F015 Format: Coastal Current Meter Time Series

Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science collected these Eulerian current measurements from fixed moorings along the North American Coastline-South for over eight months in 1979. The data, processed into the NODC F015 standard format, likely contains time-series records of east-west (u) and north-south (v) current vector components, typically at 10-15 minute intervals. Position, sensor depth, and optional water temperature or salinity may also be reported for each station.

Use Cases

• Analyzing tidal and subtidal current variability based on high-frequency time-series measurements.
• Validating coastal circulation models using recorded east-west (u) and north-south (v) vector components.
• Studying water mass properties through concurrent temperature and salinity data reported at sensor depth.
• Assessing sediment transport potential from flow velocity records at fixed platform locations.

Strengths

• Data represents a continuous, eight-month time series from 1979-02-01 to 1979-10-10.
• Processed to a documented federal standard (NODC F015 format), ensuring consistency.
• Measurements are from fixed platforms using the Eulerian method, providing point-specific flow data.

Limitations

• Critical metadata conflicts: one platform lists a last update of 2026-03-06, while another shows 1979-10-10, creating uncertainty about data currency.
• Column names, row counts, file size, and license information are unknown across all sources.
• Documentation is referenced externally, requiring users to visit a NOAA website for full format details.

Provenance

Source

Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS)

Collection Method

Collected from fixed platform current meter moorings (Eulerian method).

Time Range

1979-02-01 to 1979-10-10

Freshness

1979-10-10 00:00:00

Geography

North American Coastline-South