EPOCS Project: Moored Current Meter Data from the Equatorial Pacific (1984-1985)

Current meter data were collected from moored instruments in the TOGA Area - Pacific (30°N to 30°S) between April 16, 1984, and October 1, 1985, as part of the Equatorial Pacific Ocean Climate Studies (EPOCS) project. The dataset, processed by the NODC into the F015 format, contains time-series measurements of east-west (u) and north-south (v) current vector components, typically at 10-15 minute intervals. It likely also includes associated parameters such as water temperature, pressure, and conductivity or salinity for each station.

Use Cases

• Analyzing equatorial current variability and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) precursors based on high-frequency time-series current measurements.
• Validating ocean circulation models using Eulerian current vector components (u, v) from fixed mooring locations.
• Studying vertical ocean structure by examining data reported at specific sensor and bottom depths for each station.
• Investigating relationships between ocean currents and ancillary parameters like temperature and salinity reported in the F015 format.

Strengths

• Data collection covers a specific, scientifically significant 18-month period (April 1984 to October 1985) during the EPOCS project.
• Measurements are reported at a high temporal resolution, typically every 10-15 minutes, capturing detailed current dynamics.
• Data is standardized to the well-documented NODC F015 format, ensuring a consistent structure for analysis.

Limitations

• Key metadata is missing or conflicting: the exact row count, file size, and license are unknown, and the 'last updated' date differs significantly between platforms (1985 vs. 2026).
• The specific column names and complete data schema are not provided in the available descriptions.
• The dataset's age means it may not reflect contemporary oceanographic conditions or benefit from modern sensor technology.

Provenance

Source

Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Collection Method

Data collected using moored current meter casts (Eulerian method) and processed by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC).

Time Range

1984-04-16 to 1985-10-01

Freshness

2026-03-05 22:39:44.081372

Geography

TOGA Area - Pacific (30°N to 30°S)