Temperature profile and water depth data collected from EISBAR and other platforms using BT and XBT casts in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean from 1976-11-15 to 1987-07-14 (NCEI Accession 8800193)

Temperature profile and water depth data were collected using BT and XBT casts from the EISBAR and other platforms in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. Data were collected from 15 November 1976 to 14 July 1987 by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

Data has been processed by NODC to the NODC standard Bathythermograph (XBT) (C116) format.

The C116/C118 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. Prior to July 1994, XBT data were routinely processed to one of these standard types. XBT data are now processed and loaded directly in to the NODC Ocean Profile Data Base (OPDB). Historic data from these two data types were loaded into the OPDB.