Arabian Sea CTD and Ocean Station Data from the MASAI Project

From December 1986 to August 1987, conductivity, temperature, depth, and oxygen data were collected aboard the RRS Charles Darwin in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. The dataset was part of the Monsoon And Sea-Air Interaction (MASAI) project and is available in processed NODC C100 and F-022 formats. It provides high-resolution vertical profiles for studying oceanographic conditions during the monsoon period.

Use Cases

• Analyzing vertical water column structure based on conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) profiles.
• Studying monsoon-driven oceanographic changes using time-series data from a defined research cruise.
• Investigating dissolved oxygen distribution in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.
• Validating oceanographic models with high-resolution in-situ measurements from the MASAI project.

Strengths

• Data originates from a defined scientific project (MASAI) with a clear temporal scope of nine months.
• Processed by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), suggesting a degree of quality control.
• Available in both standard ocean station (C100) and high-resolution CTD (F-022) formats.

Limitations

• Column names and exact data structure are unknown, limiting immediate usability.
• Conflicting 'last updated' metadata (1987 vs. 2026) between platform entries creates uncertainty about provenance tracking.
• No row count, file size, or license information is provided.

Provenance

Source

Dr. Donald B. Olson, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS), University of Miami.

Collection Method

Collected via ship-based CTD casts from the RRS Charles Darwin.

Time Range

1986-12-20 to 1987-08-14

Freshness

2026-03-05 23:55:19.538821

Geography

Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman