miles (nautical).
7 Visibility good, objects not visible at 1'0 mil es (nautical) .
8 Visibility very go od, obj ects not visible at 30 miles (nautica 1) .
9 Visibility excellent, obj ects visible i;i,t more than 30 mil es
(nautical ).
 Table for Visibility.
Ni g h t 0 b s er vat ions (Provisional) .
If lights of fixed intensity of
If lights at the same 100 cp . are used they must be
Code distances as objects
Daylight Observations. Column K. at the following distances:
Figure are to be used
they must be of the Object Distance for
cp. shown below. distance 100 cp. light

v
I
0 Objects not visible at 50 .m (or 0.13 cp. at 50 m 50 m I 100 m
% cable).
1 I Objects visible at 50 m but not 0.9 cp. " 200 m I 200 " 330 "
at 200 m (1 cable).
2 Objects visible at 200 m but not 3.5 cp. ,, 500 m 500 " 740 "
at 500 m (or 2 cables).
3 Objects visible at 500 m but not 10 cp . ,, 1000 m 1000 " 1340 "
at 1000 m (or 4 cables).
4 Obj ects visible at 1000 m but not 35 cp. ,, 2000 m 2000 " 2300 "
at 2000 m (or 1 nautic. mile).
5 Objects visible at 2000 m but not JOO cp. ,, 4000 m 4000 " 4000 "
at 4000 m (or 2 nautic. m).
6 l Objects visible at 4000 m but not 420 cp. " 10 km lOkm 71/z km
at 10 km (or 5 nautic. m).
7 Objects visible at 10 km but not 1250 cp. " 20 kml 20 " 12
at 20 km (or 10 nautic. m). "
8 I Objects visible at 20 km but not 4500 cp. " 50 km j At greater distances a 100 cp .
at 50 km (or 30 nautic. m). is not suitable.
9 I Objects visible at 50 km or more. from 20000 cp. " 150 km

tV
The candle~powers and distances specified for night observations are to be regarded as provisional. c.n
26

DE CA DE 9. (Codes 90, 92, 94. )

CODE 90.
WEATHER IN THE INTERVAL PRECEDING THE TIME OF
THE LAST SYNOPTIC OBSERVATION (W).

This interval is 6 hours for observations at 0100, 0700, 1300 and

1900 TlVI G; 3 hours for observations of 0±00, 1000, 1600 and 2200 GMT.
In Europe the observation is made at 1800 ; the period at 1800 h
is 5 hours and at 0100 h 7 hours.
For the intermediate observations and the warnings of dangerous
phenomena and improvements of weather th e interval will be the p eriod
elapsed since the time of the last observation transmitted. If the first
observation of the day is made at an hour other than a synoptic hour,
the period covered by vV will be one hour.
Code
figure
0 Fair (clear or slightly clouded).
1 Variable sky.
2 Mainly overcast.
3 Sandstorm or duststorm or storm of drifting snow. 1 )
4 Fog or thick dust haze (visibility less than 1000 metr es, 1100
yards).
5 Drizzle.
6 Rain.
7 Snow or sleet.
8 Showers. 2 )
9 Thunderstorm. 2 )

CODE 92.
WEATHER AT TIME OF OBSERVATION AND GENERAL CHARACTER
OF THE WEATHER (ww).
Code
figure
00-49 No p·r ecipitation cbt time of obs er ucition.
00-19 Abbreviated description of sky and special · phenomena.
00 Cloudless.
01 Partly cloudy.
02 Cloudy.
03 Overcas t.
04 Low fog, whether on land or at sea.
05 Haze (but visibility great er than 2000 m., 11/t_ miles).
06 Dust devils seen.
07 Distant ligihtnh1g.
08 Mist (visibility between 1000 and 2000 111. , 1100 yards ancl
Jl!t miles) .
') In the case of a san dsto rm at temperature b elow 0° C t h e word ,,sand-
sto rm '' should be added in clear.
') If wi t h h ail, the wo r d ,,h ail" ma y b e reported at t h e end of t h e me ssage.
 27

09 Fog at a distance but not at the station (or ship).

JO Precipitation within sigh t.
11 Thunder, without precipitation at the station.
12 Dust storm visible but not at the station.
13 Ugly, threatening sky.
14 Squally weath er.
15 Heavy squalls
m last 3 hours.
J6 "\\Taterspouts seen
17
18
19

l
20-29 Precipitation in last hour but not at time of observation.
w Precipitation (rain, drizzle, h ail, sno w or sleet) .
21 Drizzle
22 Rain
23 Snow other than show ers.
24 Sleet _ In last llO'ur but
25 Rain sho wer (s) . not at tim e of
26 Snovv shower (s). observation .
27
28
29
H ail or rain and hail show er (s) .
Slight thunderstorm.
H eavy thunderstorm.
j
30-39 Dust storms and storms of drifting snow.
(Visibility l ess t han 1 .000 m., 1.100 yards.)
3·0 Dust or sand storm.
31 has decreased.
32 " no appreciabl e change.
33 " " h as in cr eased.
34 Li~~e of dl{~t st o1'.~1s.
35 Storm of drifting sno w.
36 Slight storm of drifting snow
37 H eavy ,, } generally lo w.
38 Slight "
39 Heavy " } gen erally high.

40-49 Fog or thick dust haze.

(Visibility less than 1'000 m, HOO yards.)
40 Fog.
41 Moderate fog in last hom l
42 Thick fog in last hour f but not at time of observation.
43 F'o g, sky discernible l h as become thinner during last
44 sky not discernible \ hour.
45 sky discernible l no appreciable ch an ge dur in g last
46 sky not discernible \ hour.
47 sky discernible I has begun or become thicker during
48 ,, sky not discernible \ the last hour.
49 Fog in p atches.
28

50-99 Precipifotion cit time of observcition.

50-59 Drizzle (precipitation consisting of numel'ous minute drops).
50 Driz·zle.
51 Intermittent
52 Continuous slight drizzle.
53 Intel'!11ittent
54 Continuous moderate drizzle.
55 Intermittent
56 Continuous thick drizzle.
57 Drizzle and fog .
58 Slight or moderate
59 Thick drizzle and rain.

60-69 Rain.
60 Rain.
61 Intermittent
62 Continuous slight rain.
63 I ntermittent
64 Continuous moderate rain.
65 Intermittent
66 Continuous heavy rain.
67 Rain and fog.
68 Slight or moderate
69 Heavy rain and snow .

70-79 Snow.
70 Snow -0r sleet.
71 Intermittent
72 Continu ous slight snow in flakes.
73 I ntermitt ent
74 Continuous moderate snow in flakes.
75 Intermittent
76 Continu ou!" heavy snow in flakes.
77 Snow and fog.
78 Granular snow (frozen drizzle).
79 Ice crystals.

