12/19/1994                                                        PhOD/AOML/NOAA

HOW TO FOLLOW THIS XBT DATABASE DIRECTORY STRUCTURE AND FILE FORMAT...

This collection of xbt files is comprised of data uploaded from HP data 
cassettes.  We have recently cataloged all cassettes in our possesion, of 
which, those containing xbt data have been pooled to form this (relatively 
small) database.  Most tapes in the collection were poorly labeled and, in 
some cases, not labeled at all.  However, we have grouped the files in a 
directory format that is easily understood....

ex:	 DISK:[XBT.DHOU.1992.MARCH]             xbt.ship.year.month
                /   \    \      \
               /     \    \      \
              /       \    \   [month]  
 [main xbt directory] |     \     
                      |   [year]
                      |
      [ship name (or line, in some cases)]

In this case, all the files contained in PHOD4:[XBT.DHOU.1992.MARCH] 
would be from the vessel Puritan, collected in March of 1992.

The directories listed below contain the XBT data for each corresponding
ship or line...

3186.DIR;1        Ship:  Virginia Key
3EIX2.DIR;1       Ship:  Presidente Ibanez
3EKV7.DIR;1       Ship:  Skrim
65UN.DIR;1        Ship:  Bap Unanue
C6JZ2.DIR;1       Ship:  American Star
CALLAO.DIR;1      Line:  The Callao Line
CCES.DIR;1        Ship:  Esmeralda
COSTARIC.DIR;1    Line:  The Costa Rica Line
CTFK.DIR;1        Ship:  Alvarez
DHOU.DIR;1        Ship:  Puritan
ELED7.DIR;1       Ship:  Pac Prince
ELED8.DIR;1       Ship:  Pac Princess
ESTER-3.DIR;1     Line:  The Ester-3 Line ???
GOVL.DIR;1        Ship:  Act-4
GOVN.DIR;1        Ship:  Act-6
GZKA.DIR;1        Ship:  Act-3
HCGE.DIR;1        Ship:  Galapagos Explorer
HCJH.DIR;1        Ship:  Isla Floreana
HO3713.DIR;1      Ship:  Bucanero
MANZANIL.DIR;1    Line:  The Manzanillo Line
MELO.DIR;1        Ship:  Melo, We Cannot Locate Call Sign
OASC.DIR;1        Ship:  Humboldt
OBMQ.DIR;1        Ship:  Carrillo
PANCHITO.DIR;1    Ship:  Panchito, We Cannot Locate Call Sign
PER1.DIR;1        Ship:  SNP-1
PPWW.DIR;1        Ship:  Pacifico
SKLP.DIR;1        Ship:  Unidentifiable Ship with Name (or Call Sign) `SKLP'
SOC-CLAR.DIR;1    Line:  The Socorro-Clarion Line
UNK_SHIP.DIR;1    Ship:  Unknown Ships
WTEG.DIR;1        Ship:  Mt. Mitchell
WTEP.DIR;1        Ship:  Oceanographer
WTER_1.DIR;1      Ship:  Researcher
WTER_2.DIR;1      Ship:  Baldridge
WYT8005.DIR;1     Ship:  Seaward Explorer

There are two types of xbt files found in this database, Sutron and Bathy.  
The only difference between the two is in the header.  Sutron files contain 
more information, such as the officer on watch, the ship name, and the 
year.  Sutron file names usually begin with the letter `T' ex: T04005.XBT;1
Bathy files only contain position, time, and julian day.  720A.XBT;1 is an 
example of what a Bathy file name looks like.

In some cases, xbt files may be found in a month that is one off from the 
actual drop month.  This is the result of drop series running over two 
months, in which case the series is put into the month that corresponds to 
the most xbt drops.  The year is always correct.  If you have question 
about a particular file check its julian date, and compare that with the 
directory where the file is located.  Sometimes, the file header dates are 
obviously bogus.  We have grouped tapes in this category by external 
markings found on the tapes themselves.


If you have any questions about this database, please contact Ryan Smith
at rsmith@aoml.erl.gov
