Station P (ocean measurement site)

Not to be confused with the former British base on Antarctica called Station P.

Station P, or Station PAPA, is an ocean measurement site used to collect data on the salinity, density, pressure, and other variables found in the ocean. It is located at 50 degrees north latitude, 145 degrees west longitude (water depth, 4220 meters).[1] Since December 19th, 1949, Station PAPA has been used to measure ocean climate, and has one of the oldest records of oceanic time series data.[2]

The site was established by the US Navy in 1943. In 1951, US funding to maintain continual presence ran out and observational responsibility was passed to Canada.[3] The site was staffed continuously until 1981. Starting in 2007, automated observations have been made by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.[3]

History

The idea for Station PAPA began during the Second World War, founded in the Pacific Ocean with the role of providing weather observations and forecasts during the Battle of the Coral Sea, in May 1942. Flights over the trans-pacific led to the foundation of several stations to monitor oceanic weather systems. By 1943, the US Navy established two stations: one located in the Gulf of Alaska at 50°N and 145°W, and a second station north of Hawaii to be maintained by the 73m Coast Guard Cutter Haida; they would continue to do so until the end of World War II periodically[4]. However by 1944, Coast Guard frigates took over navy vessel weather station duties.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Ocean Station Papa". Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Papa Background | Ocean Climate Stations". www.pmel.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
  3. ^ a b Thomson, JIm (October 12, 2012). "Dropping Anchor at Station P". The New York Times.
  4. ^ a b Freeland, Howard (2007-10-01). "A short history of Ocean Station Papa and Line P". Progress in Oceanography. Time Series of the Northeast Pacific. 75 (2): 120–125. doi:10.1016/j.pocean.2007.08.005. ISSN 0079-6611.

50°00′N 145°00′W / 50.0°N 145.0°W / 50.0; -145.0

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