| Contributors | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Lawson, Gareth | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) | Chief Scientist |
| Rauch, Shannon | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI BCO-DMO) | BCO-DMO Data Manager |
This alongtrack data set contains information on environmental conditions for each day of the OC473 cruise, from 8/4/2011 to 9/1/2011.
Alongtrack measurements were made continuously during the course of the cruise. Data collection was handled by a number of computers and custom software programs, including Calliope, the central program which collects, logs, and distributes the data. Sea surface temperature, salinity, and fluorescence data were collected once per minute upon leaving port. Atmospheric measurements of air temperature, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, and other meteorological variables were also collected along with time, latitude, and longitude once per minute. These data were saved on the ship’s server on a daily basis in several different file formats.
BCO-DMO Processing Notes and Edits: Parameter names were modified to conform to BCO-DMO convention. Replaced 'nan' and '-999' with 'nd', where applicable. Leading spaces in front of values were deleted. Time was converted from HH:MM:SS format to GMT format. day_gmt, month_gmt, year, and yrday_new were added (computed based on date column).
The following parameters were removed from display:
hour, min, sec - redundant; time_gmt contains this information
ydTime - redundant; yrday_new and time_gmt contain this information
AT (temp_air) - redundant; column contained same values and precision as temp_air_port
HRH (humidity) - redundant; column contained same values and precision as humidity_port
IMET_PRC (precip_rate) - column contained no data for all rows
PRC - redundant; values were derived from precip_port
SBE45T - Calliope metadata states that temp_ss column is best source of sea surface temperature
Salinity - values recorded with less precision than sal_ss column
SSCND - values recorded with less precision than cond_mS column
SSTMP - values recorded with less precision than temp_ss column
SPD - Calliope metadata states that sog column is best source of speed-over-ground in knots
HdChkSum=2F - column used for QC only
| File |
|---|
alongtrack_OC473.csv (Comma Separated Values (.csv), 8.95 MB) MD5:ef48a435c9673950d2bc37bcdd65a060 Primary data file for dataset ID 3640 |
| Parameter | Description | Units |
| date | month, day, year (GMT time) e.g. 8/4/2011. Month and day may be 1 or 2 digits. in m/d/yyyy format | unitless |
| time_gmt | Time GMT, 24 hour clock. Values converted from HH:MM:SS format to HHMM.SS format. | decimal hours |
| lat | Latitude, negative = South. | decimal degrees |
| lon | Longitude, negative = West. | decimal degrees |
| sog | Speed over ground (best source) obtained from primary GPS receiver. Name changed from 'SOG' during processing. | knots |
| head | The ship's heading obtained from primary true heading source (gyro). Name changed from 'HDT' during processing. | Degrees(azimuth) |
| cog | Course over ground (true), best source, obtained from primary GPS receiver. | Degrees(azimuth) |
| temp_ss | Sea surface temperature measured by SBE48 sensor. Name changed from 'SBE48T' during processing. | degrees C |
| sal_ss | Sea surface salinity measured by SBE45 thermosalinograph. Name changed from 'SBE45S' during processing. | PSU |
| month_gmt | Month, GMT. Values derived from the 'date' field. | mm |
| day_gmt | Day, GMT. Values derived from the date field. | dd |
| cond_mS | Surface conductivity from the SBE45 thermosalinograph. Name changed from 'SBE45C' during processing. | mS/cm |
| sound_vel | Surface sound velocity from the SBE45 thermosalinograph. Name changed from 'SBE45V' during processing. | m/s |
| SSC_FSI | Sea surface conductivity measured by FSI sensor. | mS/cm |
| SST_FSI | Sea surface temperature measured by FSI instrument. | degrees C |
| wind_speed_r_port | Relative wind speed, port side, obtained from Vaisala WXT520. Wind speed average in m/s (2 Hz, 10 sec sample period). Name changed from 'WXTP_Sm' during processing. | m/s |
| wind_speed_r_stbd | Relative wind speed, stbd side, obtained from Vaisala WXT520. Wind speed average in m/s (2 Hz, 10 sec sample period). Name changed from 'WXTS_Sm' during processing. | m/s |
