North Atlantic Upper Ocean Temperature Profiles from Observation Island

285 meters is the maximum depth for temperature-depth profiles collected by a mechanical bathythermograph (MBT) aboard the OBSERVATION ISLAND. The National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) processed this data into the standard C128 format, containing pairs of temperature and depth values recorded at uniform 5-meter intervals. Measurements were taken during a cruise in the North Atlantic Ocean between May 9 and June 5, 1963.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the thermal structure of the upper ocean (up to 285m depth) using temperature-depth pairs.
• Studying historical ocean conditions by examining cruise information, date, position, and time for each observation.
• Investigating temperature gradients at uniform 5-meter depth intervals for a specific geographical region.

Strengths

• Data is processed to a known standard format (NODC C128) ensuring consistent structure.
• Provides precise temporal coverage for a specific cruise from 1963-05-09 to 1963-06-05.
• Records measurements at a consistent sampling resolution of 5-meter depth intervals.

Limitations

• Key metadata such as row count, column names, file size, and license are unavailable from all sources.
• Data is limited to the upper ocean, with a maximum observation depth of approximately 285 meters.
• Sources conflict on the 'last updated' date (2026-03-05 vs. 1963-06-05), creating uncertainty about recent modifications.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Mechanical bathythermograph (MBT) instrument measurements processed by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC).

Time Range

1963-05-09 to 1963-06-05

Freshness

2026-03 05 22:30:29.967371

Geography

North Atlantic Ocean, from the OBSERVATION ISLAND cruise.