SPURS-1 North Atlantic Drifter Salinity and Temperature Measurements

Approximately 83 Lagrangian drifter buoys collected near-surface salinity and temperature data during the SPURS-1 oceanographic field campaign. The dataset, aggregated into netCDF files, includes GPS/ARGOS georeferenced trajectory series for each drifter. The POCLOUD organization provided this data from a series of 5 cruises conducted between 2012 and 2013.

Use Cases

• Analyze near-surface salinity and temperature variations across the 900 x 800-mile study area using the georeferenced sensor readings.
• Model Lagrangian surface current pathways and dispersion by processing the GPS/ARGOS trajectory series from the 83 drifters.
• Validate satellite-derived salinity products from Aquarius/SAC-D and SMOS by comparing them with in-situ SVP/S drifter measurements.
• Study the temporal evolution of the salinity maximum region by examining time-series data from the 2012-2013 campaign period.

Strengths

• Data from approximately 83 instrumented drifters provides multiple simultaneous observation points.
• Campaign involved 5 dedicated research cruises over a focused 2012-2013 period for consistent data collection.
• Combines sensor data (salinity, temperature) with precise geolocation (GPS/ARGOS) for spatio-temporal analysis.

Limitations

• Temporal coverage is limited to the specific 2012-2013 campaign window, with no ongoing updates.
• Spatial coverage is confined to a single study region in the subtropical North Atlantic, limiting geographical generalizability.
• Unknown sample resolution and potential data gaps for individual drifter time-series.

Provenance

Source

POCLOUD, associated with the NASA SPURS-1 oceanographic field campaign.

Collection Method

Data collected by deployed Surface Velocity Program drifters with added salinity sensors (SVP/S), transmitting via GPS/ARGOS and satellite.

Time Range

2012 to 2013

Freshness

Last updated in 2015, representing a static snapshot from the concluded field campaign.

Geography

Subtropical North Atlantic, within a 900 x 800-mile square centered at 25N, 38W.