Temperature profiles from expendable bathythermograph (XBT) casts from the USCGC ACUSHNET in the Gulf of Mexico in support of the Integrated Global Ocean Services System (IGOSS) project from 12 February 1974 to 15 February 1974 (NODC Accession 7400190)

XBT data were collected from the USCGC ACUSHNET in support of the Integrated Global Ocean Services System (IGOSS) project. Data were collected by the US Coast Guard from 12 February 1974 to 15 February 1974. 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) instruments. 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.