Equatorial Pacific Ocean CTD Profiles from the JGOFS/EQPAC Study

CTD data from the THOMAS G. THOMPSON research ship captured barometric pressure and other oceanographic variables across the tropical Pacific. The dataset comprises five files of measurements collected by the University of Washington over a two-month cruise from October to December 1992. Dr. Wilford Gardner submitted the data, which includes good accompanying documentation.

Use Cases

• Analyze vertical profiles of barometric pressure and other CTD variables to study ocean stratification in the equatorial Pacific.
• Correlate CTD-derived water properties with JGOFS/EQPAC biogeochemical measurements from the same cruise for integrated ocean flux studies.
• Use the precise time-series and location data to validate or calibrate historical ocean circulation models for the 1992 period.
• Examine spatial variability of ocean parameters across the TOGA area (30°N to 30°S) during the two-month observational window.

Strengths

• Data collection focused on a specific, scientifically critical region (Equatorial Pacific) during a defined study (JGOFS/EQPAC).
• Includes good documentation, which is explicitly noted in the source description.
• Temporal coverage is precisely defined for a 61-day period from 1992-10-13 to 1992-12-13.

Limitations

• The specific number of data rows, columns, and file size is unknown, limiting assessment of scope.
• Data is over 30 years old, which may affect its utility for studying current ocean conditions without complementary modern data.
• Data collection is limited to a single ship track over two months, offering a snapshot rather than long-term temporal coverage.

Provenance

Source

University of Washington, Seattle, WA, submitted by Dr. Wilford Gardner to NOAA NCEI.

Collection Method

Collected via shipboard CTD casts from the R/V THOMAS G. THOMPSON.

Time Range

1992-10-13 to 1992-12-13

Freshness

Data collection ended on 1992-12-13; no update frequency is applicable for this historical dataset.

Geography

TOGA Area - Pacific (30°N to 30°S), Equatorial Pacific Ocean.