SPURS-2: Saildrone Ocean and Atmospheric Observations from the E. Tropical Pacific

SPURS-2 Saildrone data provides near-surface oceanographic and atmospheric measurements collected by unmanned surface vehicles during a NASA field campaign. The dataset captures conditions in the eastern tropical Pacific near 10°N, 125°W, focusing on salinity dynamics in a rainfall-dominated region. Data files are in netCDF format and are CF/ACDD/NCEI compliant, containing platform telemetry and sensor readings.

Use Cases

• Analyzing near-surface salinity variations and freshwater flux dynamics in a high-rainfall region.
• Validating satellite salinity measurements from Aquarius, SMAP, and SMOS against in-situ observations.
• Studying the coupling between atmospheric parameters (wind, pressure, air temperature) and sea surface properties.
• Investigating biological activity through chlorophyll-a fluorescence measurements in the tropical Pacific.
• Tracking the performance and operational data of long-duration, autonomous Saildrone platforms.

Strengths

• Data is compliant with CF/ACDD/NCEI metadata standards, promoting interoperability.
• Combines in-situ sampling with remotely sensed data for multi-scale characterization.
• Provides near real-time, multi-parameter observations from an autonomous platform.

Limitations

• Column names and exact data structure are not specified in the provided metadata.
• Dataset size and row counts are unknown, limiting assessment of scope.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates exist between sources (2017-11-17 and 2026-04 09).

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Collected by Saildrone unmanned surface vehicles during the SPURS-2 oceanographic field campaign.

Time Range

Deployment occurred over a month during the second R/V Revelle cruise in 2017.

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:59:57.451914

Geography

Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, focused around a central mooring near 10°N, 125°W.