| wind_speed_c_port | True wind speed, port side. Values calculated from the Vaisala WXT520. Raw data corrected for sensor alignment error and combined with the ship's heading, sog, and cog values. | m/s |
| wind_speed_c_stbd | True wind speed, stbd side. Values calculated from the Vaisala WXT520. Raw data corrected for sensor alignment error and combined with the ship's heading, sog, and cog values. | m/s |
| wind_speed_kts | True wind speed from primary source (WXT520's). Name changed from 'Wnd_TS' during processing. | knots |
| year | year (YYYY format); derived from date column. | dimensionless |
| yrday_new | yearday; derived from date column. | dimensionless |
| temp_air_port | Air temperature in degrees C. Obtained from Vaisala WXT520 mounted on forward mast, port side, 15 m above waterline. Name changed from 'WXTP_Ta' during processing. | degrees C |
| temp_air_stbd | Air temperature in degrees C. Obtained from Vaisala WXT520 mounted on forward mast, stbd side, 15 m above waterline. Name changed from 'WXTS_Ta' during processing. | degrees C |
| depth_w_12 | Depth in meters obtained from the Knudsen 12 kHz channel. 4 meter transducer depth correction has been applied. Name changed from 'Depth12' during processing. | m |
| depth_w_3d5 | Depth in meters obtained from the Knudsen 3.5 kHz channel. 4 meter transducer depth correction has been applied. Name changed from 'Depth35' during processing. | m |
| wind_dir_r_port | Relative wind direction, port side. Data obtained from Vaisala WXT520 and has not been corrected for sensor mounting alignment error. | degrees |
| wind_dir_r_stbd | Relative wind direction, stbd side. Data obtained from Vaisala WXT520 and has not been corrected for sensor mounting alignment error. | degrees |
| wind_dir_c_port | True wind direction in degrees, port side. Values are calculated from the Vaisala WXT520. Raw data corrected for sensor alignment error and combined with the ship's gyro heading, sog, and cog values. | degrees |
| wind_dir_c_stbd | True wind direction in degrees, stbd side. Values are calculated from the Vaisala WXT520. Raw data corrected for sensor alignment error and combined with the ship's gyro heading, sog, and cog values. | degrees |
| wind_dir_c | True wind direction from the primary source (WXT520's). Name changed from 'Wnd_TD' during processing. | degrees |
| press_bar_port | Barometric pressure obtained from WXT520 mounted on the forward mast, port side, 14.5 m above sea level. Data has been corrected for sensor altitude. | hPa |
| press_bar_stbd | Barometric pressure obtained from WXT520 mounted on the forward mast, stbd side, 14.5 m above sea level. Data has been corrected for sensor altitude. | hPa |
| press_bar | Barometric pressure obtained from primary source (WXT520's). Values have been corrected for sensor height above sea level (.1185 hPa per meter, Oceanus = 14.5 m). | hPa |
| precip_port | Rain accumulation in mm. Data obtained from Vaisala WXT520 mounted on forward mast, port side, 15 m above waterline. | mm |
| precip_stbd | Rain accumulation in mm. Data obtained from Vaisala WXT520 mounted on forward mast, stbd side, 15 m above waterline. | mm |
| precip_rate_port | Rain intensity in mm/hour obtained from Vaisala WXT520 mounted on forward mast, port side, 15 m above waterline. Name changed from 'WXTP_Ri' during processing. | mm/hr |
| precip_rate_stbd | Rain intensity in mm/hour obtained from Vaisala WXT520 mounted on forward mast, stbd side, 15 m above waterline. Name changed from 'WXTS_Ri' during processing. | mm/hr |
| humidity_port | Relative humidity (%) obtained from Vaisala WXT520 mounted on forward mast, port side, 15 m above water line. Name changed from 'WXTP_Ua' during processing. | % |
| humidity_stbd | Relative humidity (%) obtained from Vaisala WXT520 mounted on forward mast, stbd side, 15 m above water line. Name changed from 'WXTS_Ua' during processing. | % |
| FLR | Fluorescence measured by WetLabs Wet-Star fluorometer located in the Wet Lab clean seawater piping. Units are counts (1 volt dc = 1000). | counts |
| radiation_s | Short wave radiation in watts/square-meter. Raw data is in micro-volts. Raw/8.38 = watts/square-meter. Sensor is mounted on bow mast 15 m above the waterline. | watts/square-meter |
| Dataset-specific Instrument Name | Fluorometer