IDOE/POLYMODE: Atlantic Ocean Current and Temperature Time Series (1975-1977)

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution submitted east-west current components and temperature profile data collected from the Atlantic Ocean between December 16, 1975 and November 1, 1977. The data, part of the IDOE/POLYMODE project, are formatted to the NODC F015 standard for current meter moorings, representing Eulerian measurements. Records likely contain values for east-west (u) and north-south (v) current vector components, water temperature, and associated metadata like position and sensor depth at 10-15 minute intervals.

Use Cases

• Analyzing temporal variability of ocean currents based on the reported east-west (u) and north-south (v) vector components.
• Studying water column temperature structure and its correlation with current flow from the temperature profile data.
• Validating historical ocean circulation models using fixed-point, Eulerian current measurements from moorings.
• Investigating the POLYMODE experiment's findings on mesoscale ocean dynamics in the Atlantic Ocean.

Strengths

• Data collection spans a defined, nearly two-year period from 1975-12-16 to 1977-11-01.
• Processed to a recognized archival standard (NODC F015), ensuring a consistent structure for time-series ocean current data.
• Originates from a major research institution (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) as part of a significant international collaboration (IDOE/POLYMODE).

Limitations

• Critical metadata is missing, including specific column names, row count, file size, and license information.
• There is a conflict in reported 'last updated' dates between platforms (2026 vs. 1977), creating uncertainty about metadata maintenance.
• The dataset's age may limit its utility for studying contemporary oceanographic conditions without complementary modern data.

Provenance

Source

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, submitted to the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC).

Collection Method

Data collected using thermistor, mooring, and current meter casts (Eulerian method).

Time Range

1975-12-16 to 1977-11-01

Freshness

2026-03-05 23:59:53.034476

Geography

Atlantic Ocean (specific coordinates not provided in input).