The data elements listed below are the current set of elements known to CDBS. New elements can be added at any time by introducing a new, unique 4- or 5-character element into the database.
These element codes are used in the netCDF variable names and variable attributes to indicate which type of data is being stored in the variable. The entry in the description column is used as the variable attribute "element," the units abbreviation in the std_units column is used as the variable attribute "units," and the number in the data_prec column (giving the default precision of data collected for that element) is used in the variable attribute "decimal_places."
Note that all of the elements that use units of feet are expected to store data in 'feet above Mean Sea Level'. For example, if a stream gage at an elevation of 1250 feet reports a stream depth of 8.5 feet, the database will store the stream stage as 1258.5 feet.
| Code | Description | std_units | data prec |
|---|---|---|---|
| altp | altimeter setting | inHg | 2 |
| clht | ceiling height | feet | 0 |
| cold | cold degree-days (below 32 F threshold) | degF-day | 0 |
| cool | cooling degree-days (above 65 F threshold) | degF-day | 0 |
| dptp | dew point temperature | degF | 0 |
| drad | direct solar radiation | langley | 1 |
| et | evapotranspiration | inch | 2 |
| evap | evaporation | inch | 2 |
| fmrh | fuel internal relative humidity | percent | 2 |
| fmtmp | fuel internal temperature | degF | 0 |
| fuel | fuel moisture | percent | 2 |
| gddy | growing degree days (thresh. varies by crop - default = 40F) | degF-day | 0 |
| grad | global solar radiation | langley | 0 |
| heat | heating degree-days (below 65 F) | degF-day | 0 |
| hzvs | horizontal visibility | mile | 0 |
| mnpn | minimum temperature of water in an evaporation pan | degF | 0 |
| mxpn | maximum temperature of water in an evaporation pan | degF | 0 |
| pavgd | precipitation divided by days with precipitation | inch | 2 |
| pdy | days with precipitation | day | 0 |
| ptdy | days with precipitation over threshold (default = 0.1") | day | 0 |
| pmaxd | maximum precipitation in a day | inch | 2 |
| prcp | precipitation - incremental | inch | 2 |
| prec | precipitation - cumulative | inch | 2 |
| pres | barometric pressure | inHg | 2 |
| pwth | present weather | (numeric code) | 0 |
| resc | reservoir content | acre_feet | 0 |
| rest | reservoir stage or elevation | feet | 1 |
| rhum | relative humidity | percent | 2 |
| scdn | snow density | percent | 2 |
| sddy | days with snow on ground | day | 0 |
| sdtdy | days with snow on ground over threshold (default = 1") | day | 0 |
| sfdy | days with snowfall | day | 0 |
| sftdy | days with snowfall over threshold (default = 1") | day | 0 |
| slvp | barometric pressure, corrected to sea level | millibar | 1 |
| smn | soil moisture, minimum | bar | 3 |
| smoc | soil moisture, observed | bar | 3 |
| smv | soil moisture, average | bar | 3 |
| smxc | soil moisture, maximum | bar | 3 |
| snow | incremental snowfall (includes sleet) | inch | 1 |
| snwd | snow depth | inch | 0 |
| soi | southern oscillation index | (pressure index) | 1 |
| spct | sensit particle counter | lb | 0 |
| srmn | stream stage (gauge height), minimum | feet | 1 |
| srmo | stream stage(gauge height), observed | feet | 1 |
| srmv | stream stage (gauge height), average | feet | 1 |
| srmx | stream stage (gauge height), maximum | feet | 1 |
| stn | soil temp, minimum | degF | 0 |
| sto | soil temp, observed | degF | 0 |
| stv | soil temp, average | degF | 0 |
| stx | soil temp, maximum | degF | 0 |
| strm | stream flow, observed | ft3/sec | 1 |
| strn | stream flow, minimum | ft3/sec | 1 |
| strv | stream flow, average | ft3/sec | 1 |
| strx | stream flow, maximum | ft3/sec | 1 |
| sun | sunshine | hour | 0 |
| tavg | temperature average | degF | 0 |
| tgsi | temperature, ground-snow interface | degF | 0 |
| tmax | temperature, maximum | degF | 0 |
| tmin | temperature, minimum | degF | 0 |
| tobs | temperature, observed | degF | 0 |
| tmpd | dry-bulb temperature | degF | 0 |
| tmpw | wet-bulb temperature | degF | 0 |
| trad | terrestrial radiation | langley | 1 |
| tskc | total opaque sky cover | percent | 0 |
| wdir | wind direction | degree | 0 |
| wdmv | wind movement / wind run | mile | 0 |
| well | well depth | foot | 1 |
| wspd | wind speed | mile/hour | 0 |
| wteq | snow water equivalent | inch | 1 |