S-MODE Lagrangian Float Observations: Ocean Submesoscale Dynamics

Lagrangian floats deployed approximately 300 km offshore of San Francisco in fall 2022 collected in-situ measurements of temperature, salinity, pressure, and velocity. The Sub-Mesoscale Ocean Dynamics Experiment (S-MODE) dataset aims to understand how short spatial-scale ocean dynamics influence vertical exchange of physical and biological variables. Data are provided in netCDF format with a primary dimension of time.

Use Cases

• Analyzing vertical exchange of properties based on Lagrangian float trajectories.
• Studying ocean front dynamics based on temperature and salinity profiles.
• Modeling submesoscale circulation based on in-situ velocity measurements.
• Investigating mixed layer processes based on measurements within or just below the mixed layer.

Strengths

• Provides direct in-situ measurements from Lagrangian floats following 3D water parcel motion.
• Focuses on a specific, intensive observation period in fall 2022 for the S-MODE experiment.
• Contains multi-variable measurements including temperature, salinity, pressure, and velocity.

Limitations

• Column names and exact row counts are not provided in the metadata.
• Last updated dates conflict between sources (2026-04-09 and 2023-05-31).
• The license is specified as 'other-license-specified' without further detail.

Provenance

Source

Sub-Mesoscale Ocean Dynamics Experiment (S-MODE)

Collection Method

Measured by Lagrangian floats deployed from research vessels, carrying CTD and ADCP instruments.

Time Range

Fall 2022

Freshness

2026-04-09 22:24:22.320766

Geography

Approximately 300 km offshore of San Francisco