N: 41 S: 23 E: -28 W: -76
Description
The SPURS (Salinity Processes in the Upper Ocean Regional Study) project is an oceanographic process study and associated field program that aim to elucidate key mechanisms responsible for near-surface salinity variations in the oceans. The project involves two field campaigns and a series of cruises in regions of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans exhibiting salinity extremes. SPURS employs a suite of state-of-the-art in-situ sampling technologies that, combined with remotely sensed salinity fields from the Aquarius/SAC-D and SMOS satellites, provide a detailed characterization of salinity structure over a continuum of spatio-temporal scales. The SPURS-1 campaign involved a series of 5 cruises during 2012 - 2013 seeking to characterize the salinity structure and balance in a high salinity, high evaporation, and low rainfall region of the subtropical North Atlantic. It aims to resolve processes responsible for maintaining the subtropical surface salinity maximum in this region and within a 900 x 800-mile square study area centered at 25N, 38W. Part of the Argo global network of autonomous, self-reporting samplers, Argo floats drift horizontally and move vertically through the water column generally on 10 day cycles, collecting high-quality temperature, conductivity and salinity depth profiles from the upper 2000m. Approximately 24 floats were deployed during SPURS-1 within the campaign domain, mainly during the Knorr cruise (6 Sept-9 Oct,2012). These were standard Argo floats with the addition of surface temperature and salinity (STS) sensors and acoustic rain gauges (PAL). Data accessible here only include the standard ARGO profiles, not the STS or PAL data. SPURS-1 ARGO data files are oganized per float and each contain profile trajectory series of conductivity, salinity, temperature, pressure, depth observations.
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Variables
The table below lists the variables contained within a single granule for this dataset. Variables often contain observed or derived geophysical measurements collected from a variety of sources, including remote sensing instruments on satellite and airborne platforms, field campaigns, in situ measurements, and model outputs. The terms variable, parameter, scientific data set, layer, and band have been used across NASA’s Earth science disciplines; however, variable is the designated nomenclature in NASA’s Common Metadata Repository (CMR). Variable metadata attributes such as Name, Description, Units, Data Type, Fill Value, Valid Range, and Scale Factor allow users to efficiently process and analyze the data. The full range of attributes may not be applicable to all variables. Additional information on variable attributes is typically available in the data, user guide, and/or other product documentation.
For questions on a specific variable, please use the Earthdata Forum.
| Name Sort descending | Description | Units | Data Type | Fill Value | Valid Range | Scale Factor | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSAL_QC | quality flag | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 | N/A |
| REFERENCE_DATE_TIME | Date of reference for Julian days | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 | N/A |
| SCIENTIFIC_CALIB_COEFFICIENT | Calibration coefficients for this equation | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 | N/A |
| SCIENTIFIC_CALIB_COMMENT | Comment applying to this parameter calibration | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 | N/A |
| SCIENTIFIC_CALIB_DATE | Date of calibration | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 | N/A |
| SCIENTIFIC_CALIB_EQUATION | Calibration equation for this parameter | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 | N/A |
| STATION_PARAMETERS | List of available parameters for the station | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 | N/A |
| TEMP | SEA TEMPERATURE IN SITU ITS-90 SCALE | degree_Celsius | float | 99999 | -2 to 40 | 1 | N/A |
| TEMP_ADJUSTED | SEA TEMPERATURE IN SITU ITS-90 SCALE | degree_Celsius | float | 99999 | -2 to 40 | 1 | N/A |
| TEMP_ADJUSTED_ERROR | SEA TEMPERATURE IN SITU ITS-90 SCALE | degree_Celsius | float | 99999 | N/A | 1 | N/A |
| TEMP_ADJUSTED_QC | quality flag | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 | N/A |
| TEMP_QC | quality flag | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 | N/A |
| VERTICAL_SAMPLING_SCHEME | Vertical sampling scheme | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 | N/A |
| WMO_INST_TYPE | Coded instrument type | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 | N/A |