Abstract:
This file contains temperature-depth profile data obtained using
the mechanical bathythermograph (MBT) instrument. The maximum
depth of MBT observations is approximately 285 m. Therefore, MBT
data are useful only in studying the thermal structure of the
upper layers of the ocean. Cruise information, position, date
and time are reported for each observation. The data record
comprises pairs of
... temperature-depth values. Temperature data in
this file are recorded at uniform 5 m depth intervals. The MBT
Data File is maintained in both cruise and geographic sorted
versions.
NOTE: The mechanical bathythermograph instrument is now obsolete, having
been superseded by the faster, easier-to-operate, expendable
bathythermograph (XBT). NODC no longer routinely digitizes MBT data;
however, NODC still accepts digital MBT data for addition to Ocean
Profile Data Base (OPDB) and may digitize historic MBT data as part of
the ongoing Global Ocean Data Archeaology and Rescue (GODAR) project.
Historic MBT data were digitized from analog bathythermograph slides and
accompanying log sheets that provided reference information. Most of the
data in NODC's MBT Data File was processed on contract by the Scripps
Institution of Oceanography. The processing was performed via a
semi-automatic digitizer that recorded digital output directly on
magnetic tape. Prior to July 1994, XBT data were routinely processed to
one of these standard types. MBT data are now processed and loaded
directly in to the NODC Ocean Profile Data Base (OPDB). All of the
historic data from this data type was loaded into the OPDB. Much
of these data are included on various NODC CD-ROM products. 