80-89 Shower (s ).
80
81
82
Sh ower (s).
Shower (s) of slig'ht or
,, heavy
moderate i rain.
83 s'1io·ht or moderate ~
" !::> snow.
84
85
86
"
"
,, heavy
,, slight or
,, heavy
moderate i rain and snow.
87 ,, ,, granular snow.
88 ,, ,, slight or moderate ~
89 ,, heavy hail, or rain and hail.
 29

90-99 Thunderstorm.
90 'l'hunderstorm.
91 Rain at time l thunderstorm during last hour, but not
92 Snow or sleet at time I at time of observation.
93 Thunderstorm, slight without hail or
:;oft hail, but with rain (or snow)
94 Thunderstorm slig-ht with soft hail
95 Thunderstorm moderate wi1'110ut hail ,
hnt with rain (or snow)
96 Thunderstorm moderate with soft hail at time of observation
97 'rhunderstorm h eavy without h ail, but
with rain (or snorw)
98 Thunderstorm combined with ·dust
storm
99 Thunderstorm h eavy with hail

NOTES.

J. ·w hen ever the description intermittent is used the fog or precipita-

tiou has not continued without break during the last hour.
2. In general, the largest number of the code which applies to the
·weather at the station will be used.
3. Th0 state of the sky is normally reported in the cloud code, and
not in this code for present weather.
4. ·when the sky is discernible through the fog the cloud is r eport ed
as if no fog were present. But when the sky is not discernibl e.
the cloud amount is r eckon ed as 1'0 and the height of base of low
cloud as zero.
5. l<,igures 20~29 will never be used when there is precipitation
actually falling at the time of observation.
6. Figures 80-89 will only be used when the precipitation is of the
shower type, and when precipitation is actually falling at the time
of observation. The clouds which give showers are isolated clouds,
and the showers are therefore always of short duration. Between
the showers there is a definite clearance unless stratiform clouds
are filli>ng the interstices between the shower clouds. Figures 83
and 84 r efer to the phenomena commonly known in N. America as
,,snow flurries".
7. It is desirable that Central Institutes or the Directors of Services
should give explicit instructions to their observers to use wherever
possible the numbers other thcin 3·0, 40, 50, 60, 70, HO, 90. The seven
numbers have been introduced to meet certain exceptional cases
and it is desirable that their use should be co11fined as far as
possible to those exceptional cases.
30

CODE 94.
DAY OF THE WEEK (Y) .

Code number D ay
1 Sunday.
2 Monday.
3 Tuesday.
4 Vv ednesday.
5 Thursday.
6 Friday.
7 Saturday.
The day refers to GlVIT and not to local time.
 31

II. HOURS OF OBSERVATION.

Hours at which the synoptic messages ought to be taken are the

following:
a. Observations of landstations.
If possible the observations are made at the standard hours:

GM'l' 01 h, 07 h , 13 h, 19 h. (Res. XVIIfo of Vienna.)

In Western and Central Europe, Scandinavia and North Africa
the observations are made at the following hours:
GMT 01 h, 07 h, 13 h, 18 h. (Res. XVIIIc of Vienna.)
The observations at the stations of SE-Europe and the Near East
(Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Turkey in Asia ) are made at:
GMT 06 h , 12 h , 18 h. (Res. 66 of Copenhagen.)
In the parts of the continents where it is impossible to use the
standard hours for the synoptic observations, the observations are made
at hours which not vary by more than l hour on either side of the
standard hours, i. e. any hour selected should be included in the periods
0 h-2 h , 6 h-8 h, 12 h-14h, 18 h-20 h GMT.
The observations of 13 h GMT are of special importance. (Res.
XVIIIe of Vienna.)

b. Observations from ships at sea.

On board of ships at sea equipp ed with meteorological instruments
(selected ships, see r es. 24 of Copenhagen) the observations are made
at the following hours:
GMT 00 h , 06 h , 12 h , 18 h. (Res. 25 of Copenh agen.)
AH ships which cooperate in the radiometeorological service of
the Oceans are invited to make the observations at the standard hours.
The observations of 00 h and 12 h are of special importance. (Res. 26
of Copenhagen.)
NOTE.

The observations at the fixed hour should begin not more than
10 minutes before the exact hnur and should be completed at the exact
hour. The observation of the element of whic.h the variation was most
rapid , should, as far as possible, be made last.
32

III. CODES FOR ICE MESSAGES.

A. CODE FOR REPORTS OF POLAR ICE.

The following code is adopted for international use :

1) Code for ships:
,,I CE'' YQLLL lllGG vs.ccJ nA. cl .D. v c ·
2) Code for land stations:
,,ICE" Norn YCiGI. VS.ccJ uA 0 d 0 D.v 0 •
This code is prepared on the basis of the Ice-terminology in the
Atlas of S ea Ice by A. Maursta,d. 1 ) The ice r eports give information
which is a) of importance to navigation and b) form a basis for a
study of problems relative to ice in the sea. The ice r eports should,
therefore, be as complet e as possible and contain a detailed description
of the ice conditions, including the changes at the moment of obser-
vation.
The ice l'eports shall be treated so fal' as collective issues are
concern ed in the manner r ecommended for non-meteorological infor-
mation.
These messages give information which is very important for
navigation and form a basis for a study of the ice conditions.
The code begins with the word ,,Ice'' in order to indicate that the
message concerns ice. i ext follow two ,groups referring to position
and time. 'Dhe first group contains the day of the week at which the
observation is ma,de, th e octant of the globe where the ship is and
the latitude. The second group delates to t h e longitude and the t ime
of observation in GMT. The land stations give after the name of th e
statiorn a group relating to the day of the week, the time of obser vation
and th e sector to which the observation belongs.
'Dhe ice r eport itself is condensed in two 'groups of five letters.
First group.
The first group begins with the visibility which always must be
reported since otherwis e the meaning of the following information
becomes unclear. It is fo llo'wed by information as to the extension of
the ice covered area and by a description of the ice, by means of two
figures w'h ich have been arranged in deca,des and is closed with infor-
mation as to the possibility of navigation. These decades r efer to:
00 - Direction to the ice-blink or ice-edge.
W - State of newly frozen ice.
20 - State of the winter drift-ice without leads nea r shore.
30 - Situation of shoreleads with r egard to the fast ice.
40 - State and character of the hummo ck ed winter-ice \\·ith r egard
to the shore-leads.
' ) Pub li sh e d by Det No r s kc Viden ska.ps·Akaclcmi , Oslo, Norway .
 33

