Temperature profile data collected using XBTs from the ALSTER EXPRESS and other platforms from the Pacific Ocean during the Thermal Structure Monitoring Program in the Pacific (TRANSPAC) project, 1983-03-01 to 1983-07-03 (NODC Accession 8400039)

Temperature profile data were collected using bathythermograph (BT/XBT) casts from ALSTER EXPRESS and other platforms in the Pacific Ocean from March 1, 1983 to July 3, 1983. 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.

1983年3月1日至7月3日期间，研究人员借助“阿尔斯特快车”号（ALSTER EXPRESS）及其他平台的温深仪（bathythermograph, BT）与投弃式温深仪（expendable bathythermograph, XBT）站位数据，采集了太平洋海域的温度剖面数据。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。数据经美国国家海洋数据中心（National Oceanographic Data Center，简称NODC）处理，转换为NODC标准通用温深仪输出（Universal Bathythermograph Output, UBT）格式。完整的温深仪相关说明可访问：http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-Archive/bt.html。

UBT格式存储了通过投弃式温深仪（XBT）采集的温度-深度剖面数据。每条观测记录均附带航次信息、观测位置、日期与时间。数据记录由温度-深度值对构成。与机械式温深仪（Mechanical Bathythermograph, MBT）数据文件按固定5米间隔记录温度值不同，XBT数据文件的温度值对应非均匀分布的深度。这些深度点位仅选取精准刻画温度曲线所需的最少数量，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，若使用专用仪器，测量深度可达1830米。