Table of Contents

• Dataset Description
  • Methods & Sampling
  • Data Processing Description
• Data Files
• Parameters
• Instruments
• Deployments
• Project Information
• Program Information

See SOIREE Preliminary Voyage Report

For more information refer to Gall et al (2001)
"Phytoplankton processes (Part 2): Rates of primary
production and factors controlling algal growth during the

Southern Ocean Iron RElease Experiment (SOIREE)".

See SOIREE Preliminary Voyage Report

For more information refer to Gall et al (2001)
"Phytoplankton processes (Part 2): Rates of primary
production and factors controlling algal growth during the

Southern Ocean Iron RElease Experiment (SOIREE)".

BCO-DMO Processing Notes

Generated from original CTD_Summary.xls file provided on the

Deep-Sea Research II 48 (2001) accompanying CD-Rom

BCO-DMO Edits

- parameter names modified to conform to BCO-DMO convention

- date reformatted to YYYYMMDD

- time reformatted to HHMM

- added 'nd' to blank cells

- Chlorophyll concentrations data at end of original sheet moved to separate spreadsheet

- Data plots in original spreadsheet removed

Project in the Southern Ocean aimed at maintaining a coherent patch of iron-enriched seawater for the duration of project and to interpret any iron-mediated effects on the patch by conducting measurements and performing experiments during this period of the project.

The Southern Ocean Iron RElease Experiment (SOIREE), was the first in situ iron fertilization experiment performed in the polar waters of the Southern Ocean. SOIREE was an interdisciplinary study involving participants from six countries, and took place in February 1999 south of the Polar Front in the Australasian-Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean.

Approximately 3800 kg of acidified FeSO4.7H2O and 165 g of the tracer sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) were added to a 65-m deep surface mixed layer over an area of ~50 km2. Initially, mean dissolved iron concentrations were ~2.7 nM, but decreased to ambient levels within days, requiring subsequent additions of 1550-1750 kg of acidified FeSO4.7H2O on days 3, 5 and 7 of the experiment.

During the 13-day site occupation, there were iron-mediated increases in phytoplankton growth rates, with marked increases in chlorophyll a (up to 2 µgl-1) and production rates (up to 1.3 gCm-2d-1). These resulted in subsequent changes in the pelagic ecosystem structure, and in the cycling of carbon, silica and sulphur, such as a 10% drawdown of surface CO2.

The SOIREE bloom persisted for >40 days following our departure from the site, as observed via SeaWiFS remotely sensed observations of Ocean Colour.

BCO-DMO Note:
All original data and metadata provided on a CD-Rom accompanying the Deep-Sea Research II 48 (2001) volume. The CD-Rom contains the main SOIREE datasets and ancillary information including the pre-experiment 'desktop' database study for site-selection, and satellite images of the SOIREE bloom.
© 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Related files

SOIREE Preliminary Voyage Report
SOIREE Introduction and Summary, Deep-Sea Research II 48 (2001) 2425-2438
SOIREE Cruise Track

The two main objectives of the Iron Synthesis program (SCOR Working Group proposal, 2005), are:
1. Data compilation: assembling a common open-access database of the in situ iron experiments, beginning with the first period (1993-2002; Ironex-1, Ironex-2, SOIREE, EisenEx, SEEDS-1; SOFeX, SERIES) where primary articles have already been published, to be followed by the 2004 experiments where primary articles are now in progress (EIFEX, SEEDS-2; SAGE, FeeP); similarly for the natural fertilizations S.O.JGOFS (1992), CROZEX (2004/2005) and KEOPS (2005).

2. Modeling and data synthesis of specific aspects of two or more such experiments for various topics such as physical mixing, phytoplankton productivity, overall ecosystem functioning, iron chemistry, CO2 budgeting, nutrient uptake ratios, DMS(P) processes, and combinations of these variables and processes.

SCOR Working Group proposal, 2005. "The Legacy of in situ Iron Enrichments: Data Compilation and Modeling".
http://www.scor-int.org/Working_Groups/wg131.htm

See also: SCOR Proceedings Vol. 42 Concepcion, Chile October 2006, pgs: 13-16 2.3.3 Working Group on The Legacy of in situ Iron Enrichments: Data Compilation and Modeling.

The first objective of the Iron Synthesis program involves a data recovery effort aimed at assembling a common, open-access database of data and metadata from a series of in-situ ocean iron fertilization experiments conducted between 1993 and 2005. Initially, funding for this effort is being provided by the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF).

Through the combined efforts of the principal investigators of the individual projects and the staff of Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO), data currently available primarily through individuals, disparate reports and data agencies, and in multiple formats, are being collected and prepared for addition to the BCO-DMO database from which they will be freely available to the community.

As data are contributed to the BCO-DMO office, they are organized into four overlapping categories:
1. Level 1, basic metadata
(e.g., description of project/study, general location, PI(s), participants);
2. Level 2, detailed metadata and basic shipboard data and routine ship's operations
(e.g., CTDs, underway measurements, sampling event logs);
3. Level 3, detailed metadata and data from specialized observations
(e.g., discrete observations, experimental results, rate measurements) and
4. Level 4, remaining datasets
(e.g., highest level of detailed data available from each study).

Collaboration with BCO-DMO staff began in March of 2008 and initial efforts have been directed toward basic project descriptions, levels 1 and 2 metadata and basic data, with detailed and more detailed data files being incorporated as they become available and are processed.

Related file

Program Documentation

The Iron Synthesis Program is funded jointly by the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF).