Abbreviated heading

The abbreviated heading is omitted for products in GRIB code.

Information concerning the verifying time, parameter, level, etc. is available at fixed locations within the binary representation form in sufficient details to identify the messages.

For products in GRID code the abbreviated headings used have a logically identical format to that specified in the WMO Manual on the GTS:

<CR> <CR> <LF> T1T2A1A2ii <SP> CCCC <SP> YYGGgg

where:

• T1 H indicates height
• E indicates temperature
• D indicates wind
• V indicates vertical velocity
• K indicates relative humidity
• Q indicates humidity mixing ratio
• X indicates surface or special products
•  
• T2 indicates how values of A1 and A2 are to be interpreted
• (see tables 2.1 and 2.2)
•  
• A1 indicates the grid system used (see table 2.1)
•  
• A2 indicates the verifying time (see table 2.2)
•  
• ii indicates the level (see table 2.3)
•  
• CCCC is the ECMWF designator, ECMF
•  
• YYGGgg is the standard date-time group; note that it always indicates the time of the initial data for the operational forecast
•  

Table 2.1 Designation of grid system

Table 2.2 Designation of verifying time

Note: The A2 designator is used to modify the YYGGgg date-time for analysis which precede the operational forecast.

Table 2.3 Designation of level, surface parameters and filtered products