Standard Code Format
and ISES Station Group Numbers - Uxxxx

When a new code is proposed, Boulder and the RWC which proposed the code will work together to design the format. When the format is worked out it will be distributed to all Members for suggestions. After all the ideas are considered a final format will again be distributed to the Members along with the date it will be implemented. New codes will always be implemented on either April 1 or October 1.
ISES codes are built from this standard format.

First Line-

  • Uxxxx comes from xxxx

  • I I I I I = station indicator

  • Y = last digit of year
  • MM = month of year, 01 = January, 02 = February, etc.
  • DD = UT day of month

  • HHmm = UT in hour and minute
  • t = time qualifier

This 5-digit group is optional and may be omitted-

  • qqq data information qualifiers (if not necessary use / / /)
  • nn = checksum, for example it could be the number of 5-digit groups, events, or lines of data that follow prior to the 99999 line
  • MM = month of year, 01 = January, 02 = February, etc.
  • DD = UT day of month

Second and following lines contain data in five-digit groups and have fixed format-

Listed below are letters which are always defined in a certain way in the codes-

  • HHT = UT time in hours and tenths of hours
  • JJ = last day (UT) of a defined period
  • Coded location of regions, etc.
  • Q = quadrant (heliographic coordinates) of the region
    • 1 = NE (northeast)
    • 2 = SE (southeast)
    • 3 = SW (southwest)
    • 4 = NW (northwest)
  • XX = distance to central meridian in degrees
  • YY= heliographic latitude in degrees
  • AAAA = sunspot area in millionths of solar hemisphere
  • OR
  • AAA = sunspot area in millionths of solar hemisphere
  • ab = flux, etc. where ab = a.b
  • pp = Power of ten to apply to a.b

Last Data Line-

  • 99999 = end of data terminator - indicates that all coded data has been received

  • PLAIN = Plain language text information

  • BT = Break in transmission (end of message terminator)

Note: / is to be used for data not available.

ISES Station Group Numbers

ISES Station numbers (I I I I I) are assigned by the ISES Secretariat using the following guidelines:

The indicator group "I I I I I" is assigned as follows in order "abcde."

  • a = octant of the world
    • 1 = 0 - 100_ west, northern hemisphere
    • 2 = 100 - 180_ west, northern hemisphere
    • 3 = 0 - 100_ east, northern hemisphere
    • 4 = 100 - 180_ east, northern hemisphere
    • 5 = 0 - 100_ west, southern hemisphere
    • 6 = 100 - 180_ west, southern hemisphere
    • 7 = 0 - 100_ east, southern hemisphere
    • 8 = 100 - 180_ east, southern hemisphere
  • b = tens position of longitude
  • if a = 1, 3, 5, or 7
    • 0 = 0 - 5_ 5 = 46 - 55_
    • 1 = 6 - 15_ 6 = 56 - 65_
    • 2 = 16 - 25_ 7 = 66 - 75_
    • 3 = 26 - 35_ 8 = 76 - 85_
    • 4 = 36 - 45_ 9 = 86 - 99_
  • if a = 2, 4, 6, or
    • 0 = 100 - 105_ 5 = 146 - 155_
    • 1 = 106 - 115_ 6 = 156 - 165_
    • 2 = 116 - 125_ 7 = 166 - 175_
    • 3 = 126 - 135_ 8 = 176 - 185_
    • 4 = 136 - 145_ 9 = 186 - 199_
  • c = tens position of latitude
    • 0 = 0 - 5_ 5 = 46 - 55_
    • 1 = 6 - 15_ 6 = 56 - 65_
    • 2 = 16 - 25_ 7 = 66 - 75_
    • 3 = 26 - 35_ 8 = 76 - 85_
    • 4 = 36 - 45_ 9 = 86 - 90_
  • dd = station number within position "abc" (arbitrarily assigned by ISES)

For example: Boulder, Colo. NOAA N40 W105 becomes 20401
Boulder, Colo. University of Colo. N40 W105 becomes 20402