Caribbean and North Atlantic Upper Ocean Temperature Profiles, 1962

Temperature-depth profiles from the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean collected via mechanical bathythermograph (MBT) on the MILLS cruise. The dataset contains pairs of temperature-depth values recorded at uniform 5-meter intervals, processed to the NODC C128 standard format. Data collection occurred over a two-week period in April and May 1962.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the thermal structure of the upper ocean (up to ~285m) for a specific historical period.
• Studying temperature gradients and stratification using the paired temperature-depth values.
• Investigating spatial oceanographic patterns in the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean using cruise position data.
• Providing a historical baseline for comparison with modern upper-ocean temperature data.

Strengths

• Data is processed to a recognized standard format (NODC C128) ensuring consistent structure.
• Provides specific temporal coverage from 1962-04-24 to 1962-05-07 for a focused historical analysis.
• Temperature measurements are recorded at uniform 5-meter depth intervals, facilitating systematic analysis.

Limitations

• Key metadata such as row count, file size, and specific column names are unavailable from all sources.
• The MBT instrument's maximum depth of ~285 meters limits analysis to the upper ocean only.
• Sources conflict on the 'last updated' metadata, with dates ranging from 1962 to 2026.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Mechanical bathythermograph (MBT) instrument measurements processed by NODC.

Time Range

1962-04-24 to 1962-05-07

Freshness

2026-03-05 23:55:56.656622

Geography

Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean