Commandant
2100 Second Street, S.W.
United States Coast Guard
Washington, DC 20593-0001
(202) 267-1450
COMDTINST 3142.1
29 DEC 1988
COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION 3142.1
Subj: Bathythermograph Program
Ref: (a)
COMDTINST M3161.10, Manual for Marine Science Operations
(b)
SIPPICAN Manual R-603C Series: Instruction Manual for the Expendable
Bathythermograph System (NOTAL).
(c)
COMDTINST M5500.11 Series; Coast Guard Security Manual.
(d)
NAVOCEANCOMINST 3140.1H; U.S. Navy Oceanographic and Meteorological
Support System Manual (FOUO) (NOTAL)
1.
PURPOSE. This instruction describes the program for the collection and reporting of
bathythermograph observations.
2.
DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. COMDTINST 3161.1F is canceled.
3.
OBJECTIVE. The U.S.Coast Guard cooperates with the U.S. Navy in its bathythermograph
(BT) program. BT information is used by the Navy for thermal structure forecasting to support
submarine and antisubmarine operations. In addition, ocean temperature distributions of daily,
seasonal and yearly scales provide vital information to the National Weather Service (NWS).
The Expendable Bathythermograph (XBT) is presently the best single system for measuring
temperature distribution. This equipment provides a continuous record of the temperature of
ocean water as a function of depth and can be employed while a vessel is underway,
minimizing interference with other missions. Reference (a) contains Coast Guard operational
procedures for the XBT; reference (b) provides a technical description of the instrument
operation and maintenance.
4.
BACKGROUND. Commander, Naval Oceanography Command, through the Fleet Numerical
Oceanography Center, collects oceanographic data required for the environmental analysis and
forecasts used in fleet operations.