Stream Gage Station Data

This file describes the steps and programs involved in processing stream gage station data.

Unless otherwise noted:

source code and makefiles are in /nfs/meter/home/cherkaue/source/strmgage
executables are in /nfs/meter/home/cherkaue/bin/sun4

File Contents

PreProcessing Format Conversions
Data Processing Programs
Utility Programs
Data Formats

PREPROCESSING FORMAT CONVERSIONS:

PROCESSING STREAM GAGE STATION DATA

DATA FORMATS

USGS ASCII Daily Values (ADV) Format:

Contents of an ASCII daily values (ADV) file
Version 1.0
1 Sep 92

Each file contains the daily values of streamflow in cubic feet per second (CFS) for one station.

The filename is nnnnnnnn.ADV where nnnnnnnn is the station number.

There are 31 records for each water year - one record for each day (1 through 31) of the month. Each record contains the 12 values corresponding to that day in each of the months (October through September) of the water year. Printing the 31 records for a single water year (wwww) in order of day-of-month would produce a table appearing as:

nnnnnnnn wwww 1 Q_Oct_1 Q_Nov_1 Q_Dec_1 Q_Jan_1 ... Q_Sep_1

nnnnnnnn wwww 2 Q_Oct_2 Q_Nov_2 Q_Dec_2 Q_Jan_2 ... Q_Sep_2

nnnnnnnn wwww 3 Q_Oct_3 Q_Nov_3 Q_Dec_3 Q_Jan_3 ... Q_Sep_3

... ... ... ... ... ...

nnnnnnnn wwww 29 Q_Oct29 Q_Nov29 Q_Dec29 Q_Jan29 ... Q_Sep29

nnnnnnnn wwww 30 Q_Oct30 Q_Nov30 Q_Dec30 Q_Jan30 ... Q_Sep30

nnnnnnnn wwww 31 Q_Oct31 Q_Dec31 Q_Jan31 ...

nnnnnnnn	wwww	1	Q_Oct_1	Q_Nov_1	Q_Dec_1	Q_Jan_1	...	Q_Sep_1
nnnnnnnn	wwww	2	Q_Oct_2	Q_Nov_2	Q_Dec_2	Q_Jan_2	...	Q_Sep_2
nnnnnnnn	wwww	3	Q_Oct_3	Q_Nov_3	Q_Dec_3	Q_Jan_3	...	Q_Sep_3
			...	...	...	...	...	...
nnnnnnnn	wwww	29	Q_Oct29	Q_Nov29	Q_Dec29	Q_Jan29	...	Q_Sep29
nnnnnnnn	wwww	30	Q_Oct30	Q_Nov30	Q_Dec30	Q_Jan30	...	Q_Sep30
nnnnnnnn	wwww	31	Q_Oct31			Q_Dec31	Q_Jan31	...

where nnnnnnnn is the station number.

The file is sorted on water year (columns 10-13) and

Columns Format Contents

1-8 I8 Station number - the 8 digit station number uniquely identifying the station.

9 1X Blank.

10-13 I4 Water year. A water year starts in October of the calendar year one year less than the water year and ends in September of the calendar year the same as the water year. For example, water year 1980 covers the period October 1, 1979 through September 30, 1980.

14 1X Blank.

15-16 I2 Day-of-month - the number of the day in the month for which a value is supplied for each month of the water year.

17-24 F8.x October - Streamflow in CFS for the day in October given by day-of-month.

25-32 F8.x November - Streamflow in CFS for the day in November given by day-of-month.

33-40 F8.x December - Streamflow in CFS for the day in December given by day-of-month.

41-48 F8.x January - Streamflow in CFS for the day in January given by day-of-month.

49-56 F8.x February - Streamflow in CFS for the day in February given by day-of-month.

57-64 F8.x March - Streamflow in CFS for the day in March given by day- of-month.

65-72 F8.x April - Streamflow in CFS for the day in April given by day- of-month. month.

81-88 F8.x June - Streamflow in CFS for the day in June given by day-of- month.

89-96 F8.x July - Streamflow in CFS for the day in July given by day-of- month.

97-104 F8.x August - Streamflow in CFS for the day in August given by day- of-month.

