Temperature profile data collected using XBTs from the YAMASHIN MARU from the Pacific Ocean during the Thermal Structure Monitoring Program in the Pacific (TRANSPAC) project, 23 October 1976 to 26 October 1976 (NODC Accession 8100208)

Temperature profile data were collected using bathythermograph (BT/XBT) casts from YAMASHIN MARU in the Pacific Ocean from October 23, 1976 to October 26, 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来源于1976年10月23日至10月26日期间，“山下丸”号（YAMASHIN MARU）在太平洋海域开展的温深仪（bathythermograph, BT/XBT）投弃观测。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（TRANSPAC）项目的组成部分。数据由美国国家海洋数据中心（NODC）处理为通用温深仪输出（Universal Bathythermograph Output, UBT）标准格式。关于温深仪的完整说明可访问：http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-Archive/bt.html。

UBT格式包含通过投弃式温深仪（expendable bathythermograph, XBT）获取的温度-深度剖面数据。每条观测记录均附带航次信息、观测位置、观测日期与时间，数据记录由温度与深度的数值对构成。与机械式温深仪（Mechanical Bathythermograph, MBT）数据文件不同——后者以均匀5米间隔记录温度值，XBT数据文件的温度值对应非均匀深度。此类深度仅记录准确刻画温度曲线所需的最少数量的拐点（inflection points）。标准投弃式温深仪可获取的剖面最大深度为450米或760米；采用专用仪器时，测量深度可达1830米。