SPURS-2: CTD Salinity and Temperature Profiles from R/V Revelle Cruises

SPURS-2 deployed 64 CTD casts from the R/V Revelle in the eastern tropical Pacific during 2016 and 2017 to study a rainfall-dominated, high-salinity-variability region. This NASA-funded project combines these in-situ vertical profiles with satellite data from Aquarius, SMAP, and SMOS to characterize near-surface salinity dynamics. The data provide continuous conductivity, temperature, and depth measurements calibrated with IAPSO standard seawater.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite salinity measurements from Aquarius, SMAP, and SMOS based on calibrated in-situ CTD profiles.
• Analyzing the vertical structure of the fresh pool in the eastern tropical Pacific based on continuous salinity and temperature depth profiles.
• Studying the impact of the North Equatorial Current and Countercurrent on salinity distribution using data from fixed sampling stations.
• Investigating seasonal variability in near-surface ocean dynamics from two month-long cruises conducted in different years.

Strengths

• Data is calibrated using shipboard salinometers and IAPSO standard seawater, indicating a high standard of accuracy.
• Provides 64 discrete vertical profiles (50 in 2016, 14 in 2017) from a targeted process study in a scientifically critical region.
• Integrates in-situ measurements with a suite of satellite remote sensing data for multi-scale analysis.

Limitations

• Column names and precise data structure are unknown from provided metadata, complicating immediate analysis.
• Metadata conflicts on freshness: one source lists a last update in 2026 (likely an error), while another lists 2017.
• The dataset's size, row count, and specific file formats (BIN, PDF, ISO, JPEG) are not clearly documented.

Provenance

Source

NASA-funded SPURS-2 oceanographic field campaign.

Collection Method

Shipboard lowered CTD probe casts from the R/V Revelle during two dedicated cruises.

Time Range

August 2016 to October 2017

Freshness

2017-11-17 04:49:30

Geography

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