105-112 F8.x September - Streamflow in CFS for the day in September given by day-of-month.

Columns	Format	Contents
1-8	I8	Station number - the 8 digit station number uniquely identifying the station.
9	1X	Blank.
10-13	I4	Water year. A water year starts in October of the calendar year one year less than the water year and ends in September of the calendar year the same as the water year. For example, water year 1980 covers the period October 1, 1979 through September 30, 1980.
14	1X	Blank.
15-16	I2	Day-of-month - the number of the day in the month for which a value is supplied for each month of the water year.
17-24	F8.x	October - Streamflow in CFS for the day in October given by day-of-month.
25-32	F8.x	November - Streamflow in CFS for the day in November given by day-of-month.
33-40	F8.x	December - Streamflow in CFS for the day in December given by day-of-month.
41-48	F8.x	January - Streamflow in CFS for the day in January given by day-of-month.
49-56	F8.x	February - Streamflow in CFS for the day in February given by day-of-month.
57-64	F8.x	March - Streamflow in CFS for the day in March given by day- of-month.
65-72	F8.x	April - Streamflow in CFS for the day in April given by day- of-month. month.
81-88	F8.x	June - Streamflow in CFS for the day in June given by day-of- month.
89-96	F8.x	July - Streamflow in CFS for the day in July given by day-of- month.
97-104	F8.x	August - Streamflow in CFS for the day in August given by day- of-month.
105-112	F8.x	September - Streamflow in CFS for the day in September given by day-of-month.

Note: The number of decimal places for the streamflow values is variable depending on the magnitude of the streamflow. The field is always eight columns wide. The value is given to two decimal places for flow less than 1 CFS, one decimal place for flow of 1 CFS or greater but less than 10 CFS, and no decimal places for flow of 10 CFS or greater. There is a decimal point only if there are decimal places. The field for a non-existent day - for example, November 31 or September 31 - is blank.

Conversion factor:
Multiply cubic feet per second (CFS) by 0.02832 to obtain cubic meters per second.

Format Descriptions:

In an integer field n columns wide.

F8.x a real (float) field 8 columns wide.

1X a single blank column.

In	an integer field n columns wide.
F8.x	a real (float) field 8 columns wide.
1X	a single blank column.

Wallis, Lettenmaier, and Wood Daily Values Format:

Naming convention for these files is [q/x]nnnnnn.dat. Where nnnnnn represents the first 6 digits of the station number. A leading q indicates that the file was complete, and no processing has been done. An x indicates that data was missing from the original file, so processing was needed to make the file complete.

This data is in the form of monthly records:

? nnnnnnnn wwww MM 1 _Day_1_ _Day_2_ _Day_3_ _Day_4_ _Day_5_ _Day_6_ _Day_7_ _Day_8_

? nnnnnnnn wwww MM 2 _Day_9_ _Day_10_ _Day_11_ _Day_12_ _Day_13_ _Day_14_ _Day_15_ _Day_16_

? nnnnnnnn wwww MM 3 _Day_17_ _Day_18_ _Day_19_ _Day_20_ _Day_21_ _Day_22_ _Day_23_ _Day_24_

? nnnnnnnn wwww MM 4 _Day_25_ _Day_26_ _Day_27_ _Day_28_ _Day_29_ _Day_30_ _Day_31_

?	nnnnnnnn	wwww	MM	1	_Day_1_	_Day_2_	_Day_3_	_Day_4_	_Day_5_	_Day_6_	_Day_7_	_Day_8_
?	nnnnnnnn	wwww	MM	2	_Day_9_	_Day_10_	_Day_11_	_Day_12_	_Day_13_	_Day_14_	_Day_15_	_Day_16_
?	nnnnnnnn	wwww	MM	3	_Day_17_	_Day_18_	_Day_19_	_Day_20_	_Day_21_	_Day_22_	_Day_23_	_Day_24_
?	nnnnnnnn	wwww	MM	4	_Day_25_	_Day_26_	_Day_27_	_Day_28_	_Day_29_	_Day_30_	_Day_31_

Where nnnnnnnn is the station number, wwww is the water year, MM is the month of the water year, and _Day_#_ is the gage value for that day of the month. Data is written in 8 day weeks, indicated by the number after the month. The fourth week has been padded with the value 999999, so that each month will contain data for 31 days.

Each line is in the following format:

Columns Format Contents

1-2 A2 ignore

3-10 I8 Station number - the 8 digit station number uniquely identifying the station.

11-20 I4 Water year. A water year starts in October of the calendar year one year less than the water year and ends in September of the calendar year the same as the water year. For example, water year 1980 covers th e period October 1, 1979 through September 30, 1980.

21-22 I2 Month of the water year.

23-24 I2 Week Number. Each month is diveded into 4, 8 day weeks.

25-31 F7.x Streamflow in CFS for first day of the week

25-31 F7.x Streamflow in CFS for second day of the week

25-31 F7.x Streamflow in CFS for third day of the week

25-31 F7.x Streamflow in CFS for fourth day of the week

25-31 F7.x Streamflow in CFS for fifth day of the week

25-31 F7.x Streamflow in CFS for sixth day of the week

25-31 F7.x Streamflow in CFS for seventh day of the week

25-31 F7.x Streamflow in CFS for eigth day of the week, not present for 4th week.

Columns	Format	Contents
1-2	A2	ignore
3-10	I8	Station number - the 8 digit station number uniquely identifying the station.
11-20	I4	Water year. A water year starts in October of the calendar year one year less than the water year and ends in September of the calendar year the same as the water year. For example, water year 1980 covers th e period October 1, 1979 through September 30, 1980.
21-22	I2	Month of the water year.
23-24	I2	Week Number. Each month is diveded into 4, 8 day weeks.
25-31	F7.x	Streamflow in CFS for first day of the week
25-31	F7.x	Streamflow in CFS for second day of the week
25-31	F7.x	Streamflow in CFS for third day of the week
25-31	F7.x	Streamflow in CFS for fourth day of the week
25-31	F7.x	Streamflow in CFS for fifth day of the week
25-31	F7.x	Streamflow in CFS for sixth day of the week
25-31	F7.x	Streamflow in CFS for seventh day of the week
25-31	F7.x	Streamflow in CFS for eigth day of the week, not present for 4th week.

Conversion factor:
Multiply cubic feet per second (CFS) by 0.02832 to obtain cubic meters per second.

Format Descriptions:

In an integer field n columns wide.

F7.x a real (float) field 8 columns wide.

An a character field n columns wide.

In	an integer field n columns wide.
F7.x	a real (float) field 8 columns wide.
An	a character field n columns wide.

For a detailed description of this format, and the processing involved with this data set, please check the paper:

Wallis, J.R., D.P. Lettenmaier, and E.F. Wood, A daily hydroclimatological data set for the continental United States, Water Resour. Res., 1657-1633, 1991

Basin File Format:

Contents of the BASINS.DAT file
Version 1.0
1 Sep 92

For each of the variables (except station number), a value of -99.00 indicates a missing value.

There is one record (line) for each station.

The file is sorted on station number (column 1-8).

Columns Format Contents

1-8 I8 Station number - the 8 digit station number uniquely identifying the station.

9-17 F9.2 Slope - Main channel slope, in feet per mile, measured at points 10- and 85-percent of stream length upstream from gage.

18-26 F9.2 Length - Stream length, in miles, measured along channel from gage to basin divide.

27-35 F9.2 Elevation - Mean basin elevation, in feet above mean sea level, measured from topographic maps by transparent grid sampling method (20 to 80 points in basin were sampled).

36-44 F9.2 Percent storage - Area of lakes, ponds, and swamps in percent of contributing drainage area, measured by the grid sampling method.

45-53 F9.2 Percent lake area - Area of lakes and ponds, in percent of contributing drainage area, measured by the grid sampling method.

54-62 F9.2 Percent forest - Forested area, in percent of contributing drainage area, measured by the grid sampling method. The resolution and scale of the underlying maps varied widely.

63-71 F9.2 Percent glacier - Area of glaciers, in percent of contributing drainage area.

72-80 F9.2 Soil inf. - Soil index, in inches, a relative measure of potential infiltration (soil water storage), from Soil Conservation Service. The soil index was determined from maps that were necessarily highly generalized and may be relatively coarse in resolution when applied to small drainage areas.

