Pacific Ocean: Vertical sections and gridded data files for WHP and other selected lines

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Hydrographic data (CTD and discrete bottle data: oxygen, salinity and nutrients) from WOCE Hydrographic Program and other selected long sections were gridded using a modified version of Roemmich's method for mapping hydrographic station data. Grid resolutions are either 20 km x 10 meters (fine) or 20 km x 40 meters (coarse).

NEW: a program for interpolating to latitudes or longitudes from the distance grids, and decimating vertically is now available. The program is called grid_interp and software and a makefile can be obtained in the programs directory.

Downloading the postscript files: if your web browser attempts to plot the postscript files and you want to save them instead, instructions for netscape are: click with the 3rd right mouse button instead of the leftmost one and answer the dialog question.

Gridded files and plots of the bottle data (oxygen, silicate, nitrate and phosphate) are gradually being added.

The public data sets in WOCE format are available through the WHP Office at Scripps Institiution of Oceanography. They are not included or linked in the tables below. Other CTD and hydrographic data sets are also available on the nemo data server at SIO. A larger set of original data is also available through the WHPO Electronic Atlas, which has restricted access; a larger set of section plots is presented therein and includes other tracers.

Map of sections

Method

Gridded CTD data files and plots

Zonal sections

LineLocationChief Scientist
P01WOkhotsk Sea Freeland/Wong
P17NEGulf of AlaskaMusgrave
P1_TPS4747 NTalley/Joyce
P3_TPS2424 NRoemmich/Swift/Bryden
P4_TPS1010 NToole
P31Samoan PassageRoemmich
TEW12 SHayes/Taft
P2117 SMcCartney/Bryden
Scorpio 28S28 SReid/Stommel/Warren
P632 SBryden/McCartney/Toole
Scorpio 43S43 SReid/Stommel/Warren
P17E54 SSwift/Talley
S467 SSwift

Meridional sections

LineLocationChief Scientist
P08130EYoshioka/Mizuno
P09137 EKaneko
P10149 EHall/Joyce
P11S155 EChurch
P11A155 ERintoul
P14178 ERoden/Roemmich
P15N165 EFreeland
P16152 WReid/Swift/Talley
P17135 WSwift/Tsuchiya/Musgrave
P18110 WJohnson
P1988 WSwift/Talley

Gridded data files are located on an anonymous ftp site. At present, the gridded data files are available at two resolutions: 20 km by 10 meters and 20 km by 40 meters. Distance is measured along the section starting at the first station. A separate ascii file with the station locations and bottom depths accompanies each gridded file. The gridded files are binary format; a fortran program to read them is available.

Plots are available online in gif format; postscript versions can also be downloaded. BUG: as of 8/15/96, the maximum length for the plots is 14000 km, so some sections are missing the eastern or northern end or are in black and white. (Affected sections are: TPS10, TEW, P21, and P17.) The gridded files go completely to the coast on each end - they are not missing any positions.

WOCE Hydrographic Programme Office
WOCE Data Information Unit hydrographic data page
WHP Special Analysis Centre
nemo WHP SAC mirror site at SIO
U.S. WOCE Homepage
nemo oceanographic data server at SIO
Scripps Institution of Oceanography local servicees

P01W (Okhotsk Sea)

Property gif plot postscript file 20x40 grid 20x10 grid
Temperature N N Y Y
Potential temperature Y Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y Y
Error map N N Y Y
 P01W station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).
P01W flat ascii bottle data file derived from WHP sum and sea files

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.

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P17NE (Gulf of Alaska)

P17NE station track plot (gif image)
P17NE station track plot (postscript)

Property gif plot postscript file 10x10 grid
Temperature N N N
Potential temperature Y Y Y
CTD Salinity Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y
Potential density (1000) Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y
Potential density (3000) Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y
p17ne station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.

