SPURS-2: Wave and Surface Current Measurements from the R/V Revelle Cruise

From 5 October to 16 November 2017, the WaMoS radar system collected along-track wave and surface current data during the second R/V Revelle cruise of the SPURS-2 oceanographic campaign. This dataset provides essential wave field parameters—including wave period, length, and direction, plus surface current speed and direction—to study the rainfall-dominated surface ocean near 10°N, 125°W in the eastern tropical Pacific. The measurements support NASA's SPURS project, which aims to understand near-surface salinity variations by combining in-situ sampling with satellite remote sensing.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite-derived sea surface salinity (e.g., from SMAP, SMOS) with concurrent in-situ wave and current observations.
• Analyzing the relationship between wave field parameters and the dynamics of the North Equatorial Current and Countercurrent.
• Studying the impact of high seasonal rainfall on surface ocean conditions in the eastern Pacific fresh pool.
• Characterizing the spatio-temporal continuum of ocean surface structure for process studies.

Strengths

• Provides a continuous, along-track time series over a focused 42-day campaign in a scientifically critical region.
• Integrates multiple measurement types (wave parameters and surface currents) from a single, state-of-the-art radar system.
• Data is part of a larger, NASA-funded multi-platform field program (SPURS-2), enhancing its contextual value.

Limitations

• Column names and exact data structure are unspecified across all sources, complicating immediate analysis.
• Metadata conflicts exist: the 'last updated' date differs between platforms (2017-11 16 vs. 2026-04-09).
• The dataset appears to be a single file; spatial and temporal scope is limited to one cruise.

Provenance

Source

NASA SPURS-2 oceanographic field campaign, collected via the WaMoS radar on the R/V Revelle.

Collection Method

Along-track measurements from a radar-based wave and surface current monitoring system.

Time Range

2017-10-05 to 2017-11-16

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:54:19.205905

Geography

Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, focused near 10°N, 125°W.