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
Variables are a set of physical properties whose values determine the characteristics or behavior of something. For example, temperature and pressure are variables of the atmosphere. Parameters and variables can be used interchangeably. Variable level attributes provide individual information for each variable.
The Name in this table is the variable name. Fill value indicates missing or undefined data points in a variable. Valid range is the range of values the variable can store. Scale factor is used to increase or decrease the size of an object and can be used to correct for distortion. For questions on a specific variable, please use the Earthdata Forum.
| Name Sort descending | Description | Units | Data Type | Fill Value | Valid Range | Scale Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONFIG_MISSION_NUMBER | Float's mission number for each profile | N/A | int | 99999 | N/A | 1 |
| CYCLE_NUMBER | Float cycle number | N/A | int | 99999 | N/A | 1 |
| DATA_CENTRE | Data centre in charge of float data processing | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| DATA_MODE | Delayed mode or real time data | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| DATA_STATE_INDICATOR | Degree of processing the data have passed through | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| DATA_TYPE | Data type | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| DATE_CREATION | Date of file creation | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| DATE_UPDATE | Date of update of this file | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| DC_REFERENCE | Station unique identifier in data centre | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| DIRECTION | Direction of the station profiles | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| FIRMWARE_VERSION | Instrument version | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| FLOAT_SERIAL_NO | Serial number of the float | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| FORMAT_VERSION | File format version | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| HANDBOOK_VERSION | Data handbook version | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| HISTORY_ACTION | Action performed on data | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| HISTORY_DATE | Date the history record was created | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| HISTORY_INSTITUTION | Institution which performed action | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| HISTORY_PARAMETER | Station parameter action is performed on | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| HISTORY_PREVIOUS_VALUE | Parameter/Flag previous value before action | N/A | float | 99999 | N/A | 1 |
| HISTORY_QCTEST | Documentation of tests performed, tests failed (in hex form) | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| HISTORY_REFERENCE | Reference of database | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| HISTORY_SOFTWARE | Name of software which performed action | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| HISTORY_SOFTWARE_RELEASE | Version/release of software which performed action | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| HISTORY_START_PRES | Start pressure action applied on | decibar | float | 99999 | N/A | 1 |
| HISTORY_STEP | Step in data processing | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| HISTORY_STOP_PRES | Stop pressure action applied on | decibar | float | 99999 | N/A | 1 |
| JULD | Julian day (UTC) of the station relative to REFERENCE_DATE_TIME | days since 1950-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | double | 999999 | N/A | 1 |
| JULD_LOCATION | Julian day (UTC) of the location relative to REFERENCE_DATE_TIME | days since 1950-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | double | 999999 | N/A | 1 |
| JULD_QC | Quality on Date and Time | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| LATITUDE | Latitude of the station, best estimate | degree_north | double | 99999 | -90 to 90 | 1 |
| LONGITUDE | Longitude of the station, best estimate | degree_east | double | 99999 | -180 to 180 | 1 |
| PARAMETER | List of parameters with calibration information | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| PI_NAME | Name of the principal investigator | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| PLATFORM_NUMBER | Float unique identifier | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| PLATFORM_TYPE | Type of float | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| POSITIONING_SYSTEM | Positioning system | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| POSITION_QC | Quality on position (latitude and longitude) | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| PRES | SEA PRESSURE | decibar | float | 99999 | 0 to 12000 | 1 |
| PRES_ADJUSTED | SEA PRESSURE | decibar | float | 99999 | 0 to 12000 | 1 |
| PRES_ADJUSTED_ERROR | SEA PRESSURE | decibar | float | 99999 | N/A | 1 |
| PRES_ADJUSTED_QC | quality flag | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| PRES_QC | quality flag | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| PROFILE_PRES_QC | Global quality flag of PRES profile | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| PROFILE_PSAL_QC | Global quality flag of PSAL profile | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| PROFILE_TEMP_QC | Global quality flag of TEMP profile | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| PROJECT_NAME | Name of the project | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |
| PSAL | PRACTICAL SALINITY | psu | float | 99999 | 0 to 42 | 1 |
| PSAL_ADJUSTED | PRACTICAL SALINITY | psu | float | 99999 | 0 to 42 | 1 |
| PSAL_ADJUSTED_ERROR | PRACTICAL SALINITY | psu | float | 99999 | N/A | 1 |
| PSAL_ADJUSTED_QC | quality flag | N/A | string | N/A | N/A | 1 |