NDACC Ames files contain a header which is used by the database catloging programs to properly place the file in the database tables. The header, originally modeled after the UARS database headers, is a set of fields strung together in a single line. This is the first line of an NDACC Ames file, and is immediately followed by the Ames header. Since the header information is used to catalog the file into the NDACC database, the header spacing is important. Pad all values with blank spaces to the right.
Header Structure
| Attribute | Format | Example | List/Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigator | 20 bytes | PI_SIRNAME I. | |
| Instrument | 12 bytes | FTIR | Instrument Values |
| Station | 12 bytes | REUNION ISL | |
| Species | 12 bytes | TOTALCOL | Species Values |
| Data start time * | 20 bytes as DD-MON-YEAR HH:MM:SS | 01-01-2001 00:00:00 | |
| Data stop time * | 20 bytes as DD-MON-YEAR HH:MM:SS | 01-31-2001 23:59:59 | |
| Quality Flag ** | 4 bytes | "0001" | Quality Flag |
* Note: For monthly files use the first and last day of the month for start and stop times. For yearly files use the first and last day of the year. For ozonesonde files containing data from one ozonesonde launch use data times.
Data Quality Flag Values
The flags consist of 4 digits attached to the end of the NDACC header line as follows:
| Flag 1 (1 digit): Data Status | |
|---|---|
| Value = 0 | Data is in its final form and will not change except for major reanalysis |
| Value = 1 | Data is preliminary; results may change; maybe missing ancillary data; maybe not reviewed for release by PI |
| Flag 2 (1 digit): Pointer to additional information | |
| Value = 0 | No additional comments or specific problems |
| Value = 1 | See notes in the comments section of the Ames file: Severity nominal |
| Value = 2 | See notes in the metafile: Severity nominal |
| Value = 3 | See notes in the comments section of the Ames file: Severity important |
| Value = 4 | See notes in the metafile: Severity important |
| Flag 3 (2 digits) | |
| Analysis version number | Example: 01, 02, 03.... 10, 11 Value is up to PI |
| Instrument | Species | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Header value | Filename abbrieviation | Header value | Filename abbrieviation |
| BKSONDE | AEROSOL | ||
| AEROSOL_BKS | |||
| BREWER | r | TOTALCOL | tc |
| DOBSON | d | TOTALCOL | tc |
| FTIR | f | TOTALCOL | tc |
| LIDAR | l | AEROSOL | ae |
| AEROSOL353 | a3 | ||
| AEROSOL355 | a4 | ||
| OZONE | o3 | ||
| TEMP | te | ||
| TGAS | tg | ||
| TGAS2 | t2 | ||
| TROPOZONE | to | ||
| WATERVAPOR | ho | ||
| MWAVE | m | CHLORINE | cl |
| CO | co | ||
| HNO3 | hn | ||
| N2O | n2 | ||
| OZONE | o3 | ||
| WATERVAPOR | ho | ||
| O3SONDE | OZONE | ||
| UV/SPECT | u | UV | uv |
| UV/VIS | v | TOTALCOL | tc |