What is it about?
We compare three methods to improve the temperature profile data from an XBT. They consisted in wire current imbalance correction, the response time of the thermistor and the calibration of the thermistor response at certain fixed temperatures. Data from three cruises which compared XBT temperature data with the more precise CTD data were analyzed using an elegant statistical model. From all the methods, the thermistor calibration was the one that provided the best correction, reducing the temperature uncertainty to 0.03 degC.
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Why is it important?
We showed that the calibration of the thermistor during production can reduce the error tolerance of temperature from the current 0.2degC to 0.03degC. Improving the quality of these measurements is very important for studying climate signals in the upper ocean temperature.
Perspectives
This work was a collaboration between NOAA, Univ. Miami and Lockheed Martin/Sippican to improve the measurements of the expendable bathythermograph. Recommendations for the data quality improvements were made.
Dr. Marlos Goes
Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Impact of Improved Thermistor Calibration on the Expendable Bathythermograph Profile Data, Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, September 2017, American Meteorological Society,
DOI: 10.1175/jtech-d-17-0024.1.
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