+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + DELAYED MODE ORE-SSS DATA + +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ README updated on 25 Jan. 2010 +++++++++++++++++++++ 1. Conditions of use +++++++++++++++++++++ Data on this ftp site have been collected and validated by the national Sea Surface Salinity Observation Service (ORE-SSS) at the Laboratoire d Etudes en Geophysique et Oceanographie Spatiale (LEGOS), Toulouse, France. The data are provided for educational and research purposes only. Commercial use is prohibited. Publications using these data should acknowledge the ORE-SSS at LEGOS and copies should be sent to the Contacts (as noted below) so that to help us pursue and improve this Service. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2. Data format and metadata ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ This directory contains Delayed Mode Quality Controlled ThermoSalinoGraph (TSG) data as Netcdf files based on the GOSUD format (https://svn.mpl.ird.fr/us191/tsg-qc/trunk/tsg_doc/CORTSG_format_gosud.doc). For each ship, TSG files are grouped in a subdirectory under the name of the ship (e.g., cap_trafalgar), with one file per ship journey (e.g. DM_DGCT_2006a_TSG.nc). Information on ship lines (route, time in operation...) can be found at http://www.legos.obs-mip.fr/en/observations/sss/, in the "Monitoring system" menu. File name convention: DM___TSG.nc with DM for Delayed Mode : ship call sign (4 or 5 letters/numbers) : year when the ship journey started (4 digits) : chronological rank of the journey in the year (as a letter: a for 1st, b for 2nd, ..., aa for 27st, ab for 28st, ...) All metadata are included in the .nc files Main variables are: SSPS: Sea Surface Practical Salinity measured by the TSG SSJT: Temperature measured by the TSG SSTP: Sea Surface Temperature measured at intake (when available) For each variable: *_QC is the Quality Code we attributed to the data, based on potential instrumental problems and comparison with climatology value of *_QC is: 0 for Uncontrolled data 1 for Good data 2 for Probably Good data 3 for Probably Bad data 4 for Bad Data 6 for Harbour data *_ADJUSTED (when available) is the TSG data adjusted with external data (water samples, colocated Argo and/or Mooring data), to account for possible measurement drift of the TSG sensors mostly due to biofouling *_ERROR (when available) is the estimated error of the TSG data computed by adjustment to external data. A negative *_ERROR means the error value is only a rough estimate due to a number of external data not statistically significant. !!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!WARNING!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!! * TSG data are not exactly surface measurements. The TSG water intake is generally located at the front of the ship hull at a 5-10 m depth depending on the ship and its load * SSTP is most of the time not available * SSJT is biased warm compared to Ocean temperature, due to warming in the piping between the hull intake and the TSG, often located in the engine room. The warm bias is not constant and ranges within 0.2 to 1 C. * When intending to use a given variable (e.g. SSPS) for research purpose, we recommend to use, by order of preference and depending on availability: 1) SSPS_ADJUSTED with SSPS_ADJUSTED_QC=1 (Good, Adjusted data) 2) SSPS_ADJUSTED with SSPS_ADJUSTED_QC=2 (Probably Good, Adjusted data) 3) SSPS with SSPS_QC=1 (Good, Unadjusted data) 4) SSPS with SSPS_QC=2 (Probably Good, Unadjusted data) Note that the availability of these different quality data can change with time during a single ship journey +++++++++++ 3. Contact +++++++++++ All enquiries, and suggestions for improvements, regarding these data should be addressed to: Gael ALORY gael.alory@legos.obs-mip.fr or Thierry DELCROIX thierry.delcroix@legos.obs-mip.fr LEGOS/OMP - 14 Avenue Edouard Belin - 31400 TOULOUSE - FRANCE http://www.legos.obs-mip.fr ++++++++++++++ 4. References ++++++++++++++ Henin, C. and J. Grelet, 1996. A merchant ship thermo-salinograph network in the Pacific Ocean. Deep-Sea Research I, 43 (11-12), 1833-1855. http://abstracts.congrex.com/scripts/jmevent/abstracts/FCXNL-09A02-1650845-1-Extended_Abst_Delcroix_etal_Oceanobs09_VF.pdf in Proceedings of the "Oceanobs'09: Sustained Ocean Observations and Information for Society" Conference, Venice, Italy, 21-25 September 2009, Hall, J., D.E. Harrison and D. Stammer, Eds., ESA Publication WPP-306, 2010. Alory et al., 2013. A global Voluntary Observing Ships Sea Surface Salinity network: data collection and quality control, in preparation.