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P1_TPS47 (47N)

Property gif plot postscript file 20x40 grid 20x10 grid
Temperature N N Y Y
Potential temperature Y Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y Y
Oxygen (umol/kg) Y Y N Y
Silicate (umol/kg) Y Y N Y
Nitrate (umol/kg) Y Y N Y
Phosphate (umol/kg) Y Y N Y
Error map N N Y Y

Note: all gridded files are binary.
47N station and bottle position information files (latitude/longitude, distance along the section, and bottle positions of good data for each station).
P1_TPS47 flat ascii bottle data file
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data and writing them in ascii.

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P3_TPS24 (24N)

Property gif plot postscript file 20x40 grid 20x10 grid
Temperature N N Y Y
Potential temperature Y Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y Y
Error map N N Y Y
 P3_24N station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.

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P4_TPS10 (10N)

Property gif plot postscript file 20x40 grid 20x10 grid
Temperature N N Y Y
Potential temperature Y Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y Y
Error map N N Y Y
 P4_10N station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.
The plots (but not the gridded files) are truncated at the eastern end because of a plotting problem associated with the great length of the sections.

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P31 (Samoan Passage)

P31 station track plot (gif image)
P31 station track plot (postscript)

Property gif plot postscript file 10x10 grid
Temperature N N N
Potential temperature Y Y Y
CTD Salinity Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y
Potential density (1000) Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y
Potential density (3000) Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y
p31 station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.

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TEW (12S)

Property gif plot postscript file 20x40 grid 20x10 grid
Temperature N N Y Y
Potential temperature Y Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) N Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y Y
Error map N N Y Y
 TEW (12S) station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.
The plots (but not the gridded files) are truncated at the eastern end because of a plotting problem associated with the great length of the sections.

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P21 (17S)

Property gif plot postscript file 20x40 grid 20x10 grid
Temperature N N N N
Potential temperature Y Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (1000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (3000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y Y
Error map N N Y Y
 P21 station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.
The plots are truncated at the eastern end because of a plotting bug associated with the great length of the section.

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SCORPIO 28S (28S)

Scorpio 28S station track

Property gif plot postscript file 10x10 grid
Potential temperature Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y
Potential density (1000) Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y
Potential density (3000) Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y
Error map N N Y
SC28s data (SD2 and tabular format) and station information files.

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.
The plots are truncated at the eastern end because of a plotting bug associated with the great length of the section.

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P6 (32S)

Property gif plot postscript file 20x40 grid 20x10 grid
Temperature N N Y Y
Potential temperature Y Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y Y
Oxygen (umol/kg) Y Y N N
Silicate (umol/kg) Y Y N N
Phosphate (umol/kg) Y Y N N
Nitrate (umol/kg) Y Y N N
Nitrite (umol/kg) Y Y N N
Error map N N Y Y
P6 station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.

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SCORPIO 43S (43S)

Scorpio 43S station track

Property gif plot postscript file 10x10 grid
Potential temperature Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y
Potential density (1000) Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y
Potential density (3000) Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y
Error map N N Y
SC43s data (SD2 and tabular format) and station information files.

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.
The plots are truncated at the eastern end because of a plotting bug associated with the great length of the section.

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P17E_P19C (54S)

Property gif plot postscript file 20x40 grid 20x10 grid
Temperature N N Y Y
Potential temperature Y Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y Y
Error map N N Y Y
 P17e_19s station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.

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S4 (67S)

Property gif plot postscript file 20x40 grid 20x10 grid
Temperature N N Y Y
Potential temperature Y Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y Y
Error map N N Y Y
S4 station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.

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P08 (130E)

P08S station track plot (gif image)
P08S station track plot (postscript)

Property gif plot postscript file 10x10 grid
Temperature N N N
Potential temperature Y Y Y
CTD Salinity Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y
Potential density (1000) Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y
Potential density (3000) Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y
p08 station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.

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P09 (137E)

P09 station track plot (gif image)
P09 station track plot (postscript)

Property gif plot postscript file 10x10 grid
Temperature N N N
Potential temperature Y Y Y
CTD Salinity Y Y Y
Bottle Salinity Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y
Potential density (1000) Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y
Potential density (3000) Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y N
Oxygen (umol/kg) Y Y Y
Silicate Y Y Y
Nitrate Y Y Y
Phosphate Y Y Y
Error map N N Y
p09 station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.

