Temperature profile data collected using XBTs from the BURTON ISLAND and other platforms from the Pacific Ocean during the Thermal Structure Monitoring Program in the Pacific (TRANSPAC) project, 1975-05-22 to 1979-12-28 (NODC Accession 8600160)

Temperature profile data were collected using bathythermograph (BT/XBT) casts from BURTON ISLAND and other platforms in the Pacific Ocean from May 22, 1975 to December 28, 1979. Data were submitted by Scripps Institution of Oceanography as part of the Thermal Structure Monitoring Program in the Pacific (TRANSPAC) project. Data were processed by NODC to the NODC standard Universal Bathythermograph Output (UBT) format. Full BT descriptions are available at http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-Archive/bt.html.

The UBT format contains temperature-depth profile data obtained using expendable bathythermograph (XBT) instruments. Cruise information, position, date and time were reported for each observation. The data record was comprised of pairs of temperature-depth values. Unlike the MBT Data File, in which temperature values were recorded at uniform 5 m intervals, the XBT data files contained temperature values at non-uniform depths. These depths were recorded at the minimum number of points ("inflection points") required to accurately define the temperature curve. Standard XBTs can obtain profiles to depths of either 450 or 760 m. With special instruments, measurements can be obtained to 1830 m.

1975年5月22日至1979年12月28日期间，研究人员通过伯顿岛（BURTON ISLAND）及太平洋其他作业平台搭载的投放式海水温度深度记录仪（bathythermograph, BT/XBT）获取了温度剖面数据。这些数据由斯克里普斯海洋研究所提交，作为太平洋热结构监测计划（TRANSPAC）项目的组成部分。数据由国家海洋数据中心（National Oceanographic Data Center, NODC）处理为符合NODC标准的通用海水温度深度记录仪输出（Universal Bathythermograph Output, UBT）格式。有关BT的完整技术说明可访问：http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-Archive/bt.html。

UBT格式包含通过一次性海水温度深度记录仪（expendable bathythermograph, XBT）获取的温深剖面数据。每份观测记录均包含航次信息、观测位置、观测日期与时间。数据记录由多组温深值对组成。与采用5米均匀间隔记录温度值的机械海水温度深度记录仪（Mechanical Bathythermograph, MBT）数据文件不同，XBT数据文件中的温度值对应非均匀分布的深度。其深度仅记录足以精准刻画温度变化曲线所需的最少测点，即“拐点”。标准型XBT设备可获取最大深度为450米或760米的温度剖面；搭载专用拓展设备时，测量深度可达1830米。