Historical Upper Ocean Temperature Profiles from Tui Cruises

Temperature-depth profiles from the upper ocean were collected using Mechanical BathyThermographs (MBT) during 12 cruises of the vessel Tui between 1964 and 1967. The data, processed by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) into the C128 standard format, consists of temperature readings recorded at uniform 5-meter depth intervals down to a maximum of approximately 285 meters. This dataset provides a snapshot of the thermal structure of the upper ocean layers in the mid-1960s.

Use Cases

• Analyzing historical thermal stratification in the upper ocean using paired temperature-depth values.
• Studying seasonal or interannual variability in near-surface ocean temperatures from the 1960s using cruise date and time.
• Mapping the spatial distribution of upper ocean thermal features using reported position (latitude/longitude) data.
• Calibrating or validating ocean model simulations of the upper 285 meters for historical periods.

Strengths

• Contains data from 12 distinct research cruises, providing multiple sampling events.
• Data is standardized to the NODC C128 format, ensuring a consistent structure for analysis.
• Temperature readings are provided at a uniform 5-meter vertical resolution, facilitating profile comparisons.
• Covers a multi-year time range from August 1964 to November 1967.

Limitations

• The maximum observation depth is approximately 285 meters, limiting analysis to the upper ocean only.
• Critical metadata such as exact row count, column names, and precise spatial geography are unavailable.
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' date between platforms (1967 vs. 2026), casting uncertainty on data currency.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce, via the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC).

Collection Method

Collected using Mechanical BathyThermograph (MBT) instruments during research cruises and processed to the NODC standard C128 format.

Time Range

1964-08-03 to 1967-11-09

Freshness

The most recent update recorded is 2026-04-01, though the primary data collection ended in 1967.

Geography

Spatial coverage from the cruises of the vessel Tui; specific regions or coordinates are not detailed in the provided metadata.