NBP9603A: Underway Oceanographic Data from Antarctic Research Vessel Transit

Underway data was collected during leg NBP9603A of the R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer, a U.S. Antarctic Program research icebreaker. The dataset covers a transit voyage that started and ended in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1996. It was gathered in support of global change studies across biological, chemical, physical, and oceanographic disciplines.

Use Cases

• Analyze oceanographic conditions during a specific Antarctic transit based on the underway data collection.
• Study temporal patterns of physical or chemical properties based on the time-series nature of the data.
• Correlate biological observations with environmental variables mentioned in the description.
• Use as a reference point for historical Antarctic conditions based on the 1996 collection date.

Strengths

• Data originates from the NSF-supported R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer, a dedicated Antarctic research vessel.
• Covers multiple scientific disciplines: biological, chemical, physical, and oceanographic.
• Provides a specific temporal snapshot from a completed research leg (NBP9603A).

Limitations

• Last updated 1996-08 -23 23:59:59.999000; freshness should be verified.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

SCIOPS via NASA Earthdata

Collection Method

Underway data collection from a research vessel.

Time Range

1996 (specific leg NBP9603A)

Freshness

1996-08-23 23:59:59.999000

Geography

Antarctic region, transit from Hobart, Tasmania to Hobart, Tasmania