Experimental and Analytical Error of the Expendable Bathythermograph

Abstract

This study presents the results of 103 XBT-STD comparisons in the form of mean and random XBT errors. Analytical models of the systematic XBT depth error are developed to extend the experimental results to all oceans. Causes of the random error involving the analog recorder and manual digitizing process, the probe boundary layer and thermistor variations are explored. Finally, the resultant accuracy of the XBT and its usefulness as an oceanographic instrument are discussed.