The NOAA/AOML XBT (eXpendable BathyThermograph) Network
is designed to measure the upper ocean thermal structure in regions with the objective of investigating the
temporal variability of key global surface and subsurface currents and of meridional heat transport in the Atlantic Ocean. XBT transects
in HD mode are repeated approximately every three months
with XBTs deployed 10km to 35km apart, in order to measure the mesoscale structure
of the ocean and to assess the ocean circulation responsible for redistributing heat and other water properties globally. HD XBT transects
are carried out globally with AOML taking the lead in most of the operations in the
Atlantic Ocean. In order to accomplish all operations, from instrument development, probe deployments, and data management, AOML with academic
and government institutions in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Africa, and England.