xbt - Oceanographic Data Device Location for Joint USGS Cruise 03008 and NOAA RB0303

Frequently-anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

Title:

xbt - Oceanographic Data Device Location for Joint USGS Cruise 03008 and NOAA RB0303

Abstract:

"The Expendable Bathythermograph (XBT) has been used by oceanographers for many years to obtain information on the temperature structure of the ocean to depths of up to 1500 meters. The XBT... is a probe which is dropped from a ship and measures the temperature as it falls through the water. Two very small wires transmit the temperature data to the ship where it is recorded for later analysis. The probe is designed to fall at a constant rate, so that the depth of the probe can be inferred from the time since it was launched. By plotting temperature as a function of depth, the [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Geological Survey] scientists can get a picture of the temperature profile of the water." (<http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/uot/uot_xbt.html>). The XBT device and location where it was dropped was engineered by the USGS Science Cruise 03008 in collaboration with NOAA Research Cruise RB0303 from 18 February to 7 March 2003, Leg II of III. (Leg I and III: 20020924 to 20020930 and 20030828 to 20030904, respectively). This data set is in shapefile format.

1. How should this data set be cited?

   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 2004, xbt - Oceanographic Data Device Location for Joint USGS Cruise 03008 and NOAA RB0303: Open-File Report 2004-1400, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1400/data/oceanography/xbt/xbt.zip>

   This is part of the following larger work.

   Brink, Uri ten , Danforth, William, Polloni, Chris, Parker, Castle Eugene , Uozumi, Toshi, and Williams, Glynn, 2004, Project PROBE Leg II - Final Report and Archive of Swath Bathymetric Sonar, CTD/XBT and GPS Navigation Data Collected During USGS Cruise 03008 (NOAA Cruise RB0303) Puerto Rico Trench 18 February - 7 March, 2003: Open-File Report 2004-1400, U.S. Geological Survey Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1400>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -66.416660

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -62.833300

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 19.466660

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 19.000000

3. What does it look like?

4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Beginning_Date: 18-Feb-2003

   Ending_Date: 07-Mar-2003

   Currentness_Reference: publication date

5. What is the general form of this data set?

   Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • Entity point (5)

   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.00001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.00001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is D_WGS_1984.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS_1984.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257224.
      

      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:

      Altitude_System_Definition:

      Depth_System_Definition:

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   XBT

   Shapefile Attribute Table (Source: ESRI)

   FID

   Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

   Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

   Shape

   Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

   Coordinates defining the features.

   ID

   A unique character string or numeric value associated with a particular object. (Source: ESRI)

   LATITUDE

   The north/south coordinate system reference point (location) where the XBT device was launched into water. (Source: NOAA shipboard technician)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	19.0000
   Maximum:	19.6166
   Units:	decimal degrees
   Resolution:	0.0001

   LONGITUDE

   The east/west coordinate system reference point (location) where the XBT device was launched into water. (Source: NOAA shipboard technician)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-62.83330
   Maximum:	-68.40000
   Units:	decimal degrees
   Resolution:	0.00001

   WAYPTS

   name assigned to designate XBT cast start location (Source: user defined)

   Value	Definition
   XBT	Expendable Bathythermograph (XBT) device

   DATE

   The recorded date by month, day, and year, mm:dd:yyyy, when the device/equipment was launched into the water. (Source: USGS)

   Dates in mm/dd/yy notation

   TIME

   The recorded time by hour:minute:second, hh:mm:ss, when the device/equipment was launched into the water (Source: USGS)

   UTC times in hh/mm/ss notation

   XBT_Type

   Specifies XBT depth capability (Source: Sippican Corporation)

   Value	Definition
   T- 5	Depth range 0 - 1830 meters

   XBT_Type

   Specifies XBT depth capability (Source: Sippican Corporation)

   Value	Definition
   T- 7	Depth range 0 - 760 meters

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
   • U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

   Glynn Williams
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Spatial Data Technician
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   

   (508) 548-8700 x2290 (voice)
   508.457.2310 (FAX)
   gwilliams@usgs.gov
   

   Hours_of_Service: 8:00AM to 5:00PM; M-F

To show the coordingate system location stations using the longitude, the latitude, and the dates where and when XBT equipment was launched.

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

   (source 1 of 1)

2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: 2004 (process 1 of 3)

   The XBT data file was received from the R/V Ron Brown Oceanographic data network, sent directly to the central storage system and logged to a spreadsheet file.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Chris Polloni
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Information Specialist
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1589
   USA
   

   508-548-8700 x2280 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   cpolloni@usgs.gov
   

   Hours_of_Service: 8AM to 5PM; M-F

   Date: 2004 (process 2 of 3)

   The XBT spreadsheet file was reformatted as table input file for ArcView.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Chris Polloni
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Information Specialist
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1589
   USA
   

   (508) 548-8700 x2280 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   cpolloni@usgs.gov
   

   Hours_of_Service: 8AM to 5PM; M-F

   Date: 2004 (process 3 of 3)

   XBT table location file saved as ArcView shapefile. ArcView 3.2 used to process shapefile.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Chris Polloni
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Information Specialist
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1589
   USA
   

   (508) 548-8700 x2280 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   cpolloni@usgs.gov
   

   Hours_of_Service: 8AM to 5PM; M-F

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • xbt.dbf
   • xbt.shp
   • xbt.shx

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

1. How well have the observations been checked?

2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

   The GPS was considered to have a horizontal accuracy of < 10 meters.

3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

   complete

5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints:

Public domain data from the U.S. government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)as the source of this information.

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

   Uri ten Brink
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Geologist
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1589
   USA
   

   (508) 548-8700 x2396 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   utenbrink@usgs.gov
   

   Hours_of_Service: 8AM to 5PM; M-F

2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

   Downloadable Data: Open-File Report 2004-1400 - xbt

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   Although this dataset has been used by The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and The U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by NOAA or the USGS as to the accuracy of the data and/or related materials. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by NOAA or the USGS in the use of these data or related materials.

4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	The six files (xbt.dbf, xbt.prj, xbt.shp, xbt.shx xbt.xml) in format ArcView shapefile (version 3.2) point shapefile Size: 7
     Media you can order:	DVD-ROM (Density 4,700 Mbyte) (format UDF) Note: The user must have a computer system with a DVD-ROM available. To browse the information contained on this DVD-ROM, the user must have a current WWW browser available. The user must also have software installed on their computer to unzip the archived file.

   • Cost to order the data: none

5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

   The data is available in Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) shapefile format. The user must have ArcView 3.+ or ArcGIS 8.+ to read and process the data file. In lieu of ArcView/ArcGIS, the user may utilize another GIS application package capable of importing data.

Dates:

Last modified: 02-Nov-2004

Metadata author:

Glynn Williams
U.S. Geological Survey
Spatial Data Technician
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
USA

(508) 548-8700 x2290 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
gwilliams@.usgs.gov

Hours_of_Service: 8:00AM to 5:00PM; M-F

Metadata standard:

FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

Metadata extensions used:

• <http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html>