50 Condition of the polar-ice.

60 Position of polar-ice and shore-leads.
70 Calved ice and ice-bergs.
80 - The fast ice.
Attention is drawn to the combinations 30, 40 and 60. These
combinations have been ins·e rted in vievv of the fact that from a ship
lying in t'he ice it may be possible to see a shore-lead, but the width
of the lead ca1rnot be estimated.
No definite information is send if the distance to ice or lead is
greater than 5 nautical miles. The reason is that from a ship the ice
conditions cannot be judged at greater distance, and the same applie:,;
to land stations, unless they are situated at great altitude. For such
statio11•s it may become desirable to make use of the spare decade.
"\Vhen several types of ice are present, what ·often ha·p pens, the type
shall be reported, which according to its character and occurrence
forms the greatest obstacle to navigation.
Second group.
The second group contains information as to:
a) the average thickness of the ice,
b) changes in the ice,
c) direction to open~ water or ·w ater-sky,
d) ice-drift,
e) speed of ice-drift.
When it is impossible to give this information the group is left
out or the missing elements are replaced by x.
I. THE SYMBOLIC LETTERS AND THEIR MEANINGS .
A. Changes of the ice. See code ,,Ice •00".
cc Character of the ice. See code ,,Ice 01 ".
D. Direction':'' ) of the ice-drift ·On the scale 0-8. 0 =no drift.
See c·od·e ,,Ice 02".
Direction to the open water on the scale 0-8. 0 =no open
water or water-sky. See code ,,Ice 03 ".
GG Greenwich time of observation.

l
I. Sector to which ice report refers.
J . Possibility of navigation for steam or motor ships. See code ,,Ice 04" .
LLL Latitude in degrees and t enths of a degree according to the In-
lll Longitude in degrees and tenths of a degree t erna~ion al :M:eteo-
Q Octant of the globe where the ship is rolog1cal Code 1935.
s. Extent of the part of the sea which is cover ed by ice (in tenths).
See code ,,Ice 05".
u Thickness of the ice. See code ,,Ice 06 ".
Speed of ice-drift. See code ,,Ice 07 ".
,;:') All directions refer to true North and not to magnetic North.
34

V Horizontal visibility according to the International Meteorological

Code 193·5.
Y The day of the week.

II. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ICE-CODES.

,,I ce".

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
I I I
00 Ae cc De de J S" u Ve
I I I
CODE ,,ICE 00".
CHANGES OF THE ICE (Ae).

Code
figure
0 No perceptible changes.
1 Ice melting.
2 Ice melting and opening.
3 I ce opening.
± Ice opening rapidly .
6 Young ice freezing.
7 Ice closing.
8 I ce closing rapidly.
9 Ice pressing together and hummocking.

CODE ,,ICE 01 ' '.

CHARACTER OF THE ICE (cc).

(The figures are references to the Atlas of Sea Ice

by A. lVIaurstad.)
Code
figmc
00-09 No ice or ice at distance (ice-blink or ice-edge).
00 No ice.
01 Ice blink or ice-edge rn NE .
02 ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, E.
03 ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, SE.
04 ,, " " ,, ,, s.
U5 ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ff\V.
06 ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, vV.
07 " " " " ,, N \~T .
08 ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, N.
09 Observation impossible owing tl) poor visibility.
 35

10-19 Newly froz en ice.

10 Newly frozen ice, specification not possible.
11 Ice film ( 0-2 cm).
12 Slush. (Fig. 1.)
13 Snowslush.
14 Ice-rind (2-5 cm). (Fig. 2.)
15 Pancake-ice. (Figs. 3-4.)
16 Sludge. (Fig. 5.)
17 Sludge-ice. (Fig. 7.)
18 Slob-ice.
18 Slob-ice.
19 Young ice (5-20 cm). (Figs. 8-9 .)

20-29 W inter drift-ice without leads near shore.

20 \¥inter drift-ice, specification not possible.
21 Brash-ice. (Figs. 6 and 17.)
22 Cake-ice.
23 Growlers and/ or Growler ice. (Figs. 15 and 16.)
2-± Level-ice. (Figs. 10, 11 and 12.)
25 F loes of winter-ice. (Fig. 31.)
26 Ordinary winter-ice. (Fig. 30.)
27 Hummocked winter-ice. (Figs. 13, 14 and 28.)
28 \¥inter-ice with ice-bergs outside.
29 between.
" " " "
30-39 Winter-ice, no specification, with leads near shore.
30

~~ l
33)
fications not possible.
vVinter-ice, no specification,
outside of shore-lead, width
of lead:
l
vVinter-ice, no specification, with lead near shore, further speci-
less than 1 n . mile.
1-5 n . miles.
more than 5 n. miles.
34 \ Shore-ice strip of 'vinter-ice, less than 1 n. mile.
35 ( uo specification, open water I 1-5 n. miles.
36 \ outside, width of strip : \ more than 5 n. miles.
37 \ J_,ead in winter-ice, no speci- less t han 1 n. mile.
38 1 fication, parallel to shore, I 1-5 n. miles.
39 \ distance from shore: \ more than 5 n. miles.
40-49 Hummocked winter-ice with leads near shore.
40 Hummocked winter-ice with lead near shore, further specifications
not possible.
41 I Hummocked winter-ice out- \ less than 1 n. mile.
side of shore lead, width of ( 1-5 n . miles.
42 (
43) lead: · J more than 5 n. miles.

Shore-ice strip of hummocked less than 1 n . mile.

44 /
45 ( winter-ice, open water out- I 1-5 n. miles.
46 ) side, width of strip: \ more than 5 n. miles.
Lead in hummocked wiuter- less than 1 n. mile.
47 /
48 ( I
ice, parallel to shore, distance 1-5 n. miles.
49) from shore : \ more than 5 n. miles.
36

50-59 Polar-ice without leads near shore.

50 Polar-ice sp ecification not p ossible.
51 Cakes. (Fig. 27. )
52 Growler-ice. (Figs. 19, 25 and 40.)
53 Growler-ice. (Fig. 18.)
54 Floes. (Figs. 20, 26 and 29.)
55 Ordinar y polar-ice.
56 Hummocked polar-ice. (Figs. 21, 22 and 24.)
57 Compact fields of polar -ice. (Fig. 23.)
58 Polar-ice with ice-ber gs outside.
59 Polar-ice with ice-ber gs between.

60-69 Polar-ice with leads near shore.

60
ol
62 !Polar-ice with lead near shor e, specification not possible.
Polar-ice outside of shore, ( less than 1 n . mile.
width of lead: 1-5 n . miles.

!
68 more t han 5 n. miles.
Shore-ice strip of polar-ice, less than 1 n . mile.
64
65 open wa ter outside, widt h of
(
1-5 n. miles.

!
66 strip: more than 5 n. miles.
Lead in polar-ice, p arallel less than 1 n . mile.
67
68 to shore, distance from ~ 1- 5 n. miles.
69 shore: ) more than 5 n. miles.
70-79 Calved ice and ice-bergs.
70 Calved ice or ice-bergs, specification not p ossible.
71 Calved ice only.
72 Ber gy bits. (Figs. 39 and 40. )
73 Small tabular ice-bergs, length less than 50 metres. (Fig. 32.)
74 Small irregular ice-ber gs, height less t han 5 metres. (Fig. 35.)
75 Medium tabular ice-ber gs, length 50- 200 metres. (Fig. 33. )
76 Medium irregular ice-ber gs, height 5-20 metres. (Fig. 34. )
77 Great t abular ice-bergs, len gth 200- 1000 metres. (Fig. 38.)
78 Gr eat irregula r ice-bergs, height great er t han 20 metres. (Figs.
36 and 37.)
79 Ver y great tabular ice-bergs, len gth greater than 1 km.

