This file format is used for time series measurements of ocean currents. These data are obtained from current meter moorings and represent Eulerian method of current measurement, i.e., the meters are deployed at a fixed point and measure flow past a sensor. Position, bottom depth, sensor depth, and meter characteristics are reported for each station. The data record comprises values of east-west (u) and north-south (v) current vector components at specified date and time. Current direction is defined as the direction toward which the water is flowing with positive directions east and north and negative directions west and south. Data values may be subject to averaging or filtering and are typically reported at 10-15 minute time intervals. Water temperature, pressure, and conductivity or salinity may also be reported. A text record is available for optional comments.
Four 62-character records: (1) Text Record, (2) Master Record, (3) Detail Record 1, and (4) Detail Record 2.
| PARAMETER | DESCRIPTION | STARTING COLUMN | FIELD LENGTH |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEXT RECORD | |||
| NODC FILE NUMBER | ALWAYS "015" | 1 | 3 |
| NODC TRACK NUMBER | 6-CHARACTER UNIQUE CRUISE OR DATA SET IDENTIFIER ASSIGNED BY NODC | 4 | 6 |
| RECORD NUMBER | ALWAYS '1' | 10 | 1 |
| METER NUMBER | FIVE-CHARACTER FIELD ASSIGNED BY THE ORIGINATOR - ALSO INCLUDED ON RECORD TYPES 2 AND 3 | 11 | 5 |
| TEXT | THIRTY-EIGHT CHARACTER FIELD FOR COMMENTS OR PERTINENT INFORMATION | 16 | 38 |
| BLANK | 54 | 1 | |
| SEQUENCE NUMBER | XXXXXX - USED FOR SORTING TEXT INFORMATION | 55 | 6 |
| BLANKS | 61 | 2 | |
| PARAMETER | DESCRIPTION | STARTING COLUMN | FIELD LENGTH |
| MASTER RECORD | |||
| NODC FILE NUMBER | ALWAYS "015" | 1 | 3 |
| NODC TRACK NUMBER | 6-CHARACTER UNIQUE CRUISE OR DATA SET IDENTIFIER ASSIGNED BY NODC | 4 | 6 |
| RECORD NUMBER | ALWAYS '2' | 10 | 1 |
| METER NUMBER | SEE RECORD '1' | 11 | 5 |
| LATITUDE | DDMMXX (DEGREES, MINUTES TO HUNDREDTHS) | 16 | 6 |
| LATITUDE HEMISPHERE | 1-CHARACTER CODE - 'N' OR 'S' | 22 | 1 |
| LONGITUDE | DDDMMXX (DEGREES, MINUTES TO HUNDREDTHS) | 23 | 7 |
| LONGITUDE HEMISPHERE | 1-CHARACTER CODE - 'E' OR 'W' | 30 | 1 |
| DEPTH OF BOTTOM | XXXXX (WHOLE METERS) | 31 | 5 |
| DEPTH OF CURRENT METER | XXXXX (METERS TO TENTHS) | 36 | 5 |
| METER USAGE SEQUENCE NUMBER | XXX - USED FOR INDICATING NUMBER OF TIMES METER HAS BEEN USED | 41 | 3 |
| INSTITUTION | TWO-CHARACTER INSTITUTION CODE - USE NODC CODE 0218 | 44 | 2 |
| AXIS ROTATION | XXX - DEGREES CLOCKWISE FROM TRUE NORTH OF V AXIS - VALUES SHOULD BE 0 WHEN FINAL PROCESSED TO PROVIDE TRUE DIRECTION INFORMATION | 46 | 3 |
