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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Automation of Field Operations and Services (AFOS) National Weather Service (NWS) Service Records and Retention System (SRRS) Data

NWS SRRS Data

Service Records and Retention System (SRRS) is historical digital data set DSI-9949, a collection of products created by the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) and archived at the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) [formerly National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)]. SRRS was a network of computers and associated hardware whose purpose was to transmit and store a large number of NWS products and make them available as needed. Basic meteorological and hydrological data, analyses, forecasts, and warnings are distributed among NWS offices over the AFOS (Automation of Field Operations and Services) communications system since 1978. These include PIREP (aircraft reports from pilots), AIRMET (aeronautical meteorological bulletins), SIGMET (significant meteorological information), surface and upper air plotted unanalyzed maps, air stagnation, precipitable water, Forecasts such as wind and temperature aloft, thickness and analysis, fire weather, area, local, zone, state, agricultural advisory, and terminal; and Warnings such as marine, severe weather, hurricane and tornado. The AFOS system was developed to increase the productivity and effectiveness of NWS personnel and to increase the timeliness and quality of their warning and forecasting services.

This format version of the SRRS data was archived at NCEI from 1983 to 2001 (when a new format was created). The NCEI can service requests for products from the SRRS; two types of products are available to the user: 1) graphic displays of meteorological analyses and forecast charts (limited), and 2) alphanumeric displays of narrative summaries and meteorological/hydrological data. The following is a partial list of historical SRRS products available through the NCDC: rawinsonde data above 100 MB; AIREPS buoy reports; coastal flood warning; Coast Guard surface report; climatological report (daily and misc, incl monthly reports); weather advisory Coastal Waters Forecast Center (CWSU); weather statement; 3- to 5-day extended forecast; average 6- to 10-day weather outlook (local and national); aviation area forecast winds aloft forecast; flash flood statements, watches and warnings; flood statement; flood warning forecast; medium range guidance; FOUS relative humidity/temperature guidance; FOUS prog max/min temp/POP guidance; FOUS wind/cloud guidance; Great Lakes forecast; hurricane local statement; high seas forecast; international aviation observations; local forecast; local storm report; rawinsonde observation - mandatory levels;, METAR formatted surface weather observation; marine weather statement; short term rorecast; non-precipitation warnings/watches/advisories; nearshore marine forecast (Great Lakes only), offshore aviation area forecast; offshore forecast; other marine products, other surface weather observations, pilot report plain language, ship report, state pilot report, collective recreational report; narrative radar summary radar observation; hydrology-meteorology data report; river summary; river forecast; miscellaneous river product; river recreation statement; ; regional weather summary; surface aviation observation; preliminary notice of watch and canc msg SVR; local storm watch and warning; cancelation msg SELS watch; point information message; state forecast discussion ; state forecast rawinsonde observation - significant levels; surface ship report at intermediate synoptic time; surface ship report at non-synoptic time; surface ship report at synoptic time; special weather statement international; SIGMET severe local storm watch and area outline; special marine warning; intermediate surface synoptic observation; main surface synoptic observation; severe thunderstorm warning; severe weather statement; severe storm outlook; narrative state weather summary; terminal forecast; tropical cyclone discussion; marine/aviation tropical cyclone advisory; public tropical cyclone advisory; tornado warning; transcribed weather broadcast; tropical weather discussion; tropical weather outlook and summary; AIRMET SIGMET zone forecast; terminal forecast (prior to 7/1/96); winter weather warnings, watches, advisories; marine advisory/warning; special marine warning; miscellaneous product convective SIGMET ; local ice forecast; area forecast discussion; public information statement. SRRS (DSI-9949) by the Gateway SRRS (DSI-9957; C00583). NWS products after 2001 can be obtained from those systems, from NCEI.
  • Cite as: National Weather Service, (date): [Specific record or report]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, [data accessed].
  • NCEI DSI 9949_01
  • gov.noaa.ncdc:C00035
gov.noaa.ncdc:C00035
Download Data
Order Data
  • NCEI Customer Engagement (order)
    All categories of SRRS data are available through NCEI. To order NCEI products and services contact the customer support team.
Distribution Formats
  • XML
  • Varous
  • Paper
  • PDF
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact Customer Engagement Branch
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
1-828-271-4800
ncei.orders@noaa.gov
Time Period 1983-05-31 to 2001-08-05
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: 134.0
East: -64.0
South: -15.0
North: 72.0
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
    No administrative dates available
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Data Update Frequency Not planned
Purpose To make a wide range of climatic data available to researchers, government agencies and to the public. SRRS reports can be certified for use in investigations and/or litigations.
Use Limitations
  • In 2001 SRRS (DSI-9949) was succeeded by the Gateway SRRS (DSI-9957; C00583). NWS products after 2001 can be obtained from that system, from NCEI.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: National Weather Service, (date): [Specific record or report]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, [data accessed].
Cited Authors
  • DOC/NOAA/NWS > National Weather Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Originators
  • DOC/NOAA/NWS > National Weather Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publishers
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Smog
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Tropospheric Ozone
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Visibility
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Altitude > Geopotential Height
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Oxygen Compounds > Ozone
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Electricity > Lightning
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Weather Events > Tropical Cyclones
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Weather Events > Drought
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Weather Events > Fog
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Weather Events > Freeze/Frost
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Phenomena > Frost
  • Earth Science > Human Dimensions > Natural Hazards > Tropical Cyclones > Hurricanes
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Weather Events > Lightning
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Weather Events > Rain Storms
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Weather Events > Tornados
  • Earth Science > Human Dimensions > Natural Hazards > Tropical Cyclones > Typhoons
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Anticyclones/Cyclones
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Atmospheric Pressure Measurements
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Pressure Tendency
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Pressure Thickness
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Sea Level Pressure
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Surface Pressure