81-89 F9.2 Precip. - Mean annual precipitation, in inches, from U.S. Weather Bureau series, "Climates of States", 1959-61: grid sampling methods used if isohyetal map is available, otherwise anomaly map constructed (WSP 1580-D, 1964).

90-98 F9.2 I24,2 - Precipitation intensity; 24-hour rainfall, in inches, expected on the average of one each 2 years. (Estimated from U.S. Weather Bureau Technical Paper 40 (1961) except for western States where NOAA Atlas 2 exists).

99-107 F9.2 Jan. min. - Mean minimum January temperature, in degrees F, from U.S. Weather Bureau series, "Climates of States", 1959-61.

Columns	Format	Contents
1-8	I8	Station number - the 8 digit station number uniquely identifying the station.
9-17	F9.2	Slope - Main channel slope, in feet per mile, measured at points 10- and 85-percent of stream length upstream from gage.
18-26	F9.2	Length - Stream length, in miles, measured along channel from gage to basin divide.
27-35	F9.2	Elevation - Mean basin elevation, in feet above mean sea level, measured from topographic maps by transparent grid sampling method (20 to 80 points in basin were sampled).
36-44	F9.2	Percent storage - Area of lakes, ponds, and swamps in percent of contributing drainage area, measured by the grid sampling method.
45-53	F9.2	Percent lake area - Area of lakes and ponds, in percent of contributing drainage area, measured by the grid sampling method.
54-62	F9.2	Percent forest - Forested area, in percent of contributing drainage area, measured by the grid sampling method. The resolution and scale of the underlying maps varied widely.
63-71	F9.2	Percent glacier - Area of glaciers, in percent of contributing drainage area.
72-80	F9.2	Soil inf. - Soil index, in inches, a relative measure of potential infiltration (soil water storage), from Soil Conservation Service. The soil index was determined from maps that were necessarily highly generalized and may be relatively coarse in resolution when applied to small drainage areas.
81-89	F9.2	Precip. - Mean annual precipitation, in inches, from U.S. Weather Bureau series, "Climates of States", 1959-61: grid sampling methods used if isohyetal map is available, otherwise anomaly map constructed (WSP 1580-D, 1964).
90-98	F9.2	I24,2 - Precipitation intensity; 24-hour rainfall, in inches, expected on the average of one each 2 years. (Estimated from U.S. Weather Bureau Technical Paper 40 (1961) except for western States where NOAA Atlas 2 exists).
99-107	F9.2	Jan. min. - Mean minimum January temperature, in degrees F, from U.S. Weather Bureau series, "Climates of States", 1959-61.

Conversion factors:
Multiply inches by 25.4 to obtain millimeters.
Multiply feet by 0.3048 to obtain meters.
Multiply miles by 1.609 to obtain kilometers.
Multiply feet per mile by 0.1894 to obtain meters per kilometer.
Temperature degrees C = (degrees F -32)/ 1.8.

Format Descriptions:

I8 an integer field 8 columns wide.

F9.2 a real (float) field 9 columns wide with 2 places to the right of the decimal point.

I8	an integer field 8 columns wide.
F9.2	a real (float) field 9 columns wide with 2 places to the right of the decimal point.

Gaging Stations Data Format

Contents of the STATIONS.DAT file
Version 1.1
17 Sep 92

There is one record (line) for each station.

The file is sorted on station number (columns 1-8).

Columns Format Contents

1-8 I8 Station number - the 8 digit station number uniquely identifying the station.

9 1X Blank.

10-57 A48 Station name - the 48 character name of the station.

58 1X Blank.

59-66 I8 Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC). The first two digits of the HUC specify the Water Resources Council region.

67 1X Blank.

68-75 F8.0 Drainage area in square miles.

76 1X Blank.

77 A1 Time Scale - a one character code which indicates the shortest time scale at which the data is suitable for use in climatic analysis.

D - Values at any time scale are suitable.
M - Only monthly or longer term values are suitable.
N - No data is suitable.

78 A1 Portion of record - a one character code which indicates whether the entire gaged record, or only a subset of it, is suitable for use in climatic analysis. No record after WY1988 has been examined for inclusion in the HCDN. The WYEARS.DAT file shows the water years for which data is suitable.