80-89 The fast ice.

80 Level fast ice, no further specif ication p ossible.
81 ,, ,, ,, , width less than 1 n. mile.
82 ,, ,, ,, , width 1 t o 3 n. miles.
83 ,, ,, ,, , width 3 to 5 n . miles.
84 ,, ,, ,, , width more than 5 n. miles.
85 Hummocked fast ice, no fur ther sp ecification p ossible.
86 ,, ,, ,, , width less than 1 n . mile.
87 ,, ,, ,, , width 1 to 3 n. miles.
88 ,, ,, ,, , width 3 t o 5 n . miles.
89 ,, ,, ,, , width more than 5 n . miles.
N o t e : ·when more t han on e number _is applicable the highest
number should always be repor t ed ._
\
 37

C ODE ,,ICE 02 " .

DIRECTION OF ICE-DRIFT (D. ).

Cod e
f igure
0 No drift.
1 Ice-drifting from NE towards SW.
2 E W.
3 SE " NW.
4
"
s N.
5 SW " . NE.
6 w E.
7 " NW " SE.
8 N S.
"

CODE ,,ICE 03 ".

DIRECTION TO OPEN WATER OR WATER-SKY (d 0 ).

Code
f igure
0 No open water or water-sky.
1 Open water or water-sky in NE.
2 E.
3 " " " " SE.
4 " s.
5 " " SW.
6 " w.
7 " " NW.
8 " N.
9 " " " " most directions.
" "

CODE ,,ICE 04 " .

POSSIBILITY OF NAVIGATION FOR STEAM OR MOTOR SHIPS (J).

Code
f igu re
0 Navigation unimpeded.
1 Navigation easy.
2 Navigation difficult for ships with weak power.
3 Navigation possible for powerful ships only.
4 Navigation possible only for ships which are specially constructed
for navigation in ice.
5 Shipping maintained by means of ice-breaker.
6 Navigation possible through lead or leads in the ice.
7 Shipping temporarily closed.
8 Shipping definitely closed.
9 Possibility of navigation unknown owing to poor visibility.
38

CODE ,,ICE 05 ".

EXTENT OF THE PART OF THE SEA WHICH IS COVERED
BY ICE (S 0 ) .

Code
f ig me
0 No ice.
1 Traces of ice.
2 1 tenth covered by ice.
3 14
4 112
5 %
6 9 tenths ,, ,, ,, .
7 Nearly covered by ice but some openings or narrow lanes present.
8 Completely covered by ice.
9 Observation impossible owing to fog or drifting snow.

CODE ,,ICE 06 " .

THICKNESS OF THE ICE (u).

Code
figur e
0 No ice.
1 Ice crystals.
2 Young ice, t hi ckness less t han 4 cm.
3 Thin ice, thickness 4 to 8 cm.
4 Thin ice, thickness 9 to 15 cm.
5 Ice thickness 16 to 40 cm.
6 41 cm to 1 metre.
7 " 1 to 2 metres.
8 " 2 to 3
9 more thar:_' 3 ~etres.

C ODE ,,ICE 07 ".

SPEED OF ICE-DRIFT (v e) .

Co de
figure
0 No drift.
1 Drif t not perceptible.
2 Drift barely perceptible.
3 Slow drif t (less than 0.5 n. miles per hour ) .
4 Ordinary drift (0.5 to 1 n. mile per hour ) .
5 Rapid drift (1 to 2 n. miles per hour ).
6 Very rapid drift (more than 2 n. miles per hour ).
7 Ice pressing against shore.
 39

B. REGIONAL CODE FOR ICE MESSAGES.

Some countries of Northern Europe transmit during the winter

time ice messages, containing information regarding· the ice conditions.
The general form taken can most simply be indicated thus:

A~ J,J,' J ,J,' J,J,' J,J,' .. .. .. J,J,' 2

bb
BB
~ J,J,' J,J,' J,J,'

J,J,' ...... J,J,' 3

cc ~ J,J,' J,J,' ...... J,J,' etc.
cc

Meaning of the symbols :

1 2 3 Groups of stations in a fixed order (Estonia).

aa bb cc Groups of stations in a fixed order (Poland).
AA BB cc Groups of maritime regions, parts of the sea, harbours .
etc.
J,.J/ Information referrino· to either of the stations in the
order in which they fig-ure in the groups 1 2 3
...... aa bb cc ...... AA BB CC ..... .

Codes for J 1 and J,'.

J ,. ICE CONDITIONS.

0 Clear of ice.
l Close slush and new ice.
2 F'ixed sheet of ic e.
3 Drift ice.
4 Close packed sludge or field ice.
5 Rift in the ice parallel to the coast.
6 Thick covering of ice.
7 H eavy drift ice.
8 Packed ice.
9 Screwed ice.
x No information.
40
J/. EFFECT ON NAVIGATION.

0 Navigation unobstructed.
1 Navigation unobstructed for steamers; difficult for sailing ships
2 Navigation difficult for low powered steamers; closed to sailing
ships.
3 Navigation possible only for powerful steamers.
4 Navigation possible only for steamers constructed to withstand
ice pressure.
5 Navigation maintained with the assistance of ice-breaker.
6 Channel open in the solid ice.
7 Navigation temporarily closed.
8 Navigation closed.
9 Navig·ation conditions unknown owing to bad weather.
x No information .
INTERNATIONAL CODES AND FORMS OF CODES FOR THE
TRANSMISSION OF \'\TEATHER REPORTS.

ANNEXES.

I. Table for symbols for use on charts.

II. Table for conversion of degrees Fahrenheit and degrees Celsius.
III. Table for converting barometric readings in millimeters into milli-
bars.
IV. Table for converting barometric readings in inches into millibars.
 42 ANNEX I.

TABLE OF SYlUBOJ,S FOR USE ON CHARTS.

( 'ille symbols comform with tire amended specifica#ons of Res. 3g, 4r, 42, 43 and with t!te new symhols
proposed in Res. 66 of Warsaw.)

'l'able 1. Symbols for Standard and Large Scale Charts.

