Extra labels required for (aviation) TAC codes (0-20-008)

[6a6d74]

[added on behalf of Aaron Braeckel]

I am investigating using the WMO Codes Registry for converting XML (IWXXM) back to their TAC equivalent (METAR, TAF, SPECI, SIGMET). I started with a simple example: cloud amount (http://codes.wmo.int/bufr4/codeflag/0-20-008?_format=rdf). This ended up being a good example as there does not appear to be a section of the RDF (or TTL) that lists the associated TAC code. For example, the traditional "BKN" you find in METARs and elsewhere has several relevant strings ("Broken", "Broken (5 - 7 oktas).", etc.) in the RDF/TTL but not the specific set of characters traditionally used for representing this concept in a METAR.

I can encode this information myself by hand for the relevant code tables (I've attached a partial example from 0-20-008) but just wondering if you felt this was something that could (and should) be represented in the WMO Codes Registry. I would rather not maintain this independently, but I understand that there may be practical limitations.

Cheers,
Aaron

---

attached example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<map>
  <mapping key="http://codes.wmo.int/bufr4/codeflag/0-20-008/0">SKC</mapping>
  <mapping key="http://codes.wmo.int/bufr4/codeflag/0-20-008/1">FEW</mapping>
  <mapping key="http://codes.wmo.int/bufr4/codeflag/0-20-008/2">SCT</mapping>
  <mapping key="http://codes.wmo.int/bufr4/codeflag/0-20-008/3">BKN</mapping>
  <mapping key="http://codes.wmo.int/bufr4/codeflag/0-20-008/4">OVC</mapping>
</map>

[6a6d74]

We can add this information to the WMO Codes Register using labels from SKOS; e.g. skos:prefLabel and zero or more skos:altLabel properties in addition to the existing rdfs:label property. RDF (& the registry itself) fully support provision of multi-lingual text.

Additionally, for strings such as "BKN" I think we can add skos:notation (SKOS notation) properties.

I don't think there are any governance issues required to make such a change- it's just finding the time to add it ...

[marqh]

Hi @braeckel @6a6d74

I am browsing the manual on codes I.2
http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/WMOCodes/WMO306_vI2/VolumeI.2.html

I cannot see where to source this information from.
e.g.
SKC
where is the string 'SKC' defined please?

In:
WMO PUBLICATION No. 306 - MANUAL ON CODES
Volume I.2 - Part B and Part C
on page 596, table 0 20 008 is defined, but I see no sign of these three letter strings

thank you
mark

[6a6d74]

@marqh - these terms come from the older TAC codes; WMO No 306 Vol I.1 ...

"""
N_sN_sN_s: Category of cloud amount, few, scattered, broken or overcast, given by three-letter abbreviations FEW (1 to 2 oktas), SCT (3 to 4 oktas), BKN (5 to 7 oktas) or OVC (8 oktas).
"""

I don't think that these abbreviations are listed in Vol I.2 but they are in common usage.

(in my copy, this is page A-205)

[braeckel]

Actually, it appears for cloud amount IWXXM references http://codes.wmo.int/49-2/CloudAmountReportedAtAerodrome instead of http://codes.wmo.int/bufr4/codeflag/0-20-008. The total set of TAC codes of interest for IWXXM 1.0 that are recorded with the "vocabulary" tags in the schemas are:

http://codes.wmo.int/49-2/SigConvectiveCloudType
http://codes.wmo.int/49-2/CloudAmountReportedAtAerodrome
http://codes.wmo.int/49-2/AerodromeRecentWeather
http://codes.wmo.int/49-2/AerodromeForecastWeather
http://codes.wmo.int/49-2/AerodromePresentWeather
http://codes.wmo.int/bufr4/codeflag/0-22-061
http://codes.wmo.int/bufr4/codeflag/0-20-086
http://codes.wmo.int/bufr4/codeflag/0-20-087
http://codes.wmo.int/49-2/SigWxPhenomena