Temperature profile data collected using XBTs from the KASHU MARU from the Pacific Ocean during the Thermal Structure Monitoring Program in the Pacific (TRANSPAC) project, 16 February 1977 to 22 February 1977 (NODC Accession 8100145)

Temperature profile data were collected using bathythermograph (BT/XBT) casts from KASHU MARU in the Pacific Ocean from February 16, 1977 to February 22, 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2月16日至2月22日期间，太平洋海域内KASHU MARU科考船开展的温深仪（bathythermograph, BT/XBT）剖面观测作业。该数据由斯克里普斯海洋研究所（Scripps Institution of Oceanography）作为太平洋热结构监测计划（TRANSPAC项目）的一部分提交。美国国家海洋数据中心（National Oceanographic Data Center, NODC）已将数据处理至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以下网址：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。每份观测记录均包含航次信息、站位坐标、观测日期与时间。数据记录由温度-深度值对构成。与采用均匀5米间隔记录温度值的MBT数据文件不同，XBT数据文件中的温度值对应非均匀分布的深度测点。这些测点仅选取精准刻画温度曲线所需的最少数量，即“拐点（inflection points）”。标准投弃式温深仪可获取水深范围为450米或760米的温度剖面；若搭载专用特殊仪器，测量深度可达1830米。