WW 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 w N CL CM CH c E a
00 -- -
= ~ < -- ( ) - D
/' 0
10 I~
( 1CRl (-5>) 1)7 /\ A )( IXIXC>< Q .L. ____, / 0 / 1
20 ~J •] ·] *] ~] ~] ~] ~] R] TI] 0 d. ~ L!. [;] / 2
-£~
30 @ -s.,.I ~ I~ ~
- -1--1
EB
-- -
+ +
1-*- I
=¥- ;;+ B VJ ---;> G' Cl 3
40 @ J -=] -,- --- -- 1--- 0- 0 / v ~ ./ 4
,,' ,= • ....., <:0 ,__
50 0 ' " '' ''' ''' ' - - •'
•' ' .L. El 'v 5
60 8 • •• •• ••• ••• •••• ·.- t' • - - - ('-"'\ ..,? -v- [!] 6
\_
~ -- * *
.......
70 0 * ** * * * ""* "* A *
-...r
Q fu 2-.1: d. El "'-> 7
•'fj * **
¥

80 ~ I/
0

v *
'fj
.j(c
I/
~
"\/ I/ * v
{;,. {;,.
"\/
.a.
\J 0
-v- M
---" Q
~ 8
90 ® ~· R]* 1% R ~
A A
f.) % R TI K a 0 ~ B 00 ~ 9

The v e rti c al stroke means uh as increase d" if placed before a symbol 1 and )} has decreased''
if place d after a symbol.
The sign 0 me:rn s ,,w ithin s ight of the station''.
The sign 1 means that the phenomenon has beeu observed within the last hour but is not
occurring at the time ot observation.
In 21, 41, 91, etc. the bracket s ign may be omitted where th e time of occurrence is clear from
the position of the sy mbol o n the chart.
In 42 th e space be tween the middl e and bott om lines should be black from th e left for
approximately one half of the whole length.
In 43 etc. th e opening in th e horizontal s trok e should be about on e- third of the lengt,h, i.e. equal
to each of the short s troke s .
In 30 , 40, etc. th e circle may be omitted if desired.
The diameter of the circle (or do t ) in the sy mbol' (50 etc.) s hould not exce ed one half the diameter
of the symbol • (60 e tc.) .
In 23, 70, 7 1 , . , 80, 90, etc. th e h orizontal s trok e is to be c learly shorter than th e horizontal
stro ke in 41, e tc.
In 10 1 20, 80, 93, 95, 97 use e ither • or ·~<- unl ess in doubt.
In 25) 80, etc. the angle a t th e lower point of the shower s ymb o l must be smaller than the other
two angles , i e . it must be appreci ab ly less th an 60°.
In 27, 88 1 89, 94, 96, 99 the angles of the hail symbol are 60°; the angles in 78 are also 6QO,
In ww = 56, 66 or 76 the elementa ry s igns ' 1 •
vertical diagonal 01 which is clearly longer than the horizontal Qne .
or *
shall be arranged in form of a rhomb, the
Prin ciple H . Symbols in series horizontally denote s ,.s equence".
Principle V. Symbols in series Yertically denotes .,Co · existence".
[Symbols superposed d enot e uCo- ex istence 11 .]

N.B. Symbols for N ha ve not yet b ee n decid ed.

Symbo ls for ww = 00, 01 , 02, 03 and for W = O, 11 2 are also n ot d ecid ed.

Not e: The re are a t present in us e different systems of symb ols for N bu t main ly the tw o followin g
s ys tems:

N () 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Sy mbol' l~ ~

e:>
CD
e:>
~

0
()

QI)
a
q[)
0
®
8
®
•
(J]JP
®

®·
 43

Scheme of Arrangement of Information arouml the Position of the Station.

S tation Jl1odei. The circle denc.ites the po sition of the station
CH (El l>t tlte Station Model tlu letters llave the Joi/owing customary
meanings :
TT CM PPP PPP = Pressure. pp = Tendency .
Vww tppa ® TT = Temperature. T1T 1 = Sea Temperat ure .
ww = Present Weather. \V = Past Weather.
T T CLNh WCw)
5 5 a = Characte ri stic. E = State of Ground.
CLCMCH = Form of Low, Medium and High Cloud.
T, T1 h (RR) T 5 T 5 = Dew Point Temperature.
N = Total Amount of Cloud . V = Visibility.
Station Model. Nh = Amount of Low Cloud. RR = Rainfall.
h = Height of Low Cloud.
Also ( w) = That part of ww which refers to the last hour but not to the time of obse rvation
U = Humidity is alternative to T 5 1' 5 .
Whe r e lack of space necess itates a mo<iification ol the Station Mod el a defn1mation of it with out
permutat ion of t h e places allotted to the individual elements. is permissib le .
1f only one colour is used ic should be b lack.' If two colours, black and red, are used then r ed
s hould b e used for one or more of the following:
( ! ) For Ctt (2) F o r W (P as t Weather) (3 ) For TT, T 5 Ts (4) Fo r V (5 ) For pp when
pp is negative.
Red s h ould 1101 be used for PPP, ww, CM, CL, T1T 1, Nh , h.

'!'able 2. Abridgeil Symbols for Smaller Scale 'l'able 3. Abridged Symbols fo1·
Cha1·ts. Newspaper Weather Charts, etc.
lwlA 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 w CL CM CH ~w 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
00 - 00
~ <= (=) 0 00 - 00
e <= -
10 ~ (* (R) (-5>) lj7 /\ A ir rx rx IX 1 Q L. _, 10 l.X R -5> w I\ A JrlXIX rx
20 I~ ·] ·] *l ~] vl ~l ~] R] 2 E::, ~ ~
20 IX fX rx rx rx rx rx rx IX
fX
30 -£+
---
+ 3 1U B ...,,._, ---, 30 -£+
-
+
40 - =J
, , . 4= 0 <:' ./
<:::, ,_
40 = IXIX
,
--
--- .
50
60 . :::!:::
- ;
• .5
6
~

--- )""( ...--"

50
60 . ---
*
70
80 1%1 'i/
. *
~ ~
-
* ~ "''i/
-8 *0
7
\1 ~
c;;;
M -"
2-t 70
80
*
---
* -
90 R R}RJ~1H~ft M RR
-s. ...
9 R ~ c d, 90 K .
*
\1
K

Table 4. Symbols for Fronts. Direction of

Motion of
Oharacte·r of .frnnt on 1-Vorkiny Ch(trts on Printed Charts. Fronts ·
Cold front at th e
ground
Con tin nou s blue line
• • •
Cold front above Broken bi ne line 'V' 'V'
the ground """'"
\Varm front at the
ground
Co ntinuou s red lin e
• • •c t

-
Warm front above Brok en red lin e 0 0

... ... ...

t
the ground
Occluded front at Continuous purple lin e t
the ground
Occluded front Broken purple line 0 .6. 0 ~
t
above the ground
Areas of tropical air Continuous red area Dotted area
Areas of fog Continuous yellow area Distributed fog symbols
44 ANNEX II.
TABLE FOR CONVERSION OF DEGR>EES FAHRENHEIT AND
DEGREES CELSIUS.

