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Temperature profile data from XBT casts along repeat transects in the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean for the High Resolution XBT Network by Scripps Institute of Oceanography from 1989 to present

Published by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Catalog Last Checked: May 29, 2026 at 11:04 PM | Dataset Last Updated: March 05, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Repeat high resolution expendable Bathythermograph (XBT) transects have been collected along a number of commercial shipping routes spanning the Pacific Ocean, the Drake Passage, and Tasmania to Dumont d'Urville. On each of the transects generally four surveys are conducted per year. Temperature data are usually collected by a scientist on board the vessel using an automatic XBT launcher designed at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO). The launcher holds 6 XBT probes which are pre-programmed to drop at specific locations (using GPS) or times. The XBT probes are Sippican "Deep Blue", which are rated to 760 m depth, but typically return temperature to a depth of around 850 m at ship speeds of 15 to 18 knots. Sequential XBT casts are separated by 30-40 km along track, with closer station spacings of 10 km near boundaries, across the equator and in topographically varying regions. Sampling begins and ends near the 200 m isobath at the coastal endpoints of the tracks.

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0000006 0000684 0000925 0056790 0062598 0099187 0099261 0099262

Complete Metadata
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describedByType application/octet-steam
description Repeat high resolution expendable Bathythermograph (XBT) transects have been collected along a number of commercial shipping routes spanning the Pacific Ocean, the Drake Passage, and Tasmania to Dumont d'Urville. On each of the transects generally four surveys are conducted per year. Temperature data are usually collected by a scientist on board the vessel using an automatic XBT launcher designed at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO). The launcher holds 6 XBT probes which are pre-programmed to drop at specific locations (using GPS) or times. The XBT probes are Sippican "Deep Blue", which are rated to 760 m depth, but typically return temperature to a depth of around 850 m at ship speeds of 15 to 18 knots. Sequential XBT casts are separated by 30-40 km along track, with closer station spacings of 10 km near boundaries, across the equator and in topographically varying regions. Sampling begins and ends near the 200 m isobath at the coastal endpoints of the tracks.
distribution 
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issued 1990-01-01T00:00:00.000+00:00
keyword 
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  "DEPTH - BOTTOM",
  "DEPTH - OBSERVATION",
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  "WATER TEMPERATURE",
  "bathythermograph - BT",
  "bathythermograph - XBT",
  "in situ",
  "physical",
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  "ASIAN CHALLENGER",
  "BRISBANE STAR",
  "CALIFORNIA STAR",
  "Cap Pasado",
  "CAP REINGA",
  "Cape Franklin",
  "CAPITAINE DAMPIER",
  "CHEVRON MISSISSIPPI",
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  "E.R. Wilhelmshaven",
  "E.R.AMSTERDAM",
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  "Tacoma Trader",
  "TALLAHASSEE",
  "TONSINA",
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  "USCGC Alex Haley",
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  "USCGC Jarvis",
  "USCGC Morgenthau",
  "USCGC Munro",
  "USCGC Sherman",
  "USCGC Spar",
  "USCGC Sycamore",
  "Scripps Institution of Oceanography",
  "Scripps Institution of Oceanography",
  "Global Temperature and Salinity Profile Programme (GTSPP)",
  "GULF OF MEXICO NOAA/NMFS SHIP OF OPPORTUNITY (SOOP)",
  "Ship of Opportunity Programme (SOOP)",
  "SIO High Resolution XBT/XCTD Network",
  "World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE)",
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  "Coastal Waters of Southeast Alaska and British Columbia",
  "Coral Sea",
  "East China Sea (Tung Hai)",
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  "Höegh Oslo (call sign: LAEK7, ICES code: 58EM, 2008-)",
  "Höegh Seoul (call sign: LADO6, ICES code: 58SM, 2009-)",
  "Höegh St. Petersburg (call sign: LAII7, ICES code: 58EN)",
