World Ocean Database Project - Comparison of World Ocean Databases

Comparison of World Ocean Databases

The World Ocean Database was first released in 1994 and updates have been released approximately every four years, 1998, 2001, and 2005. The most recent World Ocean Database series, WOD09, was released in September 2009. The WOD09 has more than 9 million temperature profiles and 3.6 million salinity profiles. The table shows a comparison of the number of stations by instrument type in WOD09 with previous NODC/WDC global ocean databases.

Instrument Type NODC (1974) NODC (1991) WOA94 WOD98 WOD01 WOD05 WOD09
OSD 425,000 783,912 1,194,407 1,373,440 2,121,042 2,258,437 2,541,298
CTD na 66,450 89,000 189,555 311,943 443,953 641,845
MBT 775,000 980,377 1,922,170 2,077,200 2,376,206 2,421,940 2,426,749
XBT 290,000 704,424 1,281,942 1,537,203 1,743,590 1,930,413 2,104,490
MRB na na na 107,715 297,936 445,371 566,544
DRB na na na na 50,549 108,564 121,828
PFL na na na na 22,637 168,988 547,985
UOR na na na na 37,645 46,699 88,190
APB na na na na 75,665 75,665 88,583
GLD na na na na na 338 5,857
Total Stations 1,490,000 2,535,163 4,487,519 5,285,113 7,037,213 7,900,368 9,133,369
Plankton na na na 83,650 142,900 150,250 218,695
SUR na na na na 4,743 9,178 9,178

Read more about this topic:  World Ocean Database Project

Famous quotes containing the words comparison of, comparison, world and/or ocean:

    When we reflect on our past sentiments and affections, our thought is a faithful mirror, and copies its objects truly; but the colours which it employs are faint and dull, in comparison of those in which our original perceptions were clothed.
    David Hume (1711–1776)

    [Girls] study under the paralyzing idea that their acquirements cannot be brought into practical use. They may subserve the purposes of promoting individual domestic pleasure and social enjoyment in conversation, but what are they in comparison with the grand stimulation of independence and self- reliance, of the capability of contributing to the comfort and happiness of those whom they love as their own souls?
    Sarah M. Grimke (1792–1873)

    The world is charged with the grandeur of God.
    Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889)

    Here, in this little Bay,
    Full of tumultuous life and great repose,
    Where, twice a day,
    The purposeless, glad ocean comes and goes,
    Coventry Kersey Dighton Patmore (1823–1896)