EXPLANATION OF OCEANOGRAPHIC STATION DATA 



A. General 



Each of the Items appearing on the data pages is explained below. The vertical 

 arrows shown In somo of the column headings indicate the location of decimal points. 

 The presence of asterisks to the right of data indicates those data are doubtful; hence, 

 they were not used In the construction of the curve from which Interpolated values 

 (standard depth values) were derived . Observed values which were obviously Invalid 

 were omitted entirely, 



B . Surface Observations 



1 . NODC Ref.No . This number Is arbitrarily assigned. It Identifies the 

 cruise and provides a means of sorting from the IBM files all cards pertaining to that 

 particular cruise. A cruise number for each ship is presented on the flysheet for the 

 tabulated oceanographic data . 



2. Station Number . Stations are numbered to designate a certain station 

 location; however, stations ore presented in the chronological order in which they 

 were occupied . 



3. Date. Month and day are given In Arabic numerals. The last three figures 

 of the year are indicated . The hour is Greenwich Mean Time and is that hour nearest 

 to the start of the first cast . 



4. Latitude and Longitude . The position of the station Is given In degrees and 

 minutes . 



5. Sonic Depth . Sonic Depth Is the uncorrected sounding for the station, 

 recorded in meters. 



6. Maximum Sample Depth . The maximum depth from which a water sample was 

 obtained at the station is given to the nearest 100 meters. 



7. Wind. Wind speed Is given In meters per second. Direction from which the 

 wind blows is coded In degrees true to the nearest ten degrees. Ti e last zero Is 

 omitted. North is 36 on this scale and calm Is 0. See Table 1, Compass Direction 

 Conversion Table for Wind, Sea, and Swell Directions. 



8. Anemometer Height. The height of the anemometer above the waterllne Is 

 given in meters. 



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