This format was formerly known as MERIT II.
| Bytes | Description | Example | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-7 | ILRS Satellite Identification Number — seven-digit number based on COSPAR ID | '7603901' | |||||||||||||||||
| 8-9 | Year of Century — two digits with leading zero fill | '09' | |||||||||||||||||
| 10-12 | Day of Year — three digits with leading blank fill | ' 34' | |||||||||||||||||
| 13-24 | Time of Day — from midnight GMT with a 0.1 microsecond granularity and leading blank fill | ' 36005000000' | |||||||||||||||||
| 25-28 | Crustal Dynamics Project Pad ID — a four-digit monument identification | '7105' | |||||||||||||||||
| 29-30 | Crustal Dynamics Project two-digit system number | '07' | |||||||||||||||||
| 31-32 | Crustal Dynamics Project two-digit occupancy sequence number | '24' | |||||||||||||||||
| 33-39 | Azimuth — the geometric or true azimuth angle with a 0.1 millidegree granularity and leading blank fill | ' 987500' | |||||||||||||||||
| 40-45 | Elevation — the geometric or true elevation angle with a 0.1 millidegree granularity and leading blank fill | '292500' | |||||||||||||||||
| 46-57 | Laser Range — in units of two-way time with a one-picosecond granularity and leading blank fill | ' 52035998000' | |||||||||||||||||
| 58-64 | Pass RMS from the mean of raw range values minus the trend function, for accepted ranges (two-way value in picoseconds) | ' 66' | |||||||||||||||||
| 65-68 | Wavelength of the laser with leading blank fill The user of the data should interpret the value given as follows: 3000 - 9999: units are 0.1 nanometer 1000 - 2999: units are 1.0 nanometer 0030 - 0.9999 units are 100 nanometers (0.1 micron) For the station generating the data, the rule is as follows: Wavelength in rate 0.3000 - 0.9999 microns: unit 0.1 nanometer Wavelength in rate 1.000 - 2.999 microns: unit 1.0 nanometer Wavelength in rate 3.0 - 99.9 microns: unit 100 nanometers (0.1 micron) |
'5321' | |||||||||||||||||
| 69-73 | Surface Pressure — 0.1 millibar granularity with leading blank fill | '10135' | |||||||||||||||||
| 74-77 | Surface Temperature — 0.1 degree Kelvin granularity with leading blank fill | '2905' | |||||||||||||||||
| 78-80 | Relative Humidity at Surface — percentage with leading blank fill | ' 55' | |||||||||||||||||
| 81-85 | Tropospheric refraction correction — a round trip refraction correction with a one-picosecond granularity and leading blank fill | '33956' | |||||||||||||||||
| 86-91 | Center of Mass Correction — a round trip correction with a one-picosecond granularity and leading blank fill | ' 1601' | |||||||||||||||||
| 92-96 | Receive Amplitude — a positive linear scale value with leading blank fill | ' 700' | |||||||||||||||||
| 97-104 | Applied System Delay — the two way system delay applied in the current record with a one-picosecond granularity and leading blank fill | '95942' | |||||||||||||||||
| 105-110 | Calibration Delay Shift — a measure of two-way calibration stability with a one-picosecond granularity and leading blank fill | ' 33' | |||||||||||||||||
| 111-114 | Root Mean Square (RMS) of raw system delay values from the mean; two-way value in picoseconds; if pre- and post-pass calibrations are made, use the mean of the two RMS values, or the RMS of the combined data set | ' 40' | |||||||||||||||||
| 115 | Normal Point Window Indicator — indicates whether or not the record represents a normal point and the time span of the normal point 0: not a normal point 1: five-second normal point (GFZ-1) 2: LLR normal point 3: 15-second normal point (TOPEX) 4: 20-second normal point 5: 30-second normal point 6: one-minute normal point 7: two-minute normal point (LAGEOS) 8: three-minute normal point 9: five-minute normal point (ETALON) |
'0' | |||||||||||||||||
| 116-119 | Number of raw ranges compressed into normal point leading blank fill | ' ' | |||||||||||||||||
| 120 | Epoch Event — indicates the time-event reference Currently, only 1 and 2 are used for laser ranging data. 0 = Ground receive time 1 = Satellite transmit time (standard for LAGEOS) 2 = Ground transmit time 3 = Satellite receive time |
'1' | |||||||||||||||||
| 121 | Epoch Time Scale — indicates the time scale reference Other flags may appear for historical data. 3 = UTC (USNO) 4 = UTC (GPS) 7 = UTC (BIH) |
'3' | |||||||||||||||||
| 122 | Angle Origin Indicator — source of angle values 0 = Unknown (converted from MERIT I) 1 = Computed (from range) 2 = Command (predicts and operator inputs) 3 = Measured (calibrated instrument readings) |
'3' | |||||||||||||||||
| 123 | Tropospheric Refraction Correction Indicator 0 = Data has been corrected using the Marini-Murray formula 1 = Data has not been corrected |
'0' | |||||||||||||||||
| 124 | Center of Mass Correction Application Indicator 0 = Applied 1 = Not applied |
'0' | |||||||||||||||||
| 125 | Receive Amplitude Correction Indicator 0 = Data has been receive amplitude corrected 1 = Data has not been receive amplitude corrected |
'1' | |||||||||||||||||
| 126 | System calibration method and delay shift indicator; indicates the type of calibration and the type of calibration shift given in columns 105—110
|
'0' | |||||||||||||||||
| 127 |
System Change indicator (SCH) — A flag to increment for every major change to the system (hardware or software); after the value '9' return to '0', and then continue incrementing The station and data centers should keep a log in a standard format of the value used, the date of the change, and a description of the change. |
'0' | |||||||||||||||||
| 128 | System Configuration Indicator (SCI) — This is a flag used to indicate alternative modes of operation for a system (e.g., choice of alternative timers or detectors, or use of a different mode of operation for high satellites). Each value of the flag indicates a particular configuration, which is described in a log file held at the station and at the data centers. If only a single configuration is used, then use a fixed value. If a new configuration is introduced, then use the next higher flag value. If value exceeds '9' then return to '0', overwriting a previous configuration flag. It is not likely that a station will have 10 current possible configurations. | '1' | |||||||||||||||||
| 129 | Format Revision Number Indicator — This indicates the version of the MERIT II format for the current record. Data prior to MERIT II that is converted into the MERIT II format will have a revision number of '0'. | '3' | |||||||||||||||||
| 130 | Release Flag Indicator — This indicates when this record first appeared on a release tape. Cooperating stations that send release tapes to the CDDIS will use a numbering scheme beginning with '1'. Release tapes from the CDDIS will have a labeling scheme beginning with 'A'. Non-operational engineering data will have a release flag of 'Z'. Data released prior to the MERIT II implementation will have a release flag of '0'. | 'A' |
Specifications on the Fullrate format:
- A field should be blank if a value does not apply or if the value is unknown.
- All fields should have trailing zero fill when the accuracy of the field value is less than the accuracy of the format.
- The range and all correction fields are in two-way time units of picoseconds for both accuracy and consistency.
- All correction field values, except the center of mass, are represented such that they would be subtracted from the laser range when applied. The center of mass value is represented such that it would be added to the laser range when applied.
- To convert the laser range field from two-way time in picoseconds to one-way distance in meters:
- convert the range in units of picoseconds to seconds
- divide the result from a. above by two
- multiply the result from b. by the speed of light (299792458 m/s)