Data Zoo File Formats

                      October 21, 1993

The Data Zoo contains many different kinds of data. However,
all  the  data maintained at the Center for Coastal  Studies
has been unified in one sense. The format follows one simple
paradigm.  That being one instrument, one file.   Each  file
has  five  lines  of header information, and  tab  separated
columns for the dynamic variables.

This  format  was  chosen  for  several  reasons.  The  most
important  of  which is ease of accessibility. CCS  believes
that  the  days of storing your data in some cryptic  binary
format requiring a specific function to read it back in  are
over.  These  ASCII files can be read into  anything.   This
format is easily manipulated.  Space considerations are only
a  minor   factor since disk space is relatively cheap,  and
you  can easily compress ASCII files with a compression tool
like zip, compress, arc, stuffit, etc. These tools will save
you much more space than your average binary encoding.

Outline of the CCS ASCII Format
---------------------------------------------
1st line) Lists the names of the static variables. #All header lines use
2nd line) Lists the units of the static variables. #tabs to separate entries
3rd line) The values of the static variables.
4th line) Lists the names of the dynamic variables as column headings.
5th line) Lists the units that the dynamic variables are in.
6th line) The values of the dynamic variables begin here and
          are listed in tab separated columns.
          -    -    -
          -    -    -
nth line) -    -    -

Example of a current meter file
-----------------------------------------------------------
start_time   npts     samp_interv  depth  lat      lon
yymmddhhmmss #_pts    seconds      meters deg      deg
911024200000 4388     3600         56     32.700   -119.592
north        east     temp
m_s          m_s      deg_C
0.184        0.018    14.33
0.175        0.022    14.00
0.123        0.056    13.47
0.103        0.075    13.38
0.094        0.127    13.38
0.042        0.169    NaN
0.120        0.185    14.05
0.136        0.161    13.98
0.129        0.149    13.91
0.195        0.167    14.18
.            .        .
.            .        .
.            .        .
0.175        0.022    14.00

Flagging of bad or missing values
-----------------------------------------------

Bad values are flagged by putting a NaN in place of the bad
value. A NaN is a valid IEEE Floating point number and is a
valid Real number in FORTRAN and a valid Float in C.

Warnings and Limitations
------------------------------------
Each file must contain all the static header columns defined
for  it's type of instrument. If no value is available a NaN
must  be  used for that value. And the order in  which  they
appear  must  match  the  definition  outlined  below.  This
constraint  may  be removed in the future. In  the  case  of
dynamic  variables  we are less constrained.   No  order  is
imposed on the columns as the column headers serve to define
which column is which. And not all defined column types must
appear  in  any given file. For example, in a current  meter
file  the  columns names north, east, vert, temp,  pressure,
and  salinity are defined. But if you only have  values  for
north, and east only those columns need appear.

Specific form for each kind of instrument
------------------------------------------------------------
The following types of instruments have a format defined for them:

Current Meters
Drifters
Met. Stations
Ships
Temperature Loggers
XBT Casts
Pressure Sensors
CTD Casts

Defined fields for each kind of instrument file
------------------------------------------------------------
***  It  is  important for compatibility  reasons  with  the
programs that read and write these files that the names  and
abbreviations used below to define the fields are used  with
strict adherence.

CTD Casts:
    Static Variables
     start_time npts station_depth cast_depth lat lon surf_temp
     atm_temp_wet atm_temp_dry wind_speed wind_direction
    Dynamic Variables
     salinity temp pressure O2 FL NO2 NO3 PO3 SI2

Current Meters:
    Static Variables
     start_time npts samp_interv depth lat lon
    Dynamic Variables
     north east vert temp pressure salinity

Drifters:
    Static Variables
     start_time npts depth start_lat start_lon transmitter
     inst_type station
    Dynamic Variables
     time lat lon temp quality

Met. Stations:
    Static Variables
     start_time npts samp_interv lat lon
    Dynamic Variables
     north east atm_pressure atm_temp_wet atm_temp_dry sea_surf_temp
     dew_point salinity long_wave_solar_rad short_wave_solar_rad
     sig_wave_height ave_wave_period dom_wave_period ave_wave_direction
     anemom_height

Pressure Sensors:
    Static Variables
     start_time npts samp_interv dept lat lon
    Dynamic Variables
     pressure temp salinity

Ships:
    Static Variables
     start_time npts start_lat start_lon method name
    Dynamic Variables
     time lat lon temp conduct

Temp. Loggers:
    Static Variables
     start_time npts samp_interv depth lat lon
    Dynamic Variables
     temp

XBT Casts:
    Static Variables
     start_time npts station_depth cast_depth lat lon surf_temp 
     atm_temp_wet atm_temp_dry wind_speed wind_direction 
    Dynamic Variables
     temp pressure