Temperature profile data collected using XBTs from the AUSTRAL RAINBOW from the Pacific Ocean during the Thermal Structure Monitoring Program in the Pacific (TRANSPAC) project, 10 September 1976 to 15 September 1976 (NODC Accession 8100229)

Temperature profile data were collected using bathythermograph (BT/XBT) casts from AUSTRAL RAINBOW in the Pacific Ocean from September 10, 1976 to September 15, 1976. 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.1976年9月10日至9月15日，研究团队于太平洋海域通过AUSTRAL RAINBOW号搭载的温深仪（BT/XBT，bathythermograph）开展剖面观测，获取温度剖面数据。该批数据由斯克里普斯海洋研究所（Scripps Institution of Oceanography）作为太平洋热结构监测计划（TRANSPAC项目）的组成部分提交。美国国家海洋数据中心（NODC）将这批数据处理为符合NODC标准的通用温深仪输出（UBT，Universal Bathythermograph Output）格式。有关温深仪的完整说明可访问：http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-Archive/bt.html。 UBT格式存储了通过抛弃式温深仪（XBT，expendable bathythermograph）获取的温度-深度剖面数据。每份观测记录均包含航次信息、观测位置、观测日期与时间，数据记录由温度-深度值对构成。与MBT数据文件以5米等间隔记录温度值的形式不同，XBT数据文件的温度值对应非均匀深度。这些深度以精准刻画温度曲线所需的最少测点（即“拐点”）进行记录。标准XBT可获取深度达450米或760米的温度剖面；搭载专用仪器时，测量深度可达1830米。