This file format is used for time series measurements of ocean currents obtained using moored current-measuring instruments, principally Aanderaa current meters (manufactured by Aanderaa Instruments Inc.). These data represent the Eulerian method of current measurement, i.e., the meters are deployed at a fixed mooring point and measure flow past the sensor. Position, water depth, and sensor depth are reported for each station. The data record comprises values of current direction and speed at specified date and time. Data values may be subject to averaging or filtering and are typically reported at 10-15 minute time intervals. Other environmental parameters may also be reported. These include: water temperature, salinity, conductivity, and transmissivity; wind direction and speed; and dominant wave direction, height, and period. A text field is available for optional comments.
Four 62-character records: (1) File Header Record, (2) Station Header Record, (3) Data Record, and (4) Data Record 2.
| PARAMETER | DESCRIPTION | STARTING COLUMN | FIELD LENGTH |
|---|---|---|---|
| FILE HEADER RECORD | |||
| NODC FILE NUMBER | ALWAYS '005' | 1 | 3 |
| NODC TRACK NUMBER | 6-CHARACTER UNIQUE CRUISE OR DATA SET IDENTIFIER ASSIGNED BY NODC | 4 | 6 |
| RECORD NUMBER | ALWAYS '1' | 10 | 1 |
| STATION | FIVE-CHARACTER BUOY STATION IDENTIFIER | 11 | 5 |
| SEQUENCE | X - FILE HEADER NUMBER | 16 | 1 |
| TEXT | 44-CHARACTERS FOR OPTIONAL COMMENTS | 17 | 44 |
| BLANKS | 61 | 2 | |
| PARAMETER | DESCRIPTION | STARTING COLUMN | FIELD LENGTH |
| STATION HEADER RECORD | |||
| NODC FILE NUMBER | ALWAYS '005' | 1 | 3 |
| NODC TRACK NUMBER | 6-CHARACTER UNIQUE CRUISE OR DATA SET IDENTIFIER ASSIGNED BY NODC | 4 | 6 |
| RECORD NUMBER | ALWAYS '2' | 10 | 1 |
| STATION | SEE RECORD '1' | 11 | 5 |
| LATITUDE | DDMMSS (DEGREES, MINUTES, SECONDS) | 16 | 6 |
| LATITUDE HEMISPHERE | 1-CHARACTER CODE - 'N' OR 'S' | 22 | 1 |
| LONGITUDE | DDDMMSS (DEGREES, MINUTES, SECONDS) | 23 | 7 |
| LONGITUDE HEMISPHERE | 1-CHARACTER CODE - 'E' OR 'W' | 30 | 1 |
| SENSOR DEPTH | XXXX - METERS TO TENTHS | 31 | 4 |
| WATER DEPTH | XXXX - METERS TO TENTHS | 35 | 4 |
| SENSOR SERIAL NUMBER | FOUR-CHARACTER SERIAL NUMBER | 39 | 4 |
| SALINITY METHOD | ONE-CHARACTER CODE - ('P'=PRACTICAL SALINITY, 'S'=SALINITY, BLANK=NOT SPECIFIED) | 43 | 1 |
| STATION IDENTIFIER | 10-CHARACTER ORIGINATOR STATION IDENTIFIER | 54 | 7 |
| BLANKS | 54 | 9 | |
| PARAMETER | DESCRIPTION | STARTING COLUMN | FIELD LENGTH |
| DATA RECORD 1 | |||
| NODC FILE NUMBER | ALWAYS '005' | 1 | 3 |
| NODC TRACK NUMBER | 6-CHARACTER UNIQUE CRUISE OR DATA SET IDENTIFIER ASSIGNED BY NODC | 4 | 6 |
| RECORD NUMBER | ALWAYS '3' | 10 | 1 |
| STATION | SEE RECORD '1' | 11 | 5 |
| DATE | YYYYMMDD OBSERVED | 16 | 8 |
| TIME | XXXX - HOURS TO HUNDREDTHS | 24 | 4 |
| CURRENT DIRECTION | XXX - TRUE DIRECTION TOWARD WHICH CURRENT IS FLOWING (WHOLE DEGREES) | 28 | 3 |
| CURRENT SPEED | XXXX - WHOLE CM/SEC | 31 | 4 |
| TEMPERATURE | XXX NEGATIVE TEMPERATURES ARE PRECEDED BY A MINUS SIGN ADJACENT TO TEMPERATURE VALUE (DEG C TO TENTHS) | 35 | 3 |
| PRESSURE, WATER | XXXX - (KG/SQ CM TO HUNDREDTHS) | 38 | 4 |
| CONDUCTIVITY | XXXX - MILLIMHOS/CM TO HUNDREDTHS | 42 | 4 |
| INCLINOMETER ANGLE | XX - METER TILT OFF VERTICAL (WHOLE DEGREES) | 46 | 2 |
| WIND DIRECTION | XXX - TRUE DIRECTION FROM WHICH WIND IS BLOWING (IN WHOLE DEGREES | 48 | 3 |
| WIND SPEED | XXXX - (CM/SEC) | 51 | 4 |
| SEA DIRECTION | XXX - TRUE DIRECTION FROM WHICH DOMINANT WAVES ARE COMING (WHOLE DEGREES) | 55 | 3 |
| SEA HEIGHT | XXX - DOMINANT WAVES (CM) | 58 | 3 |
| SEA PERIOD | XX - DOMINANT WAVES (SECONDS) | 61 | 2 |
| PARAMETER | DESCRIPTION | STARTING COLUMN | FIELD LENGTH |
| DATA RECORD 2 | |||
| NODC FILE NUMBER | ALWAYS '005' | 1 | 3 |
| NODC TRACK NUMBER | 6-CHARACTER UNIQUE CRUISE OR DATA SET IDENTIFIER ASSIGNED BY NODC | 4 | 6 |
| RECORD NUMBER | ALWAYS '4' | 10 | 1 |
| STATION | SEE RECORD '1' | 11 | 5 |
| DATE | YYYYMMDD OBSERVED | 16 | 8 |
| TIME | XXXX - (HOURS TO HUNDREDTHS) | 24 | 4 |
| CURRENT DIRECTION | XXX - (WHOLE DEGREES FROM TRUE NORTH) | 28 | 3 |
| CURRENT SPEED | XXXX - (WHOLE CM/SEC) | 31 | 4 |
| TEMPERATURE | XXX NEGATIVE TEMPERATURES ARE PRECEDED BY A MINUS SIGN ADJACENT TO TEMPERATURE VALUE - (DEG C TO TENTHS) | 35 | 3 |
| SALINITY | XXXXX - (PARTS PER THOUSAND OR PRACTICAL SALINITY UNITS - TO THOUSANSTHS) | 38 | 5 |
| TRANSMISSIVITY | XXXX - (PERCENT TO TENTHS) | 43 | 4 |
| BLANKS | 47 | 16 | |