Temperature, current meter, and other data using current meter, thermistor, and mooring casts from the Pacific Ocean as part of the Emperor Seamount Experiment from 1982-06-28 to 1983-11-23 (NCEI Accession 9500019)

Temperature, conductivity, east-west current component, north-south current component, depth, pressure, and salinity data were collected using current meter, thermistor, mooring casts in the Pacific Ocean. Data were collected from June 28, 1982 to November 23, 1983. Data were submitted by Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) as part of the Emperor Seamount Experiment. The Emperor Seamount Experiment included hydrographic observations, current meter moorings, and analysis of historic data in the region of the Emperor Seamounts. The Emperor Seamount Chain is the major topographic feature which the Kuroshio and Subarctic fronts cross. Data from the current meters provided a picture of changes in mean and eddy kinetic energy and velocity shear between the basins separated by the seamounts.

The principal investigator was Bruce Taft, at that time associated with the University of Washington. Current meter work was done by the OSU Buoy Group under Dale Pillsbury.

Four moorings carrying 14 current meters were installed in June of 1982. Recovery was attempted 17 months later, in November of 1983. Two moorings were recovered in their entirety. One current meter was recovered from a third mooring, and the fourth mooring was lost. In all, 8 meters were recovered. Seven gave good data and one flooded.

Data has been processed to the NODC standard Current Meter Data (Components) (F015) format.

The F015 format is used for time series measurements of ocean currents. These data are obtained from current meter moorings and represent Eulerian method of current measurement, i.e., the meters are deployed at a fixed point and measure flow past a sensor. Position, bottom depth, sensor depth, and meter characteristics are reported for each station. The data record comprises values of east-west (u) and north-south (v) current vector components at specified date and time. Current direction is defined as the direction toward which the water is flowing with positive directions east and north and negative directions west and south. Data values may be subject to averaging or filtering and are typically reported at 10-15 minute time intervals. Water temperature, pressure, and conductivity or salinity may also be reported. A text record is available for optional comments.