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P10 (149E)

P10 station track plot (postscript file)

Property gif plot postscript file 20x40 grid 20x10 grid
Temperature N N Y Y
Potential temperature Y Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y Y
Error map N N Y Y
P10 station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.

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P11S (155E)

P11S data are public.

P11S station track plot (gif image)
P11S station track plot (postscript)

Property gif plot postscript file 10x10 grid
Temperature N N N
Potential temperature Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y
Potential density (1000) Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y
Potential density (3000) Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y
Error map N N Y
P11s station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.

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P11A (155E)

P11A data are proprietary and not generally available to the public. This release is available only with permission from the principal investigator.

P11A station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.

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P14 (179E)

Property gif plot postscript file 20x40 grid 20x10 grid
Temperature N N Y Y
Potential temperature Y Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y Y
Error map N N Y Y
 P14 station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.

Back to table of contents

P15N (165W)

Property gif plot postscript file 20x40 grid 20x10 grid
Temperature N N N N
Potential temperature Y Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y Y
Error map N N Y Y
 p15n station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.

Back to table of contents

P16 (150W)

Property gif plot postscript file 20x40 grid 20x10 grid
Temperature N N N N
Potential temperature Y Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y Y
Oxygen (ml/l) Y Y Y N
Silicate Y Y Y N
Nitrate Y Y Y N
Phosphate Y Y Y N
Error map N N Y Y
 P16 station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.

Back to table of contents

P17 (135W)

Property gif plot postscript file 20x40 grid 20x10 grid
Temperature N N Y Y
Potential temperature Y Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y Y
Error map N N Y Y
 P17 station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.
These plots are in black and white because of a plotting program associated with the great length of the section.

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P18 (103W)

Property gif plot postscript file 20x40 grid 20x10 grid
Temperature N N Y Y
Potential temperature Y Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y Y
Error map N N Y Y
 P18 station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.

Back to table of contents

P19 (88W)

Property gif plot postscript file 20x40 grid 20x10 grid
Temperature N N Y Y
Potential temperature Y Y Y Y
Salinity Y Y Y Y
Potential density (0) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (2000) Y Y Y Y
Potential density (4000) Y Y Y Y
Neutral density (McDougall) Y Y Y Y
Error map N N Y Y
 P19 station information files (latitude/longitude and distance along the section for each station).

Note: all gridded files are binary.
Click here for instructions on format and fortran programs for reading the header information and data.

Back to table of contents

Methods

Gridding

The original station data were either CTD profiles, mostly at 2 dbar intervals, or discrete bottle data, with up to 36 bottles per station. The data were objectively mapped using Roemmich's (1983) method adapted for producing sections which subjectively were most like those which are hand contoured, and hence smoothed somewhat by eye.

It is assumed that the chief scientist chose appropriate horizontal sampling, with tighter spacing across regions of strong gradients.

CTD and discrete data are mapped differently to account for the sampling differences. The same decay scale and horizontal/vertical scale ratio are used for both.

CTD data: The 2 dbar profiles are first smoothed vertically with a Gaussian with half-width 10 dbar. Data are used from 6 stations at a time, and 6 depths. The mean which is removed is just that of this small rectangle.

Discrete bottle data: Data from 6 stations are used at one time. An Akima cubic spline is fit to the deepest station of the group, and this profile is removed from all stations in the group as a representation of the mean for the group. The residuals are then mapped and the mean added back in.

The programs for gridding the data are available from Lynne Talley (ltalley@ucsd.edu).

Potential density calculations

The potential densities calculated relative to 0, 2000 and 4000 dbar use potential temperature referenced to these pressures and then density referenced to these pressures, respectively. The McDougall neutral density parameter is also used.

References

Jackett, D. R. and T. J. McDougall, 1996. A neutral density variabile for the world's oceans. J. Phys. Oceanogr., submitted.
Roemmich, D., 1983. Optimal estimation of hydrographic station data and derived fields. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 13, 1544-1545.
Back to Vertical Sections Index

Lynne D. Talley, ltalley@ucsd.edu
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
University of California, San Diego
Last updated 19 August, 1996
Links updated but not guaranteed 1 October 2007