Typical Expendable Bathythermograph (TXBT) Data Base, Atlantic Ocean
Abstract
An oceanographic data base has been established for use in the Integrated Command ASW Prediction System (ICAPS) suite of software. ICAPS is an on-scene acoustic prediction system which uses an environmental data base to produce tailored acoustic and tactical products. ICAPS was developed to provide operational support to Fleet air ASW forces. The concept of a typical expendable bathythermograph (TXBT) was developed to characterize the thermal profile of the upper ocean for a specified area in the absence of an on-scene XBT. While the ICAPS historical data base fairly accurately represents deep oceanographic conditions, the oceans are more variable near the surface with large temporal and spatial fluctuations. These conditions are not well represented by the average data profiles of the ICAPS data base. In actuality, the ICAPS program is designed to use historical data to represent the deep thermal profile merged with an on-scene XBT to depict the ocean temperature conditions from ocean surface to bottom. The historic data are a seasonal average of ocean station data grouped by water mass and geographical areas, and only provide a gross representation of the near-surface thermal structure (0-300 meters). The TXBT concept was developed as a better alternative to using the ICAP historical data or other climatological profiles to represent upper ocean conditions. The TXBT is a real XBT (with all features intact) that is statistically close to the mean conditions in a specified area.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA247900
Entities
Organizations
- Naval Oceanographic Office