Temperature profile data collected using XBTs from the JAPAN ACE from the Pacific Ocean during the Thermal Structure Monitoring Program in the Pacific (TRANSPAC) project, 24 November 1976 to 04 December 1976 (NODC Accession 8100260)

Temperature profile data were collected using bathythermograph (BT/XBT) casts from JAPAN ACE in the Pacific Ocean from November 24, 1976 to December 4, 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.

1976年11月24日至12月4日，科研人员依托日本ACE（JAPAN ACE）在太平洋海域开展的投弃式温深仪（bathythermograph，BT/XBT）观测作业，采集得到温度剖面数据。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）的组成部分。国家海洋数据中心（National Oceanographic Data Center，NODC）已将这批数据处理为符合NODC标准的通用投弃式温深仪输出格式（Universal Bathythermograph Output，UBT）。完整的BT仪器说明可通过以下链接查阅：http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-Archive/bt.html。

UBT格式存储了通过投弃式温深仪（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-深度值对构成。与采用5米均匀间隔记录温度数据的MBT数据文件不同，XBT数据文件中的温度值对应非均匀水深，仅采集可精准刻画温度曲线所需的最少测点（即“拐点”）。标准XBT可获取水深达450米或760米的温度剖面；搭配专用仪器时，测量水深可达1830米。