North Pacific Ocean Temperature Profiles from Mechanical Bathythermograph

Two days of ocean temperature-depth profile data were collected by the vessel CAYUSE in the North Pacific Ocean on August 5-6, 1972. The National Oceanographic Data Center processed the data into the standard C128 format for mechanical bathythermograph (MBT) observations. This dataset provides paired temperature-depth values recorded at uniform 5-meter intervals, useful for studying the upper ocean's thermal structure.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the vertical thermal structure of the upper ocean using paired temperature-depth columns.
• Studying short-term temperature variability in the North Pacific using time and position data.
• Validating historical ocean models with precisely measured temperature profiles at 5-meter intervals.
• Investigating cruise-based oceanographic observations from a specific research vessel.

Strengths

• Data is processed to a known standard format (NODC C128) ensuring consistency.
• Observations provide detailed vertical resolution with measurements at uniform 5-meter depth intervals.
• Dataset includes precise temporal coverage for a focused two-day period in August 1972.
• Specific geographic scope is defined as the North Pacific Ocean.

Limitations

• The maximum observation depth is approximately 285 meters, limiting analysis to the upper ocean layer.
• Key metadata such as exact row count, column names, and license information are unavailable from all sources.
• A conflict exists in the 'last updated' date between platforms (2026 vs. 1972), casting doubt on metadata maintenance.

Provenance

Source

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), from the vessel CAYUSE.

Collection Method

Collected using a mechanical bathythermograph (MBT) instrument and processed by NODC.

Time Range

1972-08-05 to 1972-08-06

Freshness

2026-03-06 00:15:29.795214

Geography

North Pacific Ocean