Marine Data Code Tables:

Background

To decrease the size of data files, and to standardize the way that data are recorded, oceanographers have long used codes to denote identities, measured or observed values, conditions at sea, vessels, etc. A number of the formats you will deal with as a data manager require formal Code Tables, usually found at the back of manuals and database documentation. The best-known and probably the oldest of these codes is the Beaufort Scale, used to describe overall weather conditions at sea.

Important Code Tables

This is a brief listing some important code tables:

• Beaufort Scale - The Beaufort scale is an empirical measure for describing wind speed based mainly on observed sea conditions. Its full name is the Beaufort wind force scale. [From Wikipedia: Beaufort Scale]
• IOC and ISO Country Name Codes - Currently being considered for adoption as marine metadata standards.
• British Oceanographic Data Center Parameter List, and NetCDF Parameter Lists - Currently being considered for adoption as marine metadata standards; both approaches include codes for parameter names.
• World Ocean Database Taxa List and the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) - Currently being considered for adoption as marine metadata standards; both approaches are based on codes for for taxon names.
• ICES-SeaDataNet Ship Codes and the World Ocean Database and USA NODC Ship Codes - Currently being considered for adoption as marine metadata standards; both approaches are based on codes for vessel names.
• US NODC Data Formats & Codes - Table of the principal NODC data storage (or data output) formats and codes. Some may be quite old, but are listed here because they can still be obtained in these formats. CD-ROM publications tend to have unique code tables included with them.
• Code Tables Necessary to Use the World Ocean Database 2005 Data
• Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes - Four cross-references lists of major ocean/sea codes
• Manual on Codes - International Codes Volume I.1, (WMO 306)- Part A - Alphanumeric Codes
• Manual on Codes International Codes Volume I.2, (WMO 306) - Part B Binary codes Part C Common features to binary and alphanumeric codes
• Manual on Codes - Volume II (WMO 306) - Regional Codes and National Coding Practices
• WMO Codes Operational Codes TAC - BUFR - CREX - GRIB