The principal aim of the Tyrrhenian Eddy Multi-Platform Observations (TEMPO) experiment  (1989-1993) was to study the signature of a mesoscale oceanographic eddy in the north Tyrrhenian Sea, between Italy, Corsica and Sardinia, using space-borne and airborne remote sensing and ship-based measuring techniques, but an effort was made to extend the observations in the southern part of the Tyrrhenian sea and throughout the water column. 

The data contained in this dataset concerns the cruises TEMPO-3 (from 25 October to 8 November 1991, 44 stations), TEMPO-4 (from 23 April to 4 May 1992, 41 stations), and TEMPO-5 (from 8 to 13 March 1993, 71 stations).

CTD profiles were collected using a Neil-Brown MK III CTD probe with a sampling time of 33 ms and a CTD fall speed of about 1 m/s. The temperature, conductivity and pressure sensors were calibrated at the SACLANT Centre in La Spezia before the cruise and again checked after its conclusion. Water samples were collected for the on-board calibration of the probe values. The final accuracies for the temperature and salinity were0.005 °C and 0.005, respectively. Successively the data were interpolated over 1 dbar interval.

The data set is provided per cruise as ODV Spreadsheet files in TXT format, containing:

• Cruise name
• Station number
• Type of acquisition (here C)
• Date in mon/day/yr and Time in hh:mm:ss
• Coordinates in Longitude [degrees_east] and Latitude [degrees_north]
• Bottom depth [m]
• Depth [m]
• Temperature_IPTS-68 [deg C]
• Conductivity [S/m]
• Temperature_ITS-90 [deg C]
• Salinity_PSS-78 (Practical Salinity)
• Dissolved Oxygen [ml/l]