NOAA NCEI: Moored Current Meter Data for Delaware and Beaufort Inlets (1976-1985)

NOAA NCEI Accession 8600005 contains two oceanographic datasets from moored current meter casts. The data, submitted by the National Ocean Service, include Eulerian current measurements from the Beaufort Inlet Circulation Survey (Feb-May 1976) and temperature data from the Delaware Inlet Circulation Survey (Feb-May 1985). Measurements are in the NODC F005 format, which can include current speed/direction, water temperature, salinity, and other parameters at 10-15 minute intervals.

Use Cases

• Modeling estuarine circulation patterns based on fixed-point Eulerian current measurements.
• Analyzing seasonal or tidal hydrography in Delaware Bay using time-series temperature data.
• Validating coastal hydrodynamic models with in-situ current speed and direction observations.
• Studying long-term environmental baselines for coastal waters using data spanning nearly a decade.

Strengths

• Data spans a significant temporal range, with collection from February 1976 to September 1985.
• Uses a standardized, documented archival format (NODC F005) with a detailed public specification.
• Represents fixed-point Eulerian measurements, providing consistent time-series data for specific locations.

Limitations

• Critical metadata is missing, including row count, specific column names, and data license.
• The dataset is a composite of two surveys with different parameters; the 1985 Delaware survey contains only temperature data.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates (1985 vs. 2026) create uncertainty about recent modifications or curation.

Provenance

Source

National Ocean Service (NOS), submitted by C.R. Muirhead; processed and archived by NOAA NCEI/NODC.

Collection Method

Data collected using moored current meter casts (principally Aanderaa instruments) deployed at fixed points.

Time Range

1976-02-23 to 1985-09-23

Freshness

2026-03-06 00:23:14.028058

Geography

Delaware Bay and Beaufort Inlet, USA.