Ocean Temperature Profiles from San Pablo Voyage

Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Atlantic Ocean temperature-depth profiles collected by the vessel SAN PABLO using expendable bathythermograph (XBT) instruments. The dataset covers a two-month period from August to October 1968 and was processed by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) into its standard C116 format. This format records temperature at non-uniform inflection points to define the thermal curve accurately.

Use Cases

• Analyzing vertical temperature gradients in the upper ocean (0-760m) for specific cruise tracks.
• Studying seasonal thermal changes in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico during late summer 1968.
• Comparing historical XBT inflection-point data with modern uniform-interval profile datasets.
• Validating ocean model simulations for the North Atlantic region using in-situ observations.

Strengths

• Data processed to a documented NODC standard format (C116/C118) ensuring structural consistency.
• Profiles target scientifically relevant inflection points, optimizing data for defining thermal curves.
• Clear geographic scope covering three major ocean regions (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, North Atlantic).

Limitations

• No column names, row counts, or file sizes are provided, hindering precise technical assessment.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates: one source states 2026-04-01, another states the collection end date of 1968-10 12.
• Dataset is limited to a single two-month cruise in 1968, offering a narrow temporal snapshot.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Expendable bathythermograph (XBT) instruments deployed from the vessel SAN PABLO, processed by NODC.

Time Range

1968-08-16 to 1968-10-12

Freshness

2026-04-01 15:23:39.693811

Geography

Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, North Atlantic Ocean