Ocean Temperature Profiles from the ORIGNY North Atlantic Expedition
Updated 2mo ago
12files
Available on 2 platforms
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Description
Temperature-depth profile data collected using a Mechanical Bathythermograph (MBT) from the vessel ORIGNY in the North Atlantic Ocean. The dataset covers a 10-month period from September 1964 to July 1965, processed by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) into the standard C128 format. Each observation includes cruise information, date, position, and time, with temperature recorded at uniform 5-meter depth intervals up to approximately 285 meters.
Use Cases
Analyzing seasonal changes in sea surface temperature and mixed layer depth in the North Atlantic using the time-series of temperature-depth pairs.
Mapping the spatial distribution of upper-ocean thermal properties during the 1964-1965 period using the reported position (latitude/longitude) data.
Calibrating or validating ocean model simulations of historical upper-ocean heat content with in-situ profile data.
Studying the technical characteristics and data structure of historical NODC C128 format bathythermograph records.
Strengths
Data is processed to a known, documented standard (NODC C128 format) ensuring consistent structure.
Provides a focused temporal snapshot (10 months) from a single research vessel, useful for case studies.
Includes essential metadata (cruise, date, position, time) for each temperature-depth profile observation.
Recorded at uniform 5-meter depth intervals, facilitating straightforward vertical analysis.
Limitations
Instrument limitation: MBT maximum depth is ~285m, restricting analysis to the upper ocean only.
Cross-platform conflict on last updated date: Data.gov lists 2026-04-01 (likely a metadata error), while NASA Earthdata lists 1965-07-12 (the collection end date).
Key technical details (exact column names, total row count, file size) are unavailable from all sources.
Provenance
Source
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce, via the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC).
Collection Method
In-situ measurements collected using a Mechanical Bathythermograph (MBT) instrument from the vessel ORIGNY.
Time Range
1964-09-22 to 1965-07-12
Freshness
1965-07-12
Geography
North Atlantic Ocean
License information is not provided by any source. The dataset's utility is limited to studying the upper ocean due to the instrument's maximum depth capability.