<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="no"?>
<!DOCTYPE article SYSTEM "http://www.ocean-sci.net/inc/os/copernicus.dtd">
<article language="en">
	<journal>
		<journal_title>Ocean Science</journal_title>
		<journal_url>www.ocean-sci.net</journal_url>
		<issn>1812-0784</issn>
		<eissn>1812-0792</eissn>
		<volume_number>3</volume_number>
		<issue_number>1</issue_number>
		<publication_year>2007</publication_year>
	</journal>
	<doi>10.5194/os-3-59-2007</doi>
	<article_url>http://www.ocean-sci.net/3/59/2007/</article_url>
	<abstract_html>http://www.ocean-sci.net/3/59/2007/os-3-59-2007.html</abstract_html>
	<fulltext_pdf>http://www.ocean-sci.net/3/59/2007/os-3-59-2007.pdf</fulltext_pdf>
	<start_page>59</start_page>
	<end_page>75</end_page>
	<publication_date>2007-02-08</publication_date>
	<article_title content_type="html">Factors affecting the quality of XBT data &amp;ndash; results of analyses on profiles from the Western Mediterranean Sea</article_title>
	<authors>
		<author numeration="1" affiliations="1">
			<name>F. Reseghetti</name>
			<email>franco.reseghetti@santateresa.enea.it</email>
		</author>
		<author numeration="2" affiliations="2">
			<name>M. Borghini</name>
		</author>
		<author numeration="3" affiliations="3">
			<name>G. M. R. Manzella</name>
		</author>
	</authors>
	<affiliations>
		<affiliation numeration="1" content_type="html">ENEA-ACS-CLIM-MED, Forte S. Teresa &amp;ndash; Pozzuolo di Lerici, 19032 Lerici (Sp), Italia</affiliation>
		<affiliation numeration="2" content_type="html">CNR-ISMAR, Sez. Oceanografia Fisica, Forte S. Teresa &amp;ndash; Pozzuolo di Lerici, 19032 Lerici (Sp), Italia</affiliation>
		<affiliation numeration="3" content_type="html">ENEA-ACS, Forte S. Teresa &amp;ndash; Pozzuolo di Lerici, 19032 Lerici (Sp), Italia</affiliation>
	</affiliations>
	<abstract content_type="html">EXpendable BathyThermograph (XBT) temperature profiles collected in the framework of the
Mediterranean Forecasting System &amp;ndash; Toward Environmental Prediction (MFS-TEP) project have
been compared with CTD measurements. New procedures for the quality control of recorded values
have been developed and checked.
Some sources of possible uncertainties and errors, such as the response time of the apparatus (XBT
probe, thermistor and readout chain), or the influence of initial conditions are also analysed.
To deal with the high homogeneity of Mediterranean waters, a new technique to compute the fall
rate coefficients, that give a better reproduction of the depth of thermal structures, has been
proposed, and new customized coefficients have been calculated. After the application of a
temperature correction, the overall uncertainties in depth and in temperature measurements have
been estimated.</abstract>
	<references>
		<reference numeration="1" content_type="text"> AODC: Guide to MK12 &amp;ndash; XBT System (Including Launching, returns and faults), Australian Oceanographic Data Centre (AODC), METOC Services, 1&amp;ndash;63, 1999. </reference>
		<reference numeration="2" content_type="text"> AODC: Expendable Bathythermographs (XBT) delayed mode, Quality control manual, Australian Oceanographic Data Centre (AODC), Data Management Group, Technical Manual 1/2001, 1&amp;ndash;24, 2001. </reference>
		<reference numeration="3" content_type="text"> AODC: Marine QC. Australian Oceanographic Data Centre (AODC), Data Management Group, Technical Manual 1/2002, 1&amp;ndash;61, 2002. </reference>
		<reference numeration="4" content_type="text"> Budéus, G. and Krause, G.: On cruise calibration of XBT probes, Deep-Sea Res., 40, 1359&amp;ndash;1363, 1993. </reference>
		<reference numeration="5" content_type="text"> Cook, S. and Sy, A.: Best guide and principles manual for the Ships Of Opportunity Program (SOOP) and EXpendable Bathythermograph (XBT) operations, Prepared for the IOC-WMO-3rd Session of the JCOMM Ship of Opportunity Implementation Panel (SOOPIP-III), March 28&amp;ndash;31, 2000, La Jolla, California, USA, 1&amp;ndash;26, 2001. </reference>
		<reference numeration="6" content_type="text"> Fedorov, K. N., Ginzburg, A. I., and Zatsepen, A. G.: Systematic differences in isotherm depths derived from XBT and CTD data, POLYMODE News, 50(1), 6&amp;ndash;7, 1978. </reference>
		<reference numeration="7" content_type="text"> Flierl, G. and Robinson, A. R.: XBT measurements of the thermal gradient in the MODE eddy, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 7, 300&amp;ndash;302, 1977. </reference>
		<reference numeration="8" content_type="text"> Georgi, D., Dean, J., and Chase, J.: XBT probe-to-probe thermistor temperature variability, POLYMODE News, 71(1),5&amp;ndash;9, 1979. </reference>
		<reference numeration="9" content_type="text"> Georgi, D., Dean, J., and Chase, J.: Temperature calibration of expendable bathythermographs, Ocean Engineering, 7, 491&amp;ndash;499, 1980. </reference>
		<reference numeration="10" content_type="text"> Green, A. W.: Bulk dynamics of the Expendable Bathythermograph (XBT), Deep-Sea Res., 31, 415&amp;ndash;426, 1984. </reference>
		<reference numeration="11" content_type="text"> Hallock, Z. R. and Teague, W. J.: The fall rate of the T7 XBT, J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 9, 470&amp;ndash;483, 1992. </reference>
		<reference numeration="12" content_type="text"> Hanawa, K., Rual, P., Bailey, R., Sy, A., and Szabados, M.: Calculation of new depth equations for Expendable Bathythermographs using a temperature-error-free method (Application to Sippican/TSK T7, T6 and T4 XBTs), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Technical Series 42, 1&amp;ndash;46, 1994. </reference>
		<reference numeration="13" content_type="text"> Hanawa, K., Rual, P., Bailey, R., Sy, A., and Szabados, M.: A new depth-time equation for Sippican or TSK T7, T6 and T4 expendable bathythermographs (XBT), Deep-Sea Res. Part I, 42(8), 1423&amp;ndash;1451, 1995. </reference>
		<reference numeration="14" content_type="text"> Hanawa, K. and Yoshikawa, Y.: Re-examination of the depth error in XBT data, J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 8, 422&amp;ndash;429, 1991. </reference>
		<reference numeration="15" content_type="text"> Hanawa, K. and Yasuda, T.: New detection method for XBT depth error and relationship between the depth error and coefficients in the depth-time equation, J. Oceanogr., 48, 221&amp;ndash;230, 1992. </reference>
		<reference numeration="16" content_type="text"> Heinmiller, R. H., Ebbesmeyer, C. C., Taft, B. A., Olson, D. B., and Nikitin, O. P.: Systematic Errors in Expendable Bathythermograph (XBT) Profiles, Deep-Sea Res., 30(11A), 1185&amp;ndash;1197, 1983. </reference>
		<reference numeration="17" content_type="text"> Kizu, S. and Hanawa, K.: Start-up transient of XBT measurement, Deep-Sea Res. Part I, 49, 935&amp;ndash;940, 2002a. </reference>
		<reference numeration="18" content_type="text"> Kizu, S. and Hanawa, K.: Recorder-Dependent Temperature error of Expendable Bathythermograph, J. Oceanogr., 58(3), 469&amp;ndash;476, 2002b. </reference>
		<reference numeration="19" content_type="text"> Maillard, C. and Fichaut M.: MEDAR-MEDATLAS Protocol. Part I. Exchange format and quality checks for observed profiles, Rap. Int. TMSI/IDM/SISMER/SIS00-084, 1&amp;ndash;49, 2001. </reference>
		<reference numeration="20" content_type="text"> Manzella, G. M. R., Scoccimarro, E., Pinardi, N., and Tonani, M.: Improved near real time data management procedures for the Mediterranean ocean Forecasting System &amp;ndash; Voluntary Observing Ship Program, Ann. Geophys., 21, 49&amp;ndash;62, 2003. </reference>
		<reference numeration="21" content_type="text"> McDowell, S.: A note on XBT accuracy, POLYMODE News, 29(1), 4&amp;ndash;8, 1977. </reference>
		<reference numeration="22" content_type="text"> Roemmich, D. and Cornuelle, B.: Digitization and calibration of the expendable bathythermograph, Deep-Sea Res., 34, 299&amp;ndash;307, 1987. </reference>
		<reference numeration="23" content_type="text"> Seaver, G. A. and Kuleshov, S.: Experimental and analytical error of Expendable bathythermograph, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 12, 592&amp;ndash;600, 1982. </reference>
		<reference numeration="24" content_type="text"> Singer, J.: On the error observed in electronically digitised T7 XBT data, J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 7, 603&amp;ndash;611, 1990. </reference>
		<reference numeration="25" content_type="text"> Stegen, G. R., Delisi, D. P., and Van Colln, R. C.: A portable, digital recording, expendable bathythermograph (XBT) system, Deep-Sea Res., 22, 447&amp;ndash;453, 1975. </reference>
		<reference numeration="26" content_type="text"> Sy, A.: XBT measurements, in: WOCE Operations Manual, WHP Operation and Methods, WHPO 91-1,WOCE Report 68/91, 1&amp;ndash;19, 1991. </reference>
		<reference numeration="27" content_type="text"> Thadathil, P., Ghosh, A. K., and Muraleedharan, P. M.: An evaluation of XBT depth equations for the Indian Ocean, Deep-Sea Res. Part I, 45, 819&amp;ndash;827, 1998. </reference>
		<reference numeration="28" content_type="text"> Thadathil, P., Saran, A. K., Gopalakrishna, V. V., Vethamony, P., Araligidad, N., and Bailey, R.: XBT fall rate in waters of extreme temperature: a case study in the Antarctic Ocean, J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 19, 391&amp;ndash;396, 2002. </reference>
	</references>
</article>

