Temperature profiles from XBT casts from the BIBB from Ocean Weather Station B (OWS-B) in the North Atlantic Ocean from 25 September 1973 to 07 October 1973 (NODC Accession 7301119)

Bathythermograph data were collected from the BIBB within a 1-mile radius of Ocean Weather Station B (5630N 05100W) and in transit. Data were collected by the United States Coast Guard from 25 September 1973 to 07 October 1973. The platform was equipped and staffed to observe weather and sea conditions. Data were processed by NODC to the NODC standard Universal Bathythermograph Output (UBT) format. Full format description is available from NODC at www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-Archive/bt.html.

The UBT file format is used for temperature-depth profile data obtained using expendable bathythermograph (XBT) instrument. Standard XBTs can obtain profiles at depths of about 450 or 760 m. With special instruments, measurements can be obtained to 1830 m. Cruise information, position, date, and time are reported for each observation. The data record comprises pairs of temperature-depth values. Unlike the MBT data file, in which temperature values are recorded at uniform 5m intervals, the XBT Data File contains temperature values at non-uniform depths. These depths are at a minimum number of points ("inflection points") required to record the temperature curve to an acceptable degree of accuracy. On output, however, the user may request temperature values either at inflection points or interpolated to uniform depth increments.

本数据集的海水温度深度记录仪（Bathythermograph）数据采集自海洋气象站B（56°30′N，051°00′W）周边1英里半径范围内及航行途中。数据由美国海岸警卫队于1973年9月25日至1973年10月7日采集。该观测平台配备了专业设备并配有操作人员，用于开展气象与海洋环境状况观测。数据由美国国家海洋数据中心（NODC）按照其标准通用海水温度深度记录仪输出（Universal Bathythermograph Output, UBT）格式进行标准化处理。完整的格式说明可从NODC官网www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-Archive/bt.html获取。

UBT文件格式用于存储通过投弃式海水温度深度记录仪（expendable bathythermograph, XBT）获取的温度-深度剖面数据。标准型XBT可获取约450米或760米深度区间的温度剖面；若配备专用仪器，测量深度可达1830米。每条观测记录均包含航次信息、观测位置、观测日期与时间。数据记录由多组温度-深度数值对组成。与MBT数据文件（其温度值以5米等间隔方式记录）不同，XBT数据文件中的温度值对应非均匀深度测点。这些测点为以可接受精度完整记录温度曲线所需的最少数量的“拐点”。不过在数据输出环节，用户可自主选择获取拐点处的原始温度值，或通过插值运算得到均匀深度间隔下的温度数值。