Temperature profile data collected using XBTs from the MEDELENA from the Pacific Ocean during the Thermal Structure Monitoring Program in the Pacific (TRANSPAC) project, 12 August 1976 to 18 August 1976 (NODC Accession 8100398)

Temperature profile data were collected using bathythermograph (BT/XBT) casts from MEDELENA in the Pacific Ocean from August 12, 1976 to August 18, 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.本数据集的温度剖面数据采集自1976年8月12日至18日期间太平洋海域MEDELENA平台的海水深度温度计（bathythermograph，简称BT/XBT）投放观测。该数据由斯克里普斯海洋研究所（Scripps Institution of Oceanography）提交，作为太平洋热结构监测计划（Thermal Structure Monitoring Program in the Pacific，简称TRANSPAC）项目的组成部分。美国国家海洋数据中心（National Oceanographic Data Center，简称NODC）将数据处理为符合NODC标准的通用海水深度温度计输出（Universal Bathythermograph Output，简称UBT）格式。关于BT的详细说明可访问网址：http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-Archive/bt.html。 UBT格式包含通过投弃式海水深度温度计（expendable bathythermograph，简称XBT）仪器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、日期与时间。数据记录由若干组温深数值对构成。与机械式海水深度温度计（MBT）数据文件不同，该类文件以均匀5米间隔记录温度数值，而XBT数据文件的温度数值则对应非均匀深度。其深度仅记录足以精准刻画温度曲线的最少测点，即“拐点”。标准XBT仪器可获取的剖面深度可达450米或760米；若使用专用仪器，测量深度可达1830米。