Historical Ocean Temperature Profiles from the CROMWELL Expedition

Temperature-depth profiles were collected using mechanical bathythermographs (MBT) during the CROMWELL expedition across multiple seas from 1956 to 1958. The dataset, processed by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) into the C128 standard format, contains pairs of temperature and depth values recorded at uniform 5-meter intervals. It documents the thermal structure of the upper ocean layers to a maximum depth of approximately 285 meters.

Use Cases

• Analyzing historical temperature gradients in the upper 285 meters of the ocean using paired temperature-depth values.
• Studying seasonal or interannual thermal variability in the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic between 1956 and 1958.
• Mapping cruise tracks and correlating temperature profiles with specific locations and times from the reported position data.
• Calibrating or validating ocean model simulations for the mid-20th century using in-situ observational data.

Strengths

• Data is standardized in the NODC C128 format, ensuring a consistent structure for temperature-depth pairs.
• Provides a defined temporal coverage from March 22, 1956, to March 31, 1958.
• Covers multiple geographic regions: the Caribbean Sea, English Channel, Irish Sea and St. George's Channel, and North Atlantic Ocean.
• Temperature measurements are recorded at uniform 5-meter depth intervals, facilitating systematic analysis.

Limitations

• Conflicting last updated dates exist: Data.gov lists 2026-03-06 (likely a metadata update), while NASA Earthdata lists the original data end date of 1958-03 31.
• The dataset is limited to the upper ocean, with a maximum observation depth of approximately 285 meters.
• Specific column names, row counts, and file size are not provided in the available metadata.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Mechanical bathythermograph (MBT) instrument measurements processed by NODC to the C128 standard format.

Time Range

1956-03-22 to 1958-03-31

Freshness

2026-03-06 00:21:39.613029

Geography

Caribbean Sea, English Channel, Irish Sea and St. George's Channel, North Atlantic Ocean