MxVision WeatherSentry Web Services Content Guide

MxVision WeatherSentry Web Services Content Guide July 2014 DTN 11400 Rupp Drive Minneapolis, MN 55337

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1 Table of Contents 2 MxVision WeatherSentry Web Services... 4 2.1 Observed... 4 2.2 Forecast... 4 3 Content Hourly Parameters... 5 4 Content Daily Parameters... 6 5 Daily Normals... 8 7 Interpolated Data... 10 8 Hourly Gridded Precipitation... 11 9 Aviation... 11 9.1 Latest METAR... 11 9.2 Latest TAF... 12 9.3 Latest NOTAM... 13 10 Glossary... 13 3

2 MxVision WeatherSentry Web Services This content guide is intended for users of MxVision WeatherSentry Web Services. Included in this guide are the various parameters available to users of MxVision WeatherSentry Web Services. For additional details, please see the MxVision WeatherSentry Web Services Programming Guide MxVision WeatherSentry Web Services provides your organization with global weather observations and forecasts. All content is global unless otherwise stated. Several categories of data are available. These are hourly and daily observed and forecast, as well as daily observed normals. The same content is available for both SOAP and REST. 2.1 Observed Observed data is the record of atmospheric conditions. The observed value is measured at a point in time, or instantaneous, for most parameters with the exception of precipitation. Precipitation is typically reported as a measurement over a period of time, or accumulated. Observed weather values are reported hourly. Traditionally, the hourly report refers to the instantaneous value from top-of-the-hour readings. Precipitation values have duration and therefore are allowed to accumulate until reported at the end-of-the-hour. Observed data is available for a specified location for the past 60 days. The normals provided are a 10 year average of high temperatures and/or low temperatures. Daily departures from normal are also available. Quality control occurs within the hour and again within the day. To ensure the most accurate possible observation data, allow at least 8 hours past midnight for completion of quality control. 2.2 Forecast A forecast is the prediction of the weather using the principles of physics and meteorology. Forecasts of temperature and other similar data are instantaneous meaning they are forecast for a specific time. Precipitation values have duration and are therefore represented as an accumulation expected by the end-of-thehour. The forecast process supports up to 15 days of hourly and daily data. Forecast data is provided for a specified location and is updated every hour. 4

3 Content Hourly Parameters Multiple units of measure are available. For example; temperature is typically measured in degrees Fahrenheit or degrees Celsius. Refer to the XSD at (http://weather.dtn.com/rest-3.2/doc/tdtnweatherdataservice.xsd) for valid values. Most hourly parameters are available for both forecast (Fcst) and observed (Obs); with exceptions noted in the table below. Parameter Description Fcst Obs The air temperature. Dew Point The absolute temperature at which air can no longer hold all of its water vapor. Relative Humidity The amount of water vapor in the air. The combination of air temperature and Heat Index relative humidity determining a perceived air temperature. Wind Chill The combination of air temperature and wind speed determining a perceived air temperature. Feels Like The feels like temperature. Wind Direction The direction the wind is coming from. Wind Speed The speed of the wind. Wind Gusts The speed of wind gusts. Wet Bulb Temp The lowest temperature that can be reached by the evaporation of water only. Minutes of Sunshine The number of minutes of sunshine to occur. Cloud Cover Percentage The percentage of sky covered by clouds. Solar Radiation The measure of solar radiation. Probability of Precipitation The likelihood of precipitation to occur. Precipitation Total of rain or ice, or liquid equivalent of amount snowfall. Snowfall The amount of snowfall. Precipitation Type The type of precipitation; rain, ice or snow. Weather Description The general weather condition. Sea Level The atmospheric pressure at sea level. 5

Pressure Barometric Pressure Visibility The pressure caused by the weight of atmosphere. Distance visible without instrumental assistance. 4 Content Daily Parameters Multiple units of measure are available. Refer to the XSD at (http://weather.dtn.com/rest-3.2/doc/tdtnweatherdataservice.xsd) for valid values. Daily parameters are valid for a given location and a specified local calendar day; that is midnight to 11:59pm local time. Most daily parameters are available for both forecast (Fcst) and observed (Obs); with exceptions noted in the table below. Daily Parameter Description (by calendar day) Obs Fcst Sunrise The time at which the first part of the sun becomes visible in the morning. Sunset The time at which the last part of the sun disappears below the horizon in the evening. Max The highest temperature to occur. Min The lowest temperature to occur. Avg An average of the Max and the Min. Avg Dew Point An average of the hourly dew point values. Avg Relative An average of the hourly relative humidity Humidity values. Avg Wet Bulb An average of the hourly wet bulb temperature values. The sum of heating degrees required to Heating Degree maintain an average temperature of 65 F Day (HDD) (18 C) within a home or business. Cooling Degree Day (CDD) The sum of cooling degrees required to maintain an average temperature of 65 F (18 C) within a home or business. Effective Degree Effective Degree Day is a proprietary, 6

Day enhanced version of Heating Degree Day that adds the effect of wind speed. Avg Heat Index An average of the hourly heat index temperature. Min Heat Index The lowest hourly heat index temperature Max Heat Index The highest hourly heat index temperature Avg Wind Chill An average of the hourly wind chill temperature. Min Wind Chill The lowest wind chill value Max Wind Chill The highest wind chill value Avg Feels Like An average of the hourly feels like temperature. Maximum Feels The highest feels like temperature to Like occur. Minimum Feels Like The lowest feels like temperature to occur. Average Wind An average of the hourly wind speed Speed values. Max Wind Speed The highest wind speed or gust value. Minutes of The number of minutes of sunshine to Sunshine occur. Solar Radiation The measure of solar radiation Cloud Cover Percentage The percentage of sky covered by clouds. Evapotranspiratio n The sum of evaporation and plant transpiration from the earth's land surface to atmosphere. Growing Degree The number of degrees that the average Day temperature is above a baseline value. Probability of Precipitation The likelihood of precipitation to occur. Precipitation Total of rain or ice, or liquid equivalent of amount snowfall. Snowfall The amount of snowfall. Precipitation Type Type of precipitation; rain, ice or snow. Weather Description The general weather condition. Crop Heating Crop Heat Units is an energy term Unit calculated daily using the daily maximum 7

and minimum temperature Average Barometric Pressure Average Soil Moisture Min Soil Moisture Max Soil Moisture Average Soil Min Soil Max Soil Average Wet Bulb Globe Min Wet Bulb Globe Max Wet Bulb Globe An average of the hourly barometric pressure. An average of soil moisture content. The lowest measured soil moisture content. The highest measured soil moisture content. An average of soil temperature. The lowest soil temperature measured. The highest soil temperature measured. The average Wet Bulb Globe temperature to occur. The lowest Wet Bulb Globe temperature measured. The highest Wet Bulb Globe temperature measured 5 Daily Normals Daily Normal readings are available for 10 year period with Daily Interpolated (intr) and Daily Observation (Abs). Multiple units of measure are available. Refer to the XSD at (http://weather.dtn.com/rest-3.2/doc/tdtnweatherdataservice.xsd) for valid values. Daily Parameter Description (by calendar day) Obs Intr An average of the high temperatures 10yr Normal Max recorded for a calendar day over a 10 year period. 8

10yr Normal Min 10yr Normal Avg Avg Departure From 10yr Normal 10yr Normal Heating Degree Day Heating Degree Day Departure From 10yr Normal 10yr Normal Cooling Degree Day Cooling Degree Day Departure From 10yr Normal 10yr Normal Effective Degree Day Effective Degree Day Departure From 10yr Normal An average of the low temperatures recorded for a calendar day over a 10 year period. An average of the Normal Max and Normal Min over a 10 year period. The difference between the Avg and the 10yr Normal Avg for the same calendar day. An average of the number of heating degrees recorded for the same calendar day over a 10 year period. The difference between the number of heating degrees and the 10yr Normal Heating Degree Day for the same calendar day. An average of the number of cooling degrees recorded for the same calendar day over a 10 year period. The difference between the number of cooling degrees and the 10yr Normal Cooling Degree Day for the same calendar day. An average of the number of effective degrees recorded for the same calendar day over a 10 year period. The difference between the number of effective degrees and the 10yr Normal Effective Degree Day for the same calendar day. 9

7 Interpolated Data This request will return interpolated data in observation or forecast context. Interpolated information is obtained by taking a weighted average of data from known stations in the area of the request. Multiple units of measure are available. Refer to the XSD at (http://weather.dtn.com/rest-3.2/doc/tdtnweatherdataservice.xsd) for valid values. Interpolated parameters are returned for Observation (Obs), Forecast (Fcst) and Daily Normal (N) contexts Parameter Description Obs Fcst N The sum of evaporation and plant Evapotranspiratio transpiration from the earth's land surface n to atmosphere. Growing Degree The number of degrees that the average Day Precipitation amount Crop Heating Unit temperature is above a baseline value. Total of rain or ice, or liquid equivalent of snowfall. Crop Heat Units is an energy term calculated daily using the daily maximum and minimum temperature Solar Radiation The measure of solar radiation A list of precipitation amount values in Precipitation hourly increments dependent on timeframe Amount List requested. Crop Heating Unit List Evapotranspiratio n List Growing Degree Day list A list of crop heating unit measures in hourly increments dependent on timeframe requested. A list of evapotranspiration values in hourly increments dependent on timeframe requested. A list of growing degree day measures in hourly increments dependent on timeframe requested. 10

8 Hourly Gridded Precipitation This request returns Hourly Gridded Precipitation values for a particular location. Multiple units of measure are available. Refer to the XSD at (http://weather.dtn.com/rest-3.2/doc/tdtnweatherdataservice.xsd) for valid values. Daily parameters are valid for a given location and a specified local calendar day; that is midnight to 11:59pm local time. Parameter Precipitation amount Precipitation Amount List Description Total of rain or ice, or liquid equivalent of snowfall. A list of precipitation amount values in hourly increments dependent on timeframe requested. 9 Aviation This section includes three types of data returned for Aviation related measures. Latest METAR, Latest TAF and Latest NOTAM. Each is described in more detail in the following sub-headings. 9.1 Latest METAR This request will return the latest (non-nil) METAR for the requested location. You have the ability to omit the Station code and submit Lat/Long parameters to receive the nearest METAR to the coordinates. If no METAR is available for the last 2 hours for the requested position there are 2 options that can be specified: Mode 1: The nearest station will be reported within a 100NM radius. Mode 2: A message will be returned indicating that is no valid METAR for the required station. The response contains the raw METAR observation text as well as a section containing the decoded METAR observation details as described in the following table. Refer to the XSD at (http://weather.dtn.com/rest- 3.2/doc/TDTNWeatherDataService.xsd) for valid values and formats. 11

METAR Parameter Time Position Air Pressure Air Dewpoint Horizontal Visibility Wind Speed Wind Direction Cloud Condition Cavok Description Indicates the time of the METAR observation Indicates the current altimeter settings in hpa (hectopascal) Indicates observed surface temperature in Celcius Indicates observed surface dewpoint in Celcius Indicates the minimum horizontal visibility in SM (statue miles) Indicates the observed surface winds in kts (Knots) Indicates the observed surface wind direction in degrees Indicates the observed cloud cover at the station. Please note that BKN or OVC indicate a cloud ceiling True or False to indicate if Ceiling An Visibility OK or not 9.2 Latest TAF This request will return the latest TAF for the requested location. You have the ability to omit the Station code and submit Lat/Long parameters to receive the nearest TAF to the coordinates. If no TAF is available for the last 18 hours for the requested position there are 2 options that can be specified: Mode 1: The nearest station will be reported within a 100NM radius. Mode 2: A message will be returned indicating that there is no valid METAR for the required station. The response contains the raw TAF forecast text as well as a section containing the decoded TAF forecast details as described in the following table. Refer to the XSD at (http://weather.dtn.com/rest-3.2/doc/tdtnweatherdataservice.xsd) for valid values and formats. TAF Parameter Time Period Wind Direction Description Indicates time of the particular forecast Indicates the forecast surface wind direction in degrees 12