OF oc OF cc OF oc oc
I I I I I I OF
I
-60 - 51.1 -20 -28.9 20 - 6.7 60 15.6
- 59 - 50.6 -19 - 28.3 21 - 6.1 61 16.1
- 58 - 50.0 - 18 - 27.8 22 -5.6 62 16.7
-57 - 49,4 -17 - 27.2 23 -5.0 63 17.2
-56 - 48.9 - 16 -26.7 24 - 4.4 64 17.8

- 55 - 48.3 -15 - 26.1 25 -3.9 65 18.3

- 54 - 47.8 -14 - 25.6 26 - 3.3 66 18.9
- 53 - 47.2 -13 -25 .0 27 - 2.8 67 19.4
- 52 - 46.7 -12 - 24,4 28 - 2.2 68 20.0
- 51 - 46.1 -11 -23.9 29 -1.7 69 20.6

- 50 -45.6 -10 - 23.3 30 -1.1 70 2 1.1

- 49 - 45,0 - 9 - 22.8 31 -0.6 71 21. 7
- 48 - 44.4 - 8 -22.2 32 o.o 72 22.2
-47 - 43.9 - 7 - 21.7 33 0.6 73 22.8
-46 -43.3 - 6 -21.1 34 1.1 74 23.3

- 45 - 42.8 - 5 - 20.6 35 1.7 75 23.9

-44 - 42.2 - 4 - 20.0 36 2.2 76 24.4
-43 -41.7 - 3 -19.4 37 2.8 77 25.0
-42 - 41.1 - 2 -18.9 38 3.3 78 25.6
- 41 - 40.6 - 1 - 18.3 39 3.9 79 26.1

- 40 -40.0 0 -17.8 40 4.4 80 26.7

-39 - 39.4 ] -17.2 41 5.0 81 27.2
-38 - 39.9 2 - 1 6. 7 42 5.6 82 27.8
- 37 - 38.3 3 -16.1 43 6.1 83 28.3
-- 36 - 37.8 4 -15.6 44 6.7 84 28.9

- 35 - 37. 2 fo - 1 5.0 45 7.2 85 29.4

- 34 - 36. 7 6 -14.4 46 7.8 86 30,0
- 33
- 32
-
-
36.1
3 5 .6
7
8
-13.9
-13.3
47
48
8.3
8.9
87
88
30.6
31.1
I
- 31 - 35.0 9 - 1 2. 8 49 9 .4 89 31.7

-30 - 34.4 10 -12.2 50 10.0 90 32.2

-29 - 33.9 11 - 11.7 51 10.6 91 32.8
-28 -33 .3 12 -11.1 52 11.1 92 33.3
- 27 - 32.8 13 - 10.6 53 11.7 93 33.9
I - 26 - 32.2 14 - 10.0 54 12.2 94 34.4

- 25 - 31.7 15 - 9.4 55 12.8 95 35.0

-24 - 3 1.1 16 - 8.9 56 13.3 96 35.6
- 23 - 30.6 17 - 8.3 57 13.9 97 36.1
- 22 -30.0 18 - 7.8 58 14.4 98 36.7
-21 -29.4 19 - 72 59 15.0 99 37.2
 ANNEX III. 45
TABLE FOR CONVERTING BAROMETRIC READINGS IN
MILLIMETRES INTO MILLIBARS.

Milli-
m et re s
.o
I .1
I
.2
I
.3
I .4
I .5
I .6
I .7
I .8
I .9

Millibars
250 333.3 334.6 336.0 337.3 338.6 340.0 341.3 342.6 344.0 345 3
260 346.6 348.0 349.3 350.6 352.0 353.3 354.6 356.0 357.3 358.6
270 360.0 361.3 362.6 364.0 365.3 366.6 368.0 369.3 370.6 372.0
280 373 3 374.6 376.0 377.3 378.6 380.0 38 1.3 382.6 384.0 385 .3
290 386 .6 388.0 389.3 390.6 392.0 393 .3 394.6 396.0 397.3 398.6
300 400.0 401.3 402.6 404.0 405.3 406.6 408.0 409.3 410.6 412.0
310 413.3 414.6 416.0 417.3 418.6 420.0 421.3 422.6 424.0 425.3
320 426.3 428.0 429.3 430.6 432.0 433.3 434.6 436.0 437.3 438.6
330 440.0 441.3 442.6 444.0 445,3 446.6 448.0 449.3 450.6 452.0
340 453.3 454.6 456.0 457.3 458.6 460.0 461.3 462.6 464.0 465.3
350 466.6 468.0 469.3 470.6 472.0 473.3 474 .6 476.0 477.3 478.6
360 480.0 481.3 482.6 484 0 485.3 486 6 488.0 489.3 490.6 492.0
370 493.3 494.6 496.0 497.3 498.6 499.9 501 3 502.6 503.9 505.3
380 506.6 507.9 509.3 5 10.6 51 1.9 513.3 514.6 515.9 5 17.3 518.6
390 519.9 521.3 522.6 523 .9 525.3 526.6 527 .9 529.3 530.6 53 1.9
400 533.3 5::14 .6 535.9 537 .3 538.6 539.9 541.3 542.6 543.9 545.3
410 546.6 547.9 549.3 550.6 551.9 553.3 554.6 555.9 557.3 558.6
420 559.9 561.3 562.6 563.9 565.3 566.6 567 .9 569.3 570.6 571.9
430 573.3 574.6 575.9 577.3 578.6 579.9 58 1. 3 582.6 583.9 585.3
440 586 .6 587.9 589.3 590.6 591.9 593.3 594.6 595.9 597.3 598.6
450 599.9 601.3 602.6 603.9 605.3 606.6 607.9 609.3 610.6 611.9
460 613 .3 614.6 615.9 617 .3 618 .6 619.9 621.3 622.6 623.9 625.3
470 626.6 627 .9 629.3 630.6 63 1.9 633.3 634.6 635.9 637 .3 638.6
480 639.9 641.3 642.6 643.9 645 .3 646 .6 647.9 649.3 650.6 651.9
490 653.3 654.6 655.9 657.3 658.6 659.9 66 1.3 662.6 663.9 665.3
500 666.6 667.9 669.3 670.6 671.9 673.3 674.6 675.9 677 .3 678,6
510 679.9 681.3 682.6 683.9 685.3 686.6 687.9 689.3 690.6 691.9
520 693.3 694.6 695.9 697.3 698.6 699.9 701.3 702.6 703.9 705.3
530 706.6 707 .9 709 .3 710.6 71 1.9 713.3 714.6 715.9 717.3 718.6 1
540 719.9 721.3 722.6 723.9 725 .3 726.6 727.9 729.3 730.6 731.9
I 737.3 739.9 74 1.3 742.6 743.9 745.3
550 733.3 734.6 735 .9 738.6
560 746,6 747.9 749.3 750.6 751.9 753 .3 754.6 755.9 757.3 758.6
570 759.9 761.3 762.6 ' 763.9 765.3 766 .6 767.9 769.3 770.6 771.9
580 773.3 774 .6 775.9 777 .3 778.6 779.9 781.3 782.6 783.9 785.3
590 786.6 787.9 789.3 790.6 791.9 793.3 79'4.6 795.9 797.3 798.6
600 799.9 801.3 802.6 803.9 805.3 806.6 807.9 809.3 810.6 811.9
610 813.3 814.6 815.9 817.3 8 18.6 819.9 82 1.3 822.6 823 .9 825.3
620 826.6 827.9 829.3 830.6 831.9 833.2 834.6 835.9 837.2 838.6
630 839.9 84 1.2 842.6 843.9 845 .2 846.6 847.9 849.2 850. 6 851.9
640 853.2 854 .6 855.9 857.2 858.6 859.9 86 1.2 862.6 863.9 865.2
650 866.6 867.9 869.2 870 6 871.9 873.2 874.6 875.9 877.2 878.6
660 879.9 88 1.2 882.6 883 .9 885 2 886.6 887.9 889.2 890.6 89 1.9
670 893.2 894.6 895.9 897.2 898.6 899.9 90 1.2 902.6 903.9 905.2
680 906.6 907.9 909 .2 9 10.6 911.9 913.2 9 14.6 915.9 9 l 7.2 918.6
690 9 19.9 921.2 922.6 923.9 925.2 926.6 927.9 929.2 930.6 93 1.9
700 933,2 934.6 935.9 937.2 938.6 939.9 94l. 2 942.6 943.9 945.2
710 946.6 947.9 949.2 950.6 951.9 953.2 954.6 955.9 957.2 958.6
720 959.9 961.2 962.6 963 .9 965.2 966.6 967 .9 969.2 970.6 971.9
730 973 2 974.6 975.9 977.2 978.5 979.9 981.2 982.6 983.9 985.2
740 986,6 987,9 989.2 990,6 991.9 993.2 994 .6 995.9 997.2 998.6
750 999.9 1001.2 1002.6 1003.9 1005.2 1006.6 1007.9 1009.2 1010.6 1011.9
760 1013.2 1014.6 1015.9 1017.2 1018.6 1019.9 1021.2 1022.6 1023.9 1025.2
770 1026.6 1027.9 1029.2 1030.6 1031.9 1033.2 1034.6 1035.9 1037.2 1038.6
780 1039.9 1041.2 1045.2 1043.9 1045.2 1046.6 1047.9 1049.2 1050.6 1051.9
790 1053.2 1054.6 1055.9 105 7.2 1058.6 1059.9 1061.2 1062.6 1063.9 1065 .2
800 1066.6
46 ANNEX IV.
TABLE FOR CONVERTING BAROMETRIC READINGS IN INCHES
INTO MILLIBARS.

Inc hes
.00
I .01
I .02
I .03
I .04
I
Millibars
.05
I .06
I .07
I .08
l .09

27.0 914.3 914.6 915.0 915.3 915.7 916.0 916.3 916.7 917.0 917.4
27.1 917. 7 918.0 918.4 918. 7 919.0 919.4 919.7 920 1 920.4 920.7
27.2 921.l 9'21.4 92 1.8 922. 1 922.4 922.8 923 .1 923.4 923.8 924.1
27 .3 924.5 924 .81 925. 1 925.5 925.8 926.1 926.5 926.8 927.2 927.5
27.4 927.9 928.2 928.5 928.9 929.2 929 .5 929.9 930.2 930.6 930.9

27.5 93 1.2 93 1.6 93 1.9 932.3 932.6 932.9 933 .3 933.6 933.9 934 .3
27.6 934.6 935.0 935 .3 935 .6 936.0 936.3 936 .7 937.0 937.3 937.7
27. 7 938.0 938.3 938.7 939.0 939,4 939.7 94 0.0 I 940,4 940.7 941.1
27.8 94 L4 941.7 942.1 942 .4 942.8 943.1 943.4 943 ,8 944.1 944.4
27.9 944.8 945.1 945.5 945.8 946.1 946.5 946.81 947.2 947.5 947.8

28.0 948.2 948.5 948.8 949 2 949.5 949.9 950.2' 950. 5 950.9 I 951.2
28.1 951.6 951.9 952.2 952.6 952.9 953.2 95-3.6 953.9 954.3 95 4. 6
28,2 954.9 955.3 955.6 956. 0 956.3 956.6 957.0 957.3 957.7 958,0
28.3 958.3 958.7 959.0 ' 959.3 959.7 960.0 960 .4 960.7 96 1.0 961.4
28.4 96 1.7 962.1 962.4 962.7 963. 1 963.4 963 ,7 964.1 964.4 964.8

28.5 965.1 965.4 965.8 966. 1 966.5 966.8 967.1 967.5 967.8 968.1
28.6 968.5 968.8 969.2 969.5 969.8 970.2 970.5 970.9 971.2 971.5
28.7 971.9 972.2 972.6 972.9 973.2 973.6 973.9 974.2 974 .6 974.9
28 .8 975 .3 975.6 975.9 976.3 976.6 977.0 977 .3 97 7.6 978.0 978.3
28.9 978.6 979.0 979.3 979.7 980 .0 980.3 980 7 981.0 981.4 981. 7

29.0 982.0 982.4 982.7 983 .0 983.4 983.7 98 4.l 984.4 984.7 985. l
29.1 985.4 985.8 986. 1 986.4 986.8 987. 1 987.5 987 8 988. 1 988.5
29,2 988.8 989.1 989.5 989.8 990.2 990.5 990 8 991.2 991.5 99 1.9
29.3 992.2 992.5 992.9 993.2 993.5 993 .9 994.2 994.6 994.9 995.2
29.4 995.6 995.9 996.3 996,6 996.9 997 .3 997.6 997.9 998.3 998.6

29.5 999.0 999.3 999.6 1000. 0 1000.3 1000.7 100 1.0 1001.3 100 1.7 1002.0
29.6 1002.4 1002.7 1003.0 1003.4 1003.7 1004.0 1004.4 1004.7 1005.1 1005.4
29.7 1005.7 1006.1 1006.4 1006.8 1007, l 1007.4 1007 .8 1008.1 1008.4 1008.8
29.8 1009 .l 1009.5 1009.8 1010.1 1010.5 1010.8 1011.2 1011.5 11011.8 1012.2
29.9 101 2.5 10 12.8 1013.2 1013.5 101 3.9 1014. 2 10 14.5 1014.9 101 5.2 101 5,6

30.0 1015.9 101 6.2 1016.6 1016.9 101 7.3 101 7.6 101 7.9 1018.3 1018.6 1018.9
30 ,l 101 9.3 1019.6 1020.0 1020.3 1020,6 1021. 0 1021.3 1021.7 1022.0 1022.3
30.2 1022.7 1023.0 1023.3 1023 .7 1024.0 1024.4 1024. 7 1025. 0 1025.4 1025. 7
30.3 1026.1 1026.4 1026.7 1027 , 1 1027 .4 1027. 7 1028 .l 1028.4 1028 8 1029.1
30.4 1029.4 1029.8 1030.1 1030.5 1030.8 103 1.1 11131.5 103 1.8 1032.2 1032.5

30.5 1032.8 1033 2 1033.5 1033.8 1034.2 1034.5 1034.9 1035.2 1035.5 1035.9
30.6 1036.2 1036.6 1036.9 1037 .2 1037 .6 1037 .9 1038.2 1038.6 1038 .9 1039.3
30.7 1039.6 1039.9 1040.3 1040.6 1041.0 104 1.3 1041.6 1042.0 1042.3 1042.6
30.8 1043.0 1043.3 1043.7 1041.0 1044.3 1044.7 1045.0 1045.4 1045 .7 1046.0
30.9 1046.4 1046.7 1047. 1 1047 .4 1047.7 1048. 1 1048,4 1048.7 1049. 1 1049. 4
 SECRETARIAT DE L'ORGANISATION METEOROLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE.

INTERNATIONAL CODES AND FORMS OF CODES FOR

THE TRANSMISSION OF WEATHER REPORTS.
Supplement no. 1. 30th December, 1937.
page 4 - Reports of upper winds - Add note 1
) with the following
text:

' ) From lst January, 1938, countries in Europe may use the n ew Upp er Wind Code :
IIIGG HHddv 5 ......... (CLCMHHM) 44444 m m m m m m m 7 xxx
1 2 3 4 5 6

. .. . . . .... .. ~· · ·· ·· -· ··· · ·~· · · · · ·· - · .. · · · ·· ' . ......... . ... . ..... " •• , ........... . ............. ~ ....... , •• ,. •• J
Forms of codes ns . 13 and 14 - Replace 00000 after (iii) by 99999.
page 7 - Transmission of monthly mean valu es of meteorological
elements - Add :
' &. • ,. & a• '"I .• • t • e e. ,. • • • • t • _,, It 4' • •A -4-. ~ t' • I ,\ . •I I I ' I w • • • • • it, • f it I I it • .... •at A• ... f f
(l " " ' ) 'I ,_ f • • • • • t •I ate e e •

The figures PP give the units and tenths in millibars for the regions
between the latitu des 20° N and 20° S and the tens and units for t h e
other stations.
The line above the symbolic letters signifies : ,,mean value'' .
. .. . ,.. . . .. . . . . ,_ . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . <: .. .. . .. ~ · •• • .. . .... " "" ' . ... r e . . . . . . ....... ~ .. . . . . . . . ........... ., .... . . ... .... '# ~ ~ ~ ··-···•-•1
pages 8-12:
dd - Add:
If f" • ., .f t t t • • t • :oi 1r • " ~ w• w " , 1 • " II\. f <l 1 ' .. ' ,, .- .a. C t 11 t • r· 1r • ; .,. • ' • ;. t1 I .. I ft" ( 4 ' a • 'f' ., t. • • I I 6 tt ~ i .. ., • f •I f " • • • f "" ,_ we ~ •

In the new P ilot Code IIIGG HHddv 5 a calm wind is expressed by

v 5 = 0 and dd = 00. If the value of the wind is 50 k/hr 1 ) or more
the figures for dd should be increased by the addition of 50. (See for
details v 5 .) (Res. 45 of Salzburg.)
' ) The round figure is 50 k/hr, the exact figure is 48 k / hr .
. • If " ' • - • ' • • • • • c " ••• •-... I. (I ~ f Ill "'. , , - • ~ _, I ' f rt- , ' .. . . . . I . . . { • • • • • .,. " .. ' "~ . .. ,. • • ' "t • t ~ , • ,, • • f. c •• ~ ..... ~ • ,, .... .

HH Height in hectometres above sea Jevel to which observations

of upper wind refer. (Res. 45 of Salzburg.)
A 5-figure group should b e given for each lev·el ai which a
definite change of wind b egins. 'l'he valu es should be given for
the first byer inside the n ew regim e of wind. The values sh ould
also be given for 1000 ancl 2000 metres a,bove sea level, when
possible. For international exchange it will usually be sufficient
to give about 5 groups. In general, values of dclv, should refer
to a layer of ,a bout 200 1 ) metres ancl HH should r efer to Lhe
centre o.f this layer. Thus, when HH := 20, the wind will refer
to a layer centred at 2000 m above sea level.
1
) If it is clear from t h e asc ent that the value from a 200 m layer
is misleading the value should b e taken from a thicker layer.

HH Height in hectometres above sea level of the last observation

of t h e balloon given in the additional group CLCMHHM.
..................................................................•........•••.....•.••...
M -Reason for the ending of the observation of the pilot balloon.
(Res. 47 of Salzburg.)
See Code 53.
Speed of the wind in the upper air at height HI-I. (Res. 45
of Salzburg.)
See Code 36.
If the value of the wiwd is 50 k/hr ') or more the figures
for dd should be increased by the addition of 50 and t h e values
v,- 50 coded in the message. In that case, the value of v,_ when
decoded from the message is also increased by the addition of 50.
If the wind is 100 k / hr 1 ) or more the wind in the group is
given without the 100 's figure, i.e. for a wind of 113 k/hr the
figur e for v, would be 3. In this case an index group 44444 is
added at the end of the message, fo llowed by a group or groups
of the form m,m,m,m.m, m,m,xxx, where m gives the lOO's figure
in the speed of the wind for the conesponding group in the
message, i.e. if the speed in t h e four.th gi'oup of the message
113 k/hr, m, would be 1. For groups in which the speed is less
t h an 100 k/hr the corresponding m =
0. If there are less than
five m 's in the last group ·of figures, this m-group is made into
a 5-figure group ·b y the addition of x 's.

') The l'Ou nd figure is 50 k/hr and 100 k/hr. 'l'he exact figure
. is 48 k/hr and 98 k/hr. See Code for v,.

········································· ~ ················································
page 13 - Add: 36-V-
53 - lVi.
page 19 - Add :
.••..........•..•..••••..........•..•.•...................................................
CODE 36.
SPEED OF THE WIND IN THE UPPER A IR AT HEIGHT HH (v,).

(dd=01-36) (dd=51-86)
Code figur e Spee cl Code figure Speed
0 0- 2 k/hr 0 48 - 52 k/hr
1 3- 7 1 53 - 57
2 8-12 2 58-62
3 13 - 17 3 63 - 67
4 18-22 4 68-72
5 23-27 5 73 - 77
6 28-32 6 78 - 82
7 33-37 7 83 - 87
8 38-42 8 88 - 92
9 43 - 47 9 93 -- 97
• rtv111••• ~ •••~t••••• ~ ·••• r •lttt••.,•••••~• • , • lt ••••••~•••t••••••••••••••r••••••••t•••••••••
page 21 - Add:
, ( • l" f' • e f •I. • ~ N • f ( f' • • • • • 4 •· . ~ ..... I .. I ' C ff ~ f 4 I '' • "I t t It I I • f' t. •I.(' • . f It a I • ... t It Pt• t f •I et I I I . t. f" I •• • e
CODE 53.
REASON FOR THE ENDING OF THE OBSERVATION OF THE
PILOT BALLOON (M) .
Cod·e figure Cod·e figure
0 observation abandoned 6 lost accidentally
1 obscured by passing clouds 7 obscured by rain
2 balloon burst 8 confused with star
3 lost in haze 9 for use when none of the above
4 lost near t h e sun apply
5 entered cloud layer
,..........................•........•.......•.............................................