| LOCATION NAME | SIX-CHARACTER NAME DETERMINED BY ORIGINATOR | 49 | 6 |
| NUMBER OF DETAIL RECORDS | XXXXXX - USED TO INDICATE NUMBER OF DETAIL RECORDS (3) TO FOLLOW THE MASTER RECORD (2) | 55 | 6 |
| BLANKS | 61 | 2 | |
| PARAMETER | DESCRIPTION | STARTING COLUMN | FIELD LENGTH |
| DETAIL RECORD 1 | |||
| NODC FILE NUMBER | ALWAYS "015" | 1 | 3 |
| NODC TRACK NUMBER | 6-CHARACTER UNIQUE CRUISE OR DATA SET IDENTIFIER ASSIGNED BY NODC | 4 | 6 |
| RECORD NUMBER | ALWAYS '3' | 10 | 1 |
| METER NUMBER | SEE RECORD '1' | 11 | 5 |
| DATE (GMT) | YYYYMMDD | 16 | 8 |
| TIME (GMT) | XXXXXX (HOURS, MINUTES TO HUNDREDTHS) | 24 | 6 |
| EAST-WEST CURRENT COMPONENT (U) | XXXXXX - CM/SEC TO HUNDREDTHS WITH POSITIVE DIRECTIONS (EAST AND NORTH) INDICATED WITHOUT PLUS SIGN - NEGATIVE DIRECTIONS (WEST AND SOUTH) PRECEDED BY MINUS SIGN - DIRECTION TOWARD | 30 | 6 |
| NORTH-SOUTH CURRENT COMPONENT (V) | XXXXXX - CM/SEC TO HUNDREDTHS WITH POSITIVE DIRECTIONS (EAST AND NORTH) INDICATED WITHOUT PLUS SIGN - NEGATIVE DIRECTIONS (WEST AND SOUTH) PRECEDED BY MINUS SIGN - DIRECTION TOWARD | 36 | 6 |
| TEMPERATURE | XXXXX WITH NEGATIVE TEMPERATURES PRECEDED BY MINUS SIGN (DEG C TO THOUSANDTHS) | 42 | 5 |
| PRESSURE | XXXXX (DECIBARS TO TENTHS) | 47 | 5 |
| CONDUCTIVITY | XXXX - MMHOS/CM TO HUNDREDTHS | 52 | 4 |
| BLANK | 56 | 1 | |
| SEQUENCE NUMBER | XXXXXX - USED FOR SORTING DATA RECORDS | 57 | 6 |
| PARAMETER | DESCRIPTION | STARTING COLUMN | FIELD LENGTH |
| DETAIL RECORD 2 | |||
| NODC FILE NUMBER | ALWAYS "015" | 1 | 3 |
| NODC TRACK NUMBER | 6-CHARACTER UNIQUE CRUISE OR DATA SET IDENTIFIER ASSIGNED BY NODC | 4 | 6 |
| RECORD NUMBER | ALWAYS '4' | 10 | 1 |
| METER NUMBER | SEE RECORD '1' | 11 | 5 |
| DATE (GMT) | YYYYMMDD | 16 | 8 |
| TIME (GMT) | XXXXXX (HOURS, MINUTES TO HUNDREDTHS) | 24 | 6 |
| EAST-WEST CURRENT COMPONENT (U) | XXXXXX - CM/SEC TO HUNDREDTHS - WITH POSITIVE DIRECTIONS (EAST AND NORTH) INDICATED WITHOUT PLUS SIGN - NEGATIVE DIRECTIONS (WEST AND SOUTH) PRECEDED BY MINUS SIGN - DIRECTION TOWARD | 30 | 6 |
| NORTH-SOUTH CURRENT COMPONENT (V) | XXXXXX - CM/SEC TO HUNDREDTHS - WITH POSITIVE DIRECTIONS (EAST AND NORTH) INDICATED WITHOUT PLUS SIGN - NEGATIVE DIRECTIONS (WEST AND SOUTH) PRECEDED BY MINUS SIGN - DIRECTION TOWARD | 36 | 6 |
| TEMPERATURE | XXXXX WITH NEGATIVE TEMPERATURES PRECEDED BY MINUS SIGN (DEG C TO THOUSANDTHS) | 42 | 5 |
| PRESSURE | XXXXX (DECIBARS TO TENTHS) | 47 | 5 |
| SALINITY | XXXXX (PARTS PER THOUSAND OR PRACTICAL SALINITY UNITS - TO THOUSANDTHS) | 52 | 5 |
| SEQUENCE NUMBER | XXXXXX - USED FOR SORTING DATA RECORDS | 57 | 6 |
| CODE NUMBER | CODE NAME |
|---|---|
| 0218 | DATA SOURCE |