E - The entire period of record, but not after WY1988, is suitable.
P - Only part of the gaged record is suitable.
N - No data is suitable.

79 1X Blank.

80-81 I2 Number of lines of comments for this station in the COMMENTS.DAT file. This count does not include the initial line giving the station name.

82 1X Blank.

83-84 A2 District - the two character abbreviation of the USGS Water Resources Division District which services the gaging station.

85 1X Blank.

86-87 A2 State - the two character abbreviation of the state in which the gaging station is located.

88 1X Blank.

89-91 I3 County - the code number of the county in which the gaging station is located. See Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUBS) 6-3 for a list of these codes.

92 1X Blank.

93-98 I6 Latitude of the gaging station in the form DDMMSS where D is degrees, M is minutes, and S is seconds.

99 A1 Hemisphere of the latitude - N for Northern and S for Southern.

100 1X Blank.

101-107 I7 Longitude of the gaging station in the form DDDMMSS.

108 A1 Hemisphere of the longitude - W for Western and E for Eastern.

109-116 F8.2 Datum - the elevation of the gaging station in feet above the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929. A value of -99.00 indicates a missing value.

117-120 I4 Non-contributing drainage area in percent of drainage area.

121 1X Blank.

122 A1 Benchmark indicator - B if the station is a Benchmark station, blank otherwise.

123 A1 Current Conditions indicator - C if the station is a Current Conditions station, blank otherwise.

Columns	Format	Contents
1-8	I8	Station number - the 8 digit station number uniquely identifying the station.
9	1X	Blank.
10-57	A48	Station name - the 48 character name of the station.
58	1X	Blank.
59-66	I8	Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC). The first two digits of the HUC specify the Water Resources Council region.
67	1X	Blank.
68-75	F8.0	Drainage area in square miles.
76	1X	Blank.
77	A1	Time Scale - a one character code which indicates the shortest time scale at which the data is suitable for use in climatic analysis. D - Values at any time scale are suitable. M - Only monthly or longer term values are suitable. N - No data is suitable.
78	A1	Portion of record - a one character code which indicates whether the entire gaged record, or only a subset of it, is suitable for use in climatic analysis. No record after WY1988 has been examined for inclusion in the HCDN. The WYEARS.DAT file shows the water years for which data is suitable. E - The entire period of record, but not after WY1988, is suitable. P - Only part of the gaged record is suitable. N - No data is suitable.
79	1X	Blank.
80-81	I2	Number of lines of comments for this station in the COMMENTS.DAT file. This count does not include the initial line giving the station name.
82	1X	Blank.
83-84	A2	District - the two character abbreviation of the USGS Water Resources Division District which services the gaging station.
85	1X	Blank.
86-87	A2	State - the two character abbreviation of the state in which the gaging station is located.
88	1X	Blank.
89-91	I3	County - the code number of the county in which the gaging station is located. See Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUBS) 6-3 for a list of these codes.
92	1X	Blank.
93-98	I6	Latitude of the gaging station in the form DDMMSS where D is degrees, M is minutes, and S is seconds.
99	A1	Hemisphere of the latitude - N for Northern and S for Southern.
100	1X	Blank.
101-107	I7	Longitude of the gaging station in the form DDDMMSS.
108	A1	Hemisphere of the longitude - W for Western and E for Eastern.
109-116	F8.2	Datum - the elevation of the gaging station in feet above the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929. A value of -99.00 indicates a missing value.
117-120	I4	Non-contributing drainage area in percent of drainage area.
121	1X	Blank.
122	A1	Benchmark indicator - B if the station is a Benchmark station, blank otherwise.
123	A1	Current Conditions indicator - C if the station is a Current Conditions station, blank otherwise.

Conversion factors:
Multiply feet by 0.3048 to obtain meters.
Multiply square miles by 2.590 to obtain square kilometers.

Format Descriptions:

In an integer field n columns wide.

F8.x a real (float) field 8 columns wide.

An a character field n columns wide.

1X a single blank column.

In	an integer field n columns wide.
F8.x	a real (float) field 8 columns wide.
An	a character field n columns wide.
1X	a single blank column.

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