BUFR edition 3 and 4 messages have a different header structure.


Section 0

KeyDescription
totalLengthTotal length of the message in bytes
editionNumberBUFR edition number (=3)

Section 1

KeyDescription
section1LengthLength of section 1 in bytes
masterTableNumberBUFR master table
bufrHeaderSubCentreOriginating sub-centre
bufrHeaderCentreOriginating centre
updateSequenceNumberUpdate sequence number (0 for original messages, incremented by 1 for updates)
section1Flags

Bit 1:

  • 0 : no optional section present
  • 1 : optional section present
dataCategoryData category (BUFR Table A, see the latest version here.)
dataSubCategoryData sub-category (defined by local automatic data processing (ADP) centres)
masterTablesVersionNumberVersion number of master table used
localTablesVersionNumberVersion number of local table used
typicalYearOfCenturyYear (yy)
typicalMonthMonth
typicalDayDay
typicalHourHour
typicalMinuteMinute

Section 3

KeyDescription
section3LengthLength of section 3 in bytes
numberOfSubsetsNumber of data subsets
section3Flags

Bit 1:

  • 0: Other data
  • 1: Observed data

Bit 2:

  • 0: Non compressed data
  • 1: Compressed data

Section 0

KeyDescription
totalLengthTotal length of the message in bytes
editionNumberBUFR edition number (=4)

Section 1

KeyDescription
section1LengthLength of section 1 in bytes
masterTableNumberBUFR master table
bufrHeaderCentreOriginating centre
bufrHeaderSubCentreOriginating sub-centre
updateSequenceNumberUpdate sequence number (0 for original messages, incremented by 1 for updates)
section1Flags

Bit 1:

  • 0 : no optional section present
  • 1 : optional section present
dataCategoryData category (BUFR Table A, see the latest version here.)
internationalDataSubCategoryInternational data sub-category (Common Code Table C-13, see the latest version here.)
dataSubCategoryLocal data sub-category
masterTablesVersionNumberVersion number of master table used
localTablesVersionNumberVersion number of local table used
typicalMonthMonth
typicalDayDay
typicalHourHour
typicalMinuteMinute
typicalSecondSecond

Section 3

KeyDescription
section3LengthLength of section 3 in bytes
numberOfSubsetsNumber of data subsets
section3Flags

Bit 1:

  • 0: Other data
  • 1: Observed data

Bit 2:

  • 0: Non compressed data
  • 1: Compressed data