This dataset includes the latest 72 hours of half-hourly surface observations from all Bureau of Meteorology automatic weather stations (AWS), and from a small number of non-AWS sites.
Surface weather observations are recorded from aerodromes, with some additional data coming from unmanned automatic weather stations (AWS).
Readings are typically half hourly; however, in special conditions, observations may be made earlier and for cost savings, some stations may only report hourly.
This dataset also includes readings from some non-AWS, where the readings are only semi-daily.
Data in the product is refreshed every 10 minutes. Therefore, this dataset includes all readings for the latest 72 hours, including the latest reading at each site over the last 10 minutes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following data parameters are recorded:
datetime, id_num (WMO index number, normally a unique id, but can be missing),
id_name (abbreviated name, used to identify the observing site),
date, time,
wdir (wind direction, degrees from N),
wspd (wind speed, knots),
t_db (temperature dry bulb, degree C),
dp (dew point, degree C),
qnh (aircraft altimeter setting, hPa),
rf9am (rainfall since 9am, mm),
rf10m (rainfall last 10 minutes, mm),
vic (visibility, m),
avis (automatically measured visibility, m),
gust (maximum wind gust last 10 minutes, knots),
wx1int (first (most important) present weather intensity), wx1dsc (first (most important) present weather qualifier),
wx1wx1 (first (most important) present weather type), wx1wx2 (additional weather type for mixed precipitation),
wx1wx3 (additional weather type for mixed precipitation), wx2int (second (less important) present weather intensity),
wx2dsc (second (less important) present weather qualifier),
wx2wx1 (second (less important) present weather type),
wx2wx2 (additional weather type for mixed precipitation),
wx2wx3 (additional weather type for mixed precipitation),
cld1amt (lowest cloud layer amount), cld1typ (lowest cloud layer type), cld1typ (lowest cloud layer base, m),
cld2amt (second cloud layer amount),
cld1typ (second cloud layer type), cld1base (second cloud layer base, m),
cld3amt (third cloud layer amount), cld3typ (third cloud layer type), cld3base (lowest cloud layer base, m),
cld4amt (fourth cloud amount), cld4typ (fourth cloud layer type), cld4base (fourth cloud layer base, m),
ceil1amt (lowest cloud layer amount measured by ceilometer), ceil1base (lowest cloud layer base measured by ceilometer, m),
ceil2amt (second cloud layer amount measured by ceilometer), ceil2base (second cloud layer base measured by ceilometer, m),
ceil3amt (third cloud layer amount measured by ceilometer), ceil1base (third cloud layer base measured by ceilometer, m),
rotation (required for rotation of wind barbs in MapServer),
rh (relative humidity, %),
stn_name (full station name).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Information about dataParameter codes can be found at http://www.bom.gov.au/weather-services/about/IDY03100.doc
Latest Weather Observations data, per site, can be discovered either by (a) clicking the relevant site name, listed per State; or (b) clicking a site's name, on a State's map. Relevant urls, per state, are available below, under DISTRIBUTION.
The DISTRIBUTION url below, described as "Detailed Weather Observations data, per Site/Station (latest 72 hours)", is a downloadable file ( json or aixf ormat ) containing the above data parameters (where measured).
The DISTRIBUTION url below, described as "Weather Observations data, per Site/Station (latest 72 hours)", displays a subset of the above data (where measured) on a webpage, and provides a link to the detailed data in the downloadable file.
Surface weather observations (the latest) are also available (visualised) via Meteye. ( http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/meteye/ )
