Gulf of Mexico CTD and XBT Data from TIGER Project Cruises

Oceanographic data containing Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) and bathythermograph (XBT) measurements were collected in the Gulf of Mexico during three Ship GYRE cruises. The dataset includes observations from 11 CTD stations and 29 XBT drops, gathered from May 11 to July 20, 1994 as part of the Texas Institutions Gulf Ecosystem Research (TIGER) project. It was submitted by Dr. Douglas C. Biggs of Texas A&M University and is managed by NOAA NCEI.

Use Cases

• Analyzing vertical profiles of water temperature and salinity using CTD station data.
• Studying the thermal structure of the upper ocean from the 29 XBT drop measurements.
• Investigating seasonal oceanographic conditions in the Gulf of Mexico during the summer of 1994.
• Calibrating regional ocean models with in-situ conductivity and temperature observations.

Strengths

• Contains a specific count of 11 CTD stations and 29 XBT drops, providing a clear scope.
• Has a precisely defined collection period from May 11 to July 20, 1994.
• Sourced from a recognized research project (TIGER) and principal investigator, lending credibility.
• Presence on multiple authoritative platforms (NASA Earthdata, Data.gov) signals importance and curation.

Limitations

• The exact column names, row counts, and data size are unknown across all sources.
• Conflicting last updated dates exist: one source shows 2026-04-01, another shows 1994-07-20, creating uncertainty about metadata freshness.
• License information is not provided.

Provenance

Source

Dr. Douglas C. Biggs, Texas A&M University, submitted to NOAA NCEI.

Collection Method

Collected from Ship GYRE cruises 94G02, 94G03, and 94G05 using CTD and XBT instruments.

Time Range

1994-05-11 to 1994-07-20

Freshness

2026-04-01 15:32:29.812098

Geography

Gulf of Mexico