  "Höegh Trident (call sign: LAKP7, ICES code: 58HQ, 2010-)",
  "JARVIS (ICES code: 319J)",
  "JOANA BONITA (call sign: 3EFY6, ICES code: PAJB)",
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  "KNORR (call sign: KCEJ, ICES code: 316N, 1970-)",
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  "LYDIA OLDENDORFF (call sign: ELVH7, ICES code: 54LO)",
  "MAERSK INVERNESS (call sign: 9V2005, ICES code: SI8R, 2013-)",
  "MAERSK LIRQUEN (call sign: VRKB8, ICES code: HKRN, 2011-)",
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  "MAERSK SENANG (call sign: S6CH5, ICES code: SIMS, 2007-)",
  "MAERSK TAIKUNG (call sign: VROX2, ICES code: HK82, 2015-)",
  "MELL SPRINGWOOD (call sign: V2FE8, ICES code: AGMS, 2011-)",
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  "MOL PROGRESS (call sign: HOCR, ICES code: PAA8, 2002-)",
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  "MUNRO (ICES code: 319U)",
  "Marcus G. Langseth (call sign: WDC6698, ICES code: 33H3, 2005-)",
  "NACRE (call sign: 3EZI6, ICES code: PANA)",
  "NATHANIEL B. PALMER (call sign: WPB3210, ICES code: 3206, 1992-)",
  "NORTHERN DEPENDANT (call sign: A8NY8, ICES code: 54T3, 2013-)",
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  "ONRUST (ICES code: 32ON)",
  "POLAR DUKE (call sign: WCX7445, ICES code: 33PD, 1984-1988)",
  "POLAR ENDEAVOUR (call sign: WCAJ, ICES code: 33H1)",
  "Polar Discovery (call sign: WACW, ICES code: 33IF)",
  "Polar Duke (call sign: LACS4, ICES code: 58PD, 1989-2008)",
  "SAFMARINE MULANJE (call sign: 9VJR8, ICES code: SISM, 2007-2015)",
  "SAFMARINE MULANJE (call sign: VROX6, ICES code: HKQS, 2015-)",
  "SANTA INES (call sign: OXCE2, ICES code: 267A, 2018-)",
  "SEA-LAND ENTERPRISE (call sign: KRGB, ICES code: 320N)",
  "SOUTHLAND STAR (call sign: 3DTF, ICES code: FJSS)",
  "SPAR (ICES code: 31SA)",
  "SYCAMORE (call sign: NTGG, ICES code: 325I, 2002-)",
  "Safmarine Meru (call sign: 9V6535, ICES code: SIW6, 2012-)",
  "Safmarine Meru (call sign: MNDC9, ICES code: 74TH, 2006-2012)",
  "Sherman (ICES code: 311H)",
  "TACOMA TRADER (call sign: 9V2401, ICES code: SI5J, 2015-)",
  "TALLAHASSEE (call sign: 9V5027, ICES code: SIF3, 2016-)",
  "TONSINA (call sign: KJDG, ICES code: 33TN)",
  "UNDARUM (call sign: 5BWD2, ICES code: CYFX, 2009-)",
  "Höegh Asia",
  "Höegh Berlin",
  "Höegh Dubai",
  "Höegh London",
  "Höegh Oslo",
  "Höegh St. Petersburg",
  "Höegh Trident",
  "BSL Limassol",
  "MSC Damla",
  "OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN",
  "OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN",
  "OCEAN > INDIAN OCEAN",
  "OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > AMERICAN SAMOA",
  "OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > HAWAIIAN ISLANDS",
  "OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN",
  "OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN > BERING SEA",
  "OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN > GULF OF ALASKA",
  "OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN",
  "OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN > EAST CHINA SEA",
  "OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN > SOUTH CHINA SEA",
  "OCEAN > SOUTHERN OCEAN",
  "AX22",
  "IX02",
  "IX15",
  "IX21",
  "PX05",
  "PX06",
  "PX09",
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  "PX40",
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  "PX50",
  "PX81",
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  "I21",
  "P05",
  "P09",
  "P15",
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  "P31",
  "P37",
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  "P40",
  "P44",
  "P50",
  "P81",
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]
landingPage https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
language 
[]
license https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
modified 2026-03-05T00:00:00.000+00:00
publisher 
{
  "name": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
references 
[
  "https://doi.org/10.1016/0198-0149(87)90088-4",
  "https://doi.org/10.1016/0011-7471(68)90057-0",
  "https://www-hrx.ucsd.edu/"
]
rights otherRestrictions
spatial -17.65,-64.97,25.736,61.001
temporal 1989-03-01T00:00:00+00:00/1989-03-01T00:00:00+00:00
title Temperature profile data from XBT casts along repeat transects in the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean for the High Resolution XBT Network by Scripps Institute of Oceanography from 1989 to present

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