CTD Oceanographic Profiles from Gulf of Alaska 1986 Cruise

University of Alaska Institute of Marine Science collected this dataset aboard the R/V Alpha Helix during cruise HX94 from December 15 to 19, 1986. It contains high-resolution conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) and salinity-temperature-depth (STD) profiles from 17 stations in the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound. Data is processed to the NODC standard High-Resolution STD/CTD Data (F022) format.

Use Cases

• Analyzing vertical profiles of temperature and salinity to study water mass structure in the Gulf of Alaska.
• Calculating density (sigma-t) from measured parameters to investigate stratification and mixing processes.
• Examining spatial variation across 17 station locations in Prince William Sound and surrounding waters.
• Using cruise metadata (position, date, time) to correlate oceanographic conditions with specific sampling events.

Strengths

• Data follows the standardized NODC F022 format, ensuring interoperability with other oceanographic archives.
• Provides high-resolution profiles with sampling intervals as fine as 1 meter, capturing detailed vertical structure.
• Covers 17 distinct geographic stations, offering spatial coverage across the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, column names, and file sizes are not provided by any source, limiting precise technical assessment.
• Conflicting last updated dates exist between platforms (2026-03-05 on Data.gov vs. 1986-12-18 on NASA EarthData).
• Potential measured parameters like dissolved oxygen or transmissivity are noted as 'possibly' present, indicating incomplete metadata.

Provenance

Source

University of Alaska, Institute of Marine Science; Dr. T.C. Royer.

Collection Method

Collected using CTD and STD instruments aboard the R/V Alpha Helix, processed to NODC standard format.

Time Range

1986-12-15 to 1986-12-19

Freshness

2026-03-05 22:41:24.390440

Geography

Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound area.