This data set is a processed version of data obtained during the First GARP (Global Atmospheric Research Program) Global Experiment (FGGE). The data were obtained by 359 individual drifting buoys from November 1978 to January 1981 mostly in the southern hemisphere oceans. This data set was processed by Dr. Steven L. Patterson from NODC. The buoys were supplied by different countries. Included in the documentation is a description of the data set and a manuscript titled "Surface Circulation and Kinetic Energy Distribution in the South by S.L. Patterson". This paper was published in the Journal of Physical Oceanography 15 (7).

Temperature profile and water depth data were collected using BT and XBT casts from the USS ROBERT G. BRADLEY and HMAS MORESBY in the Mediterranean Sea. Data were collected from 16 March 1985 to 24 June 1987 by the US Navy; Ships Of Opportunity (SOOP) and Australian Navy. 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.

The accession contains drifting buoy data archived by Marine Environmental Data Service (MEDS), Canada. The data were collected between January 1986 and June 1988. The data are in DRIBU code and GF-3 format. Only positions and time are reported.

The data in this accession were collected in 26 cruises conducted using multiple ships over a decade between August 1980 to July 1991. The real time data of water temperature at varying depth bathythermograph (XBT) was recorded in stripcharts by the US Navy. One box of analog stripcharts and radio logs were submitted to NODC by Mr. Paul Stevens of Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center, Monterey CA. The XBT data from these stripcharts have been digitized and are present in the current NODC data storage system in C116 file format.

This dataset contains datasets collected over a period of one year. The cruises were conducted using many different ships as part of Shipboard Environmental data Acquisition System (SEAS) III program. The bathythermograph (XBT) data was collected between April 4, 1990 and April 16, 1991. The data were sent from the cruise ships to the National Ocean Service, Rockville, MD via telecommunication. This data containing 934 observations is currently available in the C116 file format of NODC.

Temperature and pressure data were collected using drifting buoy and profiling floats from CHAIN, GILLISS, OCEANUS, and ENDEAVOR from the North Atlantic Ocean from January 10, 1975 to May 31, 1981. Data were submitted by University of Rhode Island; Graduate School of Oceanography in a part of the IDOE/POLYMODE (International Decade of Ocean Exploration / combination of USSR POLYGON project and US MODE). This data set consists of 65 SOFAR float deployments and contains data collected from 1975-81. Included in the documentation is a manuscript titled "SOFAR Float Pilot Studies in the Western North Atlantic 1975-1981- Data Report" by Renee M. O'Gara, H. Thomas Rossby and Diane L. Spain. Technical Report Ref. no. 82-3. This report covers the first 30 floats. Deployments were from the following ships: CHAIN-127, GILLISS 76, OCEANUS-15, ENDEAVOR-07, and ENDEAVOR-13. Floats 32-91 are described in the technical report titled "SOFAR Float Data Report of the Polymode Local Dynamics Experiment", Ref. no. 34-T. These floats were deployed during the R/V GYRE cruise (78-G-6). This research program was funded by the National Science Foundation under grants IDO75-18930, OCE-7818662, OCE-79-26187 and partly by the Office of Naval Research Contract no OO14-76-C-0226. *Note: Although the documentation describes the Deployment of 91 SOFAR floats total, only 65 were actually recovered. Data from the recovered floats and their identification numbers are included in the documentation. Current direction was reported as U/V components; associated temperature and pressure data was reported when possible.

This dataset contains data from cruises that were conducted using many different ships. The bathythermograph (XBT) data was collected between January 5 and November 12, 1989. The data were sent from the cruise ships to the National Ocean Service, Rockville, MD via telecommunication. This data was submitted by Mr. Woodward E. William and is currently available in the C116 file format of NODC.

This dataset contains data collected from 80 casts in NW Atlantic (limit-40 W) as part of Shipboard Environmental data Acquisition System (SEAS) III program. The cruises were conducted using ship POLAR STAR. The bathythermograph (XBT) data was collected between June 9, 1991 and October 23, 1991. The data were sent from the cruise ships to the US Coast Guard, Groton CT via telecommunication. This data was submitted in a diskette and is currently available in the C116 file format of NODC.