Drifting buoy and other data from the Arctic Ocean in support of the Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment Program (OCSEAP) from 04 June 1976 to 27 November 1976 (NODC Accession 7700205)

Drifting buoy data were collected from the Arctic Ocean by the University of Washington in support of the Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment Program (OCSEAP). Data were collected from 04 June 1976 to 27 November 1976. Data were processed by NODC to the NODC standard F156 Drifting Buoy Data format. Full format description is available from NODC at www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-Archive/f156.html.

The F156 format is used for time series data on ocean circulation determined by the tracking of drifting buoys, drogues, or other instrumented devices as they are carried with the flow. Movement is reported as point-to-point geographic locations determined by shore-based, surface ship, aircraft, or satellite observations. Data from both ocean currents and ice movement can be reported in this format over time periods ranging from minutes to months. Directions and speeds between individual observations may be computed from these data and presented in graphic or summary listing form to provide information on circulation patterns and mass transport in offshore and near- shore regions. Platform name (for platform acquiring data or deploying device), drogue characteristics, start and end positions and times, and observation frequency (if constant time interval) are reported for each series of observation. Other surface meteorological or oceanographic parameters (e.g., water temperature and salinity, air temperature and pressure, wind, waves) and subsurface data (depth, pressure, temperature) may also be reported. Text records may be used to report general comments or to describe individual drogue observations.

华盛顿大学为支持外大陆架环境评估计划（Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment Program，OCSEAP），于北冰洋收集了漂流浮标数据。数据采集时段为1976年6月4日至1976年11月27日。数据由美国国家海洋数据中心（National Oceanographic and Data Center，NODC）按照NODC标准F156漂流浮标数据格式进行规范化处理。完整的格式说明文档可通过NODC官网地址www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-Archive/f156.html获取。

F156格式适用于存储通过追踪漂流浮标、曳浮筒（drogue）或其他搭载观测仪器的装置随流运动所获取的海洋环流时间序列数据。运动状态以逐点地理坐标形式记录，坐标信息通过岸基、水面舰艇、航空器或卫星观测手段确定。该格式可覆盖从数分钟到数月的时长范围，用于记录洋流与海冰运动数据。研究人员可基于该数据集计算单次观测间的运动方向与速度，并以图表或汇总列表形式呈现，以此提供近海及近岸区域的环流模式与物质输运相关信息。针对每一组观测序列，需记录以下信息：数据采集或装置部署所用平台的名称、浮筒特性、观测起止位置与时间，以及观测频率（若采用固定时间间隔观测）。此外，该格式还支持记录其他表层气象或海洋学参数（如水温、盐度、气温、气压、风况、海浪）以及次表层数据（深度、压强、温度）。文本记录可用于撰写一般性备注，或对单组浮筒观测详情进行描述。