NCEP ADP Operational Global Upper Air Observations, December 1972 - February 2007

Five types of data were collected, and all types include data for various levels, such as "significant level" and flight level. The reports may include pressure, geopotential height, temperature, dew point depression, wind direction and speed.

The five types are: 1) radiosondes and pibals launched from land stations and ships (includes 20 mandatory levels from 1000 millibars to 1 millibar), 2) aircraft flight level reports from commercial, military and reconnaissance sources, 3) satellite infrared sounding observations, 4) satellite winds derived from cloud drift analysis, and 5) data from aircraft takeoffs and landings.