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Sunshine
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Air Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Atmospheric Stabilit
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Maximum/Minimum Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Temperature Tendency
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Dew Point
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Processes > Evaporation
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Humidity
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Tendency
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Dynamics > Convection
  • Earth Science > Ocean > Ocean Winds > Convergence/Divergence
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Surface Winds
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Dynamics > Turbulence
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Upper Level Winds
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Dynamics > Vertical Wind Velocity/Speed
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Dynamics > Vorticity
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Atmospheric Temperature Indices > Wind Chill Index
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Dynamics > Wind Shear
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Tendency
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Frequency
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Ceiling
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Height
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Types
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Vertical Distribution
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Liquid Precipitation > Rain > Freezing Rain
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Solid Precipitation > Hail
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Amount
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Rate
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Liquid Precipitation > Rain
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Solid Precipitation > Ice Pellets > Sleet
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Solid Precipitation > Snow
  • Earth Science > Cryosphere > Snow/Ice
  • Earth Science > Human Dimensions > Natural Hazards > Hydrological Hazards
  • Earth Science > Human Dimensions > Natural Hazards > Meteorological Hazards
  • Earth Science > Hydrosphere > Snow/Ice
  • Earth Science > Hydrosphere > Surface Water > Floods
  • Earth Science > Hydrosphere > Surface Water > Rivers/Streams
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Waves > Wave Height
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Waves > Wind Waves
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Winds > Surface Winds
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Tides > Storm Surge
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Tides > Tidal Height
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Agricultural Advisories > Crop Forecast
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Agricultural Advisories > Drought Forecast
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Agricultural Advisories
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Fire Advisories > Prescribed Burns
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Fire Advisories > Wildfires
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Fire Advisories
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Hydrological Advisories > Avalanche Forecasts
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Hydrological Advisories > Drought
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Hydrological Advisories > Floods
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Marine Advisories > Marine Weather/Forecast
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Marine Advisories > Sea Ice
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Marine Advisories > Tides
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Marine Advisories > Tsunamis
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Weather/Climate Advisories > Air Quality
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Weather/Climate Advisories > Climate Advisories
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Weather/Climate Advisories > Dust/Ash Advisories
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Weather/Climate Advisories > Frost/Freeze Warning
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Weather/Climate Advisories > Heat Advisory
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Weather/Climate Advisories > Present Weather
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Weather/Climate Advisories > Severe Weather
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Weather/Climate Advisories > Uv Radiation
  • Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Weather/Climate Advisories > Weather Forecast
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NWS > National Weather Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Platform keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
  • ASOS > Automated Surface Observing System
  • AWOS > Automated Weather Observing System
  • Meteorological Stations
  • Buoys
Instrument keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
  • AWS > Automated Weather System
Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Continent > North America > United States Of America
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands
  • Ocean > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > American Samoa
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Micronesia > Marshall Islands
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Micronesia
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Micronesia > Palau
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Micronesia > Guam
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Wake Island
Stratum keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Vertical Location > Stratosphere
  • Vertical Location > Troposphere
  • Vertical Location > Land Surface
  • Vertical Location > Sea Surface
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: National Weather Service, (date): [Specific record or report]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, [data accessed].
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Lineage Statement The SRRS (Service Records Retention System) was developed to store NWS meteorological and hydrological data, analyses, forecasts, and warnings. Starting with July 1, 1983, all of these items from the Automated Field Operations and Services (AFOS) traffic for a single day were stored on one 3480 cartridge tape (00002359 GMT) by the System Monitoring and Coordination Center, Washington, D.C.. NWS sent a daily copy of the tape to the NCDC (National Climatic Data Center) for retention as DSI-9949. The tape contains a header file as tape file 1 and a data file as tape file 2. Both the header and data are in binary format and must be read unformatted even though there are some character (ASCII) data mixed in the data record. These 2 files are loaded onto disk, merged into a single file, and archived.
Processing Steps
  • Text-based data are parsed by FORTRAN code into highly requested datasets. Not all products within the data file can be easily parsed for access. Contact Customer Service for more information.
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • AWS > AUTOMATED WEATHER SYSTEM
  • ANEMOMETERS
  • ALTIMETERS
  • BAROMETERS
  • DROPSONDES
  • DROPWINDSONDES
  • DRY BULB THERMOMETERS
  • HUMIDITY SENSORS
  • HYGROMETERS
  • PRESSURE SENSORS
  • RADIOSONDES
  • RAIN GAUGES
  • RAWINSONDES
  • ROCKETSONDES
  • SOUNDERS
  • SUNSHINE RECORDERS
  • TEMPERATURE SENSORS
  • THERMOMETERS
  • TIDE GAUGES
  • UV OZONE DETECTORS > ULTRAVIOLET OZONE DETECTORS
  • OZONEMETERS
  • VISUAL OBSERVATIONS
  • STREAM GAUGES
  • WATER LEVEL GAUGES
  • WET BULB THERMOMETERS
  • WIND PROFILERS
  • WIND VANES
Platform
  • National Weather Service
Last Modified: 2023-06-23
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov