Atlantic Canada Temperature-Salinity Profiles 1873-2024

837,000 oceanographic profiles of temperature and salinity collected in Atlantic Canada and the Eastern Arctic. Data spans from January 1873 to December 2024, with profiles bin-averaged to resolutions up to 5000m depth. The product is uniformly formatted and quality-controlled from multiple sources including DFO regional archives.

Use Cases

• Analyze long-term temperature trends in Atlantic Canada using profiles from 1873 to 2024
• Model salinity variations with depth using bin-averaged data at 1m, 10m, and 100m resolutions
• Study oceanographic conditions in the Eastern Arctic within the 35-80°N and 100-42°W spatial bounds
• Validate regional ocean models with quality-controlled temperature and salinity profile data

Strengths

• 837,000 individual profiles provide substantial observational density
• 151-year temporal coverage from 1873 to 2024 enables long-term climate studies
• Profiles are uniformly formatted and quality-controlled for immediate use
• Spatial coverage spans Atlantic Canada and the Eastern Arctic (35-80°N, 100-42°W)

Limitations

• Bin-averaging to varying resolutions may smooth fine-scale vertical features
• Profile density is likely uneven across the 151-year period and vast geographic area
• Data fusion from multiple sources may introduce subtle inconsistencies in measurement protocols

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, compiled from DFO regional archives and other sources including MEDS and the Polar Data Catalogue.

Collection Method

Fusion of historical temperature and salinity profiles from multiple oceanographic sources, quality-controlled and bin-averaged.

Time Range

January 1873 to December 2024

Freshness

Data updated through December 2024, with platform record last updated March 2026.

Geography

Atlantic Canada and Eastern Arctic, 35-80 degrees North and 100-42 degrees West.