Horizontal Visibility Wind Speed Cloud Condition Indicates the forecast minimum horizontal visibility in SM (statue miles) Indicates the forecast surface winds in kts (Knots) Cloud condition forecasts at different elevations 9.3 Latest NOTAM This request will return the latest NOTAMs for the requested location. The ones returned will be ALL non-expired NOTAMs including the not yet active ones. Unlike METAR and TAF requests, NOTAMs are only returned for the station requested. If no NOTAMs are available, a message will be returned indicating that is no NOTAMs for the required station. Values returned will include: Time period: Begin & End time for the particular NOTAM.l NOTAM raw text 10 Glossary Accumulated A value reported over a period of time which is typical for precipitation reporting. Avg Average (avg) is the number that is found by dividing the sum of data by the number of items in the data set. It is also called the mean. For example; the average daily temperature is calculated by dividing the sum of the 24 hourly temperatures by 24. Calendar Day A calendar day refers to the time period of midnight to 11:59pm local time. Crop Heating Unit Crop Heating Unit is the equivalent of the Canadian Corn Heat Unit which is a function of the maximum temperature and minimum temperature reported in degrees Centigrade...43.3 10.0 0.084 10.0 2 13

Maximum temperatures less than 10 degrees Centigrade are set to 10. Minimum temperatures less than 4.4 degrees Centigrade are set to 4.4. A negative CHU is not valid and any value less than zero are reported as 0. Daily Data is updated each day at a specific time. The time of day may vary by data type or provider or in reference to a data value represented for a 24 hour period, typically a calendar day. Dew Point The absolute temperature at which air can no longer hold all of its water vapor, causing condensation into liquid water. Evapotranspiration Evapotranspiration (ET) is a quantity that measures the amount of water transferred from vegetation to the atmosphere. The calculation takes into account the local sun angle and other location-specific quantities, and the local daily weather conditions to estimate the likely amount of water that a corn plant would use on a daily basis. Fcst Forecast (Fcst) is a prediction of the weather through application of the principles of physics and meteorology. Feels Like The current heat index if over 70 F (21 C) or wind chill if below 50 F (10 C). Global Global, as used when referring to weather data, is data which is gathered from and available to the entire globe or world; worldwide. Hourly Traditionally, weather observations have been reported on or near the top-of-the-hour. The end-of-the-hour is the typical reporting method for precipitation amounts. Instantaneous A value reported for a specific time, the typical reporting method for temperatures. Max Maximum (Max) is the largest or highest value of a data set. For example; the maximum daily temperature refers to the highest temperature value recorded within a calendar day. Min Minimum (Min) is the smallest or lowest value of a data set. For example; the minimum daily temperature refers to the lowest temperature value recorded within a calendar day. 14

MADIS The Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System (MADIS) ingests data files from NOAA data sources and non-noaa data providers, decodes the data and then encodes all of the observational data into a common format with uniform observation units and time stamps. Quality control checks are conducted and the integrated data sets are stored in the MADIS database with a series of flags indicating the quality of the observation from a variety of perspectives. NOAA The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a United States federal agency focused on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere. Normals Normals are the average value of a specific data type over a given timeframe. In this document normals refer to a 10 year period. NWS The National Weather Service (NWS) of the United States is a division of NOAA. Obs Observation (Obs) is an evaluation of one or more meteorological elements that describe the state of the atmosphere either at the earth's surface or aloft. REST REST web service (also called a RESTful web API) is a simple web service implemented using HTTP and the principles of REST. SOAP Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) is a protocol specification for exchanging structured information in the implementation of Web Services in computer networks. Web Service A Web service is a method of communication between two electronic devices over a network. yr A year (yr) is a period of 365 days (or 366 days during leap years). 15