NOAA Hydrographic Survey CTD and Sound Speed Profiles

Sensor data from multiple vessels provides sound speed profiles and conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) profiles for NOAA hydrographic surveys. The dataset is produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Coast Survey to meet charting requirements. The most recent platform update was recorded in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Calibrating multibeam sonar systems using measured sound speed profiles.
• Modeling underwater acoustic propagation for navigation and mapping.
• Analyzing ocean water column properties from conductivity, temperature, and depth columns.
• Supporting nautical chart creation by providing essential environmental data for survey areas.

Strengths

• Data is collected using multiple sensor types, including direct sound speed instruments and CTDs, providing methodological diversity.
• Produced by the authoritative NOAA/NOS Office of Coast Survey for operational charting requirements.
• Cross-platform presence on Data.gov and NASA Earthdata indicates recognized importance and curation.

Limitations

• Critical metadata is missing from all sources: no column names, row counts, file sizes, or license information are provided.
• The provided 'last updated' date of March 2026 is inconsistent, as it is a future date, indicating a potential metadata error.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Acquired by ships and navigation response teams using CTD sensors and direct sound speed instruments in survey areas.

Time Range

null

Freshness

2026-03-05 22:34:34.863873

Geography

NOAA/NOS Office of Coast Survey hydrographic survey areas.