GSI observations

Data format for GSI

The GSI can analyze many types of observational data, including conventional data, satellite radiance obervations (such as AIRS, IASI, SBUV/2 ozone, GOME ozone, GOES sounder, GOES imager, AVHRR), GPS radio occultation observations (bending angle or refractivity) and radar data. For use with the GSI, conventional observations are saved in the PrepBUFR format (BUFR format with NCEP specified features) and other data are saved in the starndard BUFR format. A detailed introduction to PrepBUFR/BUFR can be found in the GSI Users' Guide (Version 3-Chapter 8: PrepBUFR/BUFR).

Observation data in forms other than PrepBUFR/BUFR must be converted to PrepBUFR/BUFR before they can be used in the GSI. Here is a list of useful websites on this issue:

  • NCEP/NCO websitr to introduce BUFRLIB and how to decode and encode BUFR files: link
  • BUFR documents also can be found in NCAR DSS: link
  • PREPBUFR documents at NCEP: link
  • Observation data processing at NCEP (by Dennis Keyser): link
  • Data Hubs for PrepBUFR/BUFR Data

    The follow is a list of data center that has meteorological histroy data in PREPBUFR format :