CalCOFI Hydrographic Stations from the Northeast Pacific Ocean
Available on 1 platform
Sign in to view source links and access this dataset
Description
Over 26,600 hydrographic and productivity stations cover the Western US and Mexican coasts, including parts of the Baja Gulf. Data includes measurements like salinity, temperature, oxygen, and nutrients at discrete depths, collected from 1949 to the present. The dataset is maintained by Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SCIOPS), with pre-1969 data sourced from the National Oceanographic Data Center.
Use Cases
Analyze long-term trends in ocean temperature and salinity from 1949 to present using the 'temperature' and 'salinity' columns.
Model relationships between nutrient concentrations (PO4, Silicate, NO2, NO3) and biological productivity via Chlorophyll-A and C14 assimilation data.
Correlate surface meteorological conditions like wind, waves, and air temperature with subsurface hydrographic measurements at each station.
Map spatial distributions of oxygen levels and other water properties across the study region using latitude and longitude coordinates.
Strengths
Over 26,600 stations provide a substantial observational record.
Data spans more than 70 years, from 1949 to the present, enabling long-term trend analysis.
Each station includes multiple concurrent measurements (e.g., salinity, temperature, oxygen, nutrients, weather).
Limitations
Data prior to 1969 is sourced from a different institution (NODC), which may introduce inconsistencies in collection methodology.
The raw description mentions a command-line tool ('calsearch') for access, which may present a technical barrier for non-programmers.
Specific sample sizes, row counts, and data completeness for individual variables are not provided.
Provenance
Source
Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SCIOPS) and the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC).
Collection Method
Field measurements collected from hydrographic and productivity stations during CalCOFI cruises.
Time Range
1949 to present
Freshness
null
Geography
Western US and Mexican coasts, including parts of the Baja Gulf.
Access historically required using a specific command-line program ('calsearch') on a UNIX-based server. Data formats include SD2 or IEH. License terms are not specified.