Table of Contents

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

Radiosonde profiles of atmospheric temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction

Radiosondes
Profiles of atmospheric temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction were measured
using Vaisala RS80-GPS radiosondes carried aloft by helium balloons. A list of radiosonde
launches is given as the data file list. The data are transmitted from the sonde to a
shipboard receiver and these are stored at 2-s intervals by computer. This sampling
gives good height resolution in the atmospheric boundary layer, which is under the direct
influence of the fluxes through the sea surface. The radiosondes were generally launched
to coincide with the overpasses of the NASA Aqua earth observation satellite, as the
atmospheric profiles derived from the radiosondes can be used to validate satellite
retrievals of atmospheric temperature and humidity distributions.

Refer to SAGE Voyage Report

Radiosondes
Profiles of atmospheric temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction were measured
using Vaisala RS80-GPS radiosondes carried aloft by helium balloons. A list of radiosonde
launches is given as the data file list. The data are transmitted from the sonde to a
shipboard receiver and these are stored at 2-s intervals by computer. This sampling
gives good height resolution in the atmospheric boundary layer, which is under the direct
influence of the fluxes through the sea surface. The radiosondes were generally launched
to coincide with the overpasses of the NASA Aqua earth observation satellite, as the
atmospheric profiles derived from the radiosondes can be used to validate satellite
retrievals of atmospheric temperature and humidity distributions.

BCO-DMO Processing Notes
Generated from original data and documentations files:
040401a.rs thru 040414a.rs (10 files)
rs_table.pdf

BCO-DMO Edits
MetaData (rs_table.pdf):
- Headers removed (data already in rs_table.pdf)
- File rs_table.pdf exported as text file
- date reformatted to YYYYMMDD
- time reformatted to HHMMSS
- parameter names modified to conform to BCO-DMO convention
Data (.rs files):
- parameter names modified to conform to BCO-DMO convention
- '//', '///' and '////' fields changed to nd

While not officially funded as a U.S. SOLAS project, SAGE included
significant U.S. participation and it's science themes were consistent
with those of the International SOLAS program.

[from http://www.us-solas.org:8080/Plone/projects/the-us-solas-in-the-sage-study (26 may 2008)]
SAGE was a mesoscale Fe addition experiment run after the seasonal autumnal
bloom of the sub-Antarctic showed a small biological response to Fe addition.
The SF6/3He dual-tracer experiment extended the range of gas exchange measurement
into stronger wind regimes typical of the Southern Ocean.

A goal of the SAGE project was to increase understanding of air-water Gas Exchange,
Mixed Layer structure, skin/surface properties, biogenic gases and atmospheric fluxes.
Core measurements included Carbon, N2/O2, noble gas, DMS(P), SO2, N2O, CO, CDOM CN
and aerosol chemistry.

One cruise was conducted aboard the Research Vessel Tangaroa and instrumentation
included CARIOCA pCO2 Buoys, Shipboard Gill R3A Anemometer mast, SAMI pCO2 sensors,
SkinDeep vertical profiler, MAERI, SCAMP/TRAMP temperature microstructure profiler,
sparbuoy, ADCP, S-band radar, FRRF, flow cytometer, primary production, nutrients,
Fe, Meteorology and radiosondes.

from "DSR intro.doc"; by Mike Harvey described as in preparation for Deep Sea Research II
The SOLAS air-sea gas exchange experiment (SAGE) was a combined gas-transfer process
study and iron fertilisation experiment conducted in sub-Antarctic waters of the
south-west Bounty Trough (46.5°S 172.5°E) to the south-east of New Zealand between
mid-March and mid-April 2004.

The experiment was designed as a lagrangian study of air-sea gas exchange processes
of CO2, DMS and other biogenic gases associated with an iron-induced phytoplankton
bloom. In conjunction with the iron fertilisation a dual tracer SF6/3He release
served quantify both patch evolution and air-sea tracer exchange at the 10's of km's
scale. Within this patch local/micrometeorological (100's m scale) gas exchange
process studies quantified physical variables such as near-surface turbulence,
temperature microstructure at the interface, wave properties and wind speed to enable
development of improved gas exchange models for the frequently windy Southern Ocean.

After 15 days and four iron additions totalling 1.1 tonne Fe2+ there was a doubling
in both column chlorophyll-a and primary productivity; a very modest response compared
with other mesoscale iron enrichment. An investigation of factors limiting bloom
development considered co-limitation by light, other nutrients, phyto-plankton seed-stocks
and grazing regulation.

Related files

SAGE precruise Science Plan
SAGE precruise Voyage Plan
SAGE Voyage Report
SAGE Release Times
SAGE Surface Physics Metadata Report

SAGE Cruise Track from SST data (.jpg image)
Note:
SAGEtime/Experiment time zero (0.0000) is: 25 March 2004, 19:00 Local Time (NZST) (from SAGE Voyage Report, Voyage Timetable, Pages 5-6)
 

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).

The Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study (SOLAS) program is designed to enable researchers from different disciplines to interact and investigate the multitude of processes and interactions between the coupled ocean and atmosphere.

Oceanographers and atmospheric scientists are working together to improve understanding of the fate, transport, and feedbacks of climate relevant compounds, and also weather and hazards that are affected by processes at the surface ocean.

Oceanographers and atmospheric scientists are working together to improve understanding of the fate, transport, and feedbacks of climate relevant compounds.

Physical, chemical, and biological research near the ocean-atmosphere interface must be performed in synergy to extend our current knowledge to adequately understand and forecast changes on short and long time frames and over local and global spatial scales.

The findings obtained from SOLAS are used to improve knowledge at process scale that will lead to better quantification of fluxes of climate relevant compounds such as CO2, sulfur and nitrogen compounds, hydrocarbons and halocarbons, as well as dust, energy and momentum. This activity facilitates a fundamental understanding to assist the societal needs for climate change, environmental health, weather prediction, and national security.

The US SOLAS program is a component of the International SOLAS program where collaborations are forged with investigators around the world to examine SOLAS issues ubiquitous to the world's oceans and atmosphere.

» International SOLAS Web site

Science Implementation Strategy Reports

US-SOLAS (4 MB PDF file)
Other SOLAS reports are available for download from the US SOLAS Web site