Physical and other data were collected from bottle and XBT casts from the AGS NO 2 and other platforms from the NW Pacific (limit-180). Data were collected by the Fisheries Agency of Japan (JFA) and other institutions from 07 January 1967 to 02 March 1984. Data were processed by NODC to the NODC standard Station Data II Output Format (SD2) and the Universal Bathythermograph Output Format (UBT).

The SD2 file format is used for physical-chemical oceanographic data recorded at discrete depth levels. Most of the observations were made using multi-bottle Nansen casts or other types of water samplers. A small amount (about 5%), were obtained using electronic CTD (conductivity-temperature-depth) or STD (salinity-temperature-depth) recorders. The CTD/STD data were reported to NODC at depth levels equivalent to Nansen cast data, however, and have been processed and stored the same as the Nansen data. Cruise information, position, date and time are reported for each station. Each station contains the measurements taken at observed depth levels, but also includes data values interpolated to a set of standard depth levels.

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 records are comprised of pairs of temperature-depth values. The XBT data files contain temperature values at originators defined depths. Standard XBTs can obtain profiles to depths of either 450 or 760 m. Special instruments permit measurements to be obtained to 1830 m.

Data has been processed by NODC to the NODC standard Bathythermograph XBT Selected Depths (SBT) (C125) and Ocean Station (C100) formats.

The Oceanographic Station Data (C100) format contains physical-chemical oceanographic data recorded at discrete depth levels. Most of the observations were made using multi-bottle Nansen casts or other types of water samplers. A small amount (about 5 percent) were obtained using electronic CTD (conductivity-temperature-depth) or STD (salinity-temperature-depth) recorders. The CTD/STD data were reported to NODC at depth levels equivalent to Nansen cast data, however, and have been processed and stored the same as the Nansen data. Cruise information (e.g., ship, country, institution), position, date, and time, and reported for each station. The principal measured parameters and temperature and salinity, but dissolved oxygen, phosphate, total phosphorus, silicate, nitrate, nitrite, and pH may be reported. Meteorological conditions at the time of the cast (e.g., air temperature and pressure, wind, waves) may also be reported, as well as auxiliary data such as water color (Forel-Ule scale), water transparency (Secchi disk depth), and depth to bottom. Values of density (sigma-t) sound velocity, and dynamic depth anomaly are computed from measured parameters. Each station contains the measurements taken at the observed depth levels, but also includes data values interpolated to a set of standard depth levels.

The UBT (C125) 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 records are comprised of pairs of temperature-depth values. Depths are selected by the originator - usually at standard horizons or some fixed interval. Standard XBTs can obtain profiles to depths of either 450 or 760 m. Special instruments permitted measurements to be obtained to 1830 m.