Temperature profile data collected using XBTs from the MEDELENA from the Pacific Ocean during the Thermal Structure Monitoring Program in the Pacific (TRANSPAC) project, 15 July 1977 to 23 July 1977 (NODC Accession 8100397)

Temperature profile data were collected using bathythermograph (BT/XBT) casts from MEDELENA in the Pacific Ocean from July 15, 1977 to July 23, 1977. 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1977年7月15日至7月23日期间太平洋海域MEDELENA科考航次，通过海洋测温剖面仪（bathythermograph，BT/XBT）投放作业获取。该数据集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，TRANSPAC）项目的组成部分。数据集由美国国家海洋数据中心（National Oceanographic Data Center，NODC）处理为NODC标准通用测温剖面仪输出格式（Universal Bathythermograph Output，UBT）。完整的BT设备说明可访问链接：http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-Archive/bt.html。

UBT格式存储了通过可抛弃式测温剖面仪（expendable bathythermograph，XBT）获取的温度-深度剖面数据。每份观测记录均包含科考航次信息、观测位置、日期与时间。数据记录由温度-深度值对组成。与机械式测温剖面仪数据文件（MBT Data File）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的深度并不均匀。这些深度仅记录了精准刻画温度曲线所需的最少测点，即“拐点（inflection points）”。标准XBT设备可获取的剖面最大深度为450米或760米；若使用专用设备，测量深度可达1830米。