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ECMWF recommends using ecCodes to decode/encode BUFR data; the bufr_dump -E command can be used to generate python,fortran,c programs to encode sample BUFR reports.

synop2bufr converter ( based on legacy BUFRDC library) is also available and is maintained with the help of external contributors. Updates of the synop2bufr software will be announced in this page.

synop2bufr latest version 20-05-2014

Free download: synop2bufr_20140520.f

Changes in this version

contribution by Mr. Perisa Sunderic and Dr. Eva Cervena

Conversion of wind speed and maximum wind gust speed above 99 knots
Conversion of group 54g₀s_nd_T for temperature change 10 degrees and more.
Correct presentation of height of base of cloud when sky clear is reported.

synop2bufr previous versions

Free download: synop2bufr_20140402.f

Changes in this version contributed by Mr. Perisa Sunderic and Dr. Eva Cervena

Conversion of group 54g₀s_nd_T (temperature change)
Conversion of group 56D_LD_MD_H (direction of cloud drift)
Conversion of group 57CD_ae_C (direction and elevation of cloud)
Conversion of group 58p₂₄p₂₄p₂₄ (non-negative change of pressure over the past 24 hours)
Conversion of group 59p₂₄p₂₄p₂₄ (negative change of pressure over the past 24 hours)
Correct presentation of Height of the station and Height of barometer in BUFR messages, if H and/or HP are missing in WMO No.9, Volume A.

Free download: synop2bufr_20140217.f

Changes in this version contributed by Mr. Perisa Sunderic and Dr. Eva Cervena

Clouds with bases below station level reported in all groups of SYNOP section 4 are reflected in BUFR data.
Specification of vertical significance 0 08 002 within 3 02 036 has been refined.
Height of station above msl 0 07 030 is set to missing for stations that are defined in Volume A as aerodromes (A in the column REMARKS).
The regulation B/C 1.2.3 requires reporting 0 07 030 (Height of station ground above mean sea level) as defined in Note (3) under BUFR/CREX Table B, Class 07.
The program synop2bufr obtains the station metadata from Volume A, height of station ground above msl is taken from the column H/HA. Consequently, the altitude of the aerodrome HA has been reported for 0 07 030 instead of the required Height of station ground above msl in BUFR data from stations at aerodromes . And it is to noted that HA may be very different from the required 0 07 030, e.g. station 11518 has HA = 380 m, whereas 0 07 030 = 364.0 m.
0 07 030 is set to missing as a default value for aerodromes.
A list of aerodromes is hard coded in the converter and has to be updated as soon as changes are introduced in Volume A.