Historical Bathythermograph Data from CHIPANA Cruise

Temperature-depth profiles from the CHIPANA cruise, collected using a Mechanical Bathythermograph (MBT) instrument. The dataset contains observations from the North Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans over a one-month period in early 1960, processed into the NODC standard C128 format. Data is useful for studying the thermal structure of the ocean's upper layers to a maximum depth of approximately 285 meters.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the vertical thermal structure of the upper ocean (285m) using temperature-depth value pairs.
• Studying spatial ocean temperature gradients across the North Atlantic and South Pacific from cruise track positions.
• Investigating short-term temperature variability in early 1960 using date and time stamps for each profile.
• Correlating cruise information with other historical datasets for broader oceanographic reconstructions.

Strengths

• Data is standardized to the NODC C128 format, ensuring consistency for analysis.
• Temperature values are recorded at uniform 5-meter depth intervals, facilitating direct profile comparisons.
• Each observation includes associated metadata: cruise information, date, geographic position, and time.

Limitations

• Key quantitative details are missing: total row count, file size, and specific column names are unknown.
• The dataset is limited to the upper ocean, with a maximum observation depth of approximately 285 meters.
• There is a conflict in last updated dates: one platform reports 2026-03-05, while another reports the original collection end date of 1960-03-21.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Collected via Mechanical Bathythermograph (MBT) instrument and processed by NODC.

Time Range

1960-02-16 to 1960-03-21

Freshness

2026-03-05 23:55:14.518700

Geography

North Atlantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean