High-Resolution Ocean CTD/STD Profiles from the North Atlantic

Oceanus cruise data provides detailed vertical profiles of temperature, salinity, density, and other parameters from the North Atlantic Ocean. The dataset, processed by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) to its F022 standard format, offers high-resolution measurements at depth intervals as fine as 1 meter. It captures a specific period of observations from March to November 1984.

Use Cases

• Analyzing vertical stratification of temperature and salinity (sigma-t density) for water mass identification.
• Studying spatial and temporal variability of oceanographic conditions using station position, date, and time data.
• Investigating relationships between surface conditions (meteorological data) and subsurface ocean properties.
• Calibrating satellite-derived ocean surface data with in-situ conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) measurements.
• Examining water clarity or biological indicators using optional parameters like transmissivity or dissolved oxygen.

Strengths

• Data is processed to a recognized standard (NODC F022 format), ensuring consistency and interoperability.
• Provides high-resolution profiles with measurements potentially reported at 1-meter depth intervals.
• Includes comprehensive station metadata such as cruise information, position, date, time, and sampling interval.

Limitations

• Key quantitative details like total row count, file size, and complete column list are unknown.
• The temporal coverage is limited to a single 8-month cruise in 1984, restricting longitudinal analysis.
• There is a conflict in last updated dates: one platform reports 2026-03-05 (metadata update), while another lists the data end date of 1984-11-20.

Provenance

Source

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), originally from the OCEANUS research vessel.

Collection Method

Collected via Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) and Salinity-Temperature-Depth (STD) instruments lowered through the water column.

Time Range

1984-03-17 to 1984-11-20

Freshness

2026-03-05

Geography

Northwest Atlantic Ocean