AN EVALUATION OF XBT DEPTH EQUATIONS FOR THE INDIAN-OCEAN

For the purpose of finding XBT depth equations applicable to the entir e Indian Ocean we carried out experiments through the collection of co ntrolled XBT-CTD data on four cruises. These experiments were conducte d in various locations of the Indian Ocean with highly variable physic ochemical conditions. We estimated the mean depth error to vary from - 2 to -27 m in a depth range of 0-750 m, which is comparable to that re ported by Hanawa, Rual, Bailey, Sy and Szabados (1995, Deep-Sea Resear ch I 43 (8), 1423-1451; hereafter referred to as HN-95), but is much h igher than the manufacturer's specified accuracy. The coefficients of the mean depth-time equation derived from the present data set do not differ significantly from HN-95. Depth error does not seem to be influ enced by regional water characteristics. Our analysis confirms the app licability of the HN-95 equation for Indian Ocean as well. (C) 1998 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.