USS Serrano Bathythermograph Profiles from the North Pacific

Bathythermograph (MBT) data from the USS Serrano provides temperature-depth profiles for the upper ocean layers in the North Pacific Ocean. The dataset contains observations recorded at uniform 5-meter depth intervals from January 6 to January 17, 1967. Data was processed by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) into the standard C128 format.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the thermal structure of the upper ocean (up to ~285m) using paired temperature-depth values.
• Studying short-term ocean temperature variability in the North Pacific during January 1967.
• Validating or calibrating ocean model outputs for historical surface layer conditions.
• Examining cruise-based observational methods and data formats from the 1960s.

Strengths

• Data is processed to a known standard format (NODC C128), ensuring structural consistency.
• Provides precise temporal coverage for a 12-day cruise in January 1967.
• Records temperature at uniform 5-meter depth intervals, enabling systematic profile analysis.
• Cross-platform presence on Data.gov and NASA Earthdata indicates recognized archival importance.

Limitations

• Key quantitative details like row count, file size, and specific column names are unavailable from all sources.
• The mechanical bathythermograph (MBT) instrument limits observations to a maximum depth of approximately 285 meters.
• Sources conflict on the 'last updated' metadata, with dates ranging from 1967-01-17 to 2026-03-05.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Observations gathered using a mechanical bathythermograph (MBT) instrument from the USS Serrano and processed by NODC.

Time Range

1967-01-06 to 1967-01-17

Freshness

2026-03-05 23:56:21.337199

Geography

North Pacific Ocean