https://cdn.earthdata.nasa.gov/conduit/upload/5182/KeywordsCommunityGuide_Baseline_v1_SIGNED_FINAL.pdf 23.8 2026-04-29T10:52:37.449Z https://gcmd.earthdata.nasa.gov/KeywordViewer/scheme/instruments/a76dd88f-8a2b-4bd2-867d-5b562b7b4f0d XBT The Expendable Bathythermograph (XBT) has been used byoceanographers for many years to obtain information on thetemperature structure of the ocean to depths of up to 2000meters. The use of XBT's to measure the ocean's subsurface hassignificantly increased over the past decade. NOAA is activelyparticipating in an international effort to increase the numberof subsurface temperature observations in support of globaloceanographic and climate studies. NOAA's XBT program (SEAS)currently supports about eighty voluntary observing ships(VOS). Observations from these vessels are collected and codedusing the WMO bathy report format (JJYY) and transmitted via theGOES and INMARSAT C satellites. SEAS vessels are responsible formore than 14,000 XBT observations each year.Additional information available at'http://seas.amverseas.noaa.gov/seas/xbt.html'