***  Bufkit File Parameter Definitions  ***

        Compiled at Penn State - February 2, 2017

References:

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/tg/ftpncep.php
http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/gempak/man/parm/apxA.html
http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/gempak/man/parm/sfparm.html
http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/codes/nwprod/gfs.v13.0.4/parm/bufr_gfs3_class1.tbl
http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/codes/nwprod/nam.v3.1.25/parm/nam_bufr.tbl
http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/codes/nwprod/rap.v3.0.9/parm/rap_bufr.tbl
http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/gempak/man/prog/namsnd.html


Sounding parameters

STID - Station ID (alphanumeric)
STNM - 6-digit station Number
TIME - Valid time (UTC) in YYMMDD/HHMM numeric format
SLAT - Latitude (decimal degrees)
SLON - Longitude (decimal degrees)
SELV - Station elevation (m)
STIM - Forecast hour

SHOW - Showalter Index
LIFT - Lifted Index
SWET - SWET Index
KINX - K Index
LCLP - Pressure at the LCL (hPa)
PWAT - Precipitable water (mm)
TOTL - Total Totals Index
CAPE - CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy)
LCLT - Temperature at the LCL (K)
CINS - CINS (Convective Inhibition)
EQLV - Equilibrium level (hPa)
LFCT - Level of free convection (hPa)
BRCH - Bulk Richardson number

PRES - Pressure (hPa)
TMPC - Temperature (C)
TMWC - Wet bulb temperature (C)
DWPC - Dewpoint (C)
THTE - Equivalent potential temperature (K)
DRCT - Wind direction (degrees)
SKNT - Wind speed (knots)
OMEG - Vertical velocity (Pa/s)
CFRL - Fractional cloud coverage (percent)
HGHT - Height of pressure level (m)


Surface parameters (near end of file):

STN  - 6-digit station number
YYMMDD/HHMM - Valid time (UTC) in numeric format
PMSL - Mean sea level pressure (hPa)
PRES - Station pressure (hPa)
SKTC - Skin temperature (C)
STC1 - Layer 1 soil temperature (K)
SNFL - 1-hour accumulated snowfall (Kg/m**2)
WTNS - Soil moisture availability (percent)
P01M - 1-hour total precipitation (mm)
C01M - 1-hour convective precipitation (mm)
STC2 - Layer 2 soil temperature (K)
LCLD - Low cloud coverage (percent)
MCLD - Middle cloud coverage (percent)
HCLD - High cloud coverage (percent)
SNRA - Snow ratio from explicit cloud scheme (percent)
UWND - 10-meter U wind component (m/s)
VWND - 10-meter V wind component (m/s)
R01M - 1-hour accumulated surface runoff (mm)
BFGR - 1-hour accumulated baseflow-groundwater runoff (mm)
T2MS - 2-meter temperature (C)
Q2MS - 2-meter specific humidity
WXTS - Snow precipitation type (1=Snow)
WXTP - Ice pellets precipitation type (1=Ice pellets)
WXTZ - Freezing rain precipitation type (1=Freezing rain)
WXTR - Rain precipitation type (1=Rain)
USTM - U-component of storm motion (m/s)
VSTM - V-component of storm motion (m/s)
HLCY - Storm relative helicity (m**2/s**2)
SLLH - 1-hour surface evaporation (mm)
WSYM - Weather type symbol number
CDBP - Pressure at the base of cloud (hPa)
VSBK - Visibility (km)
TD2M - 2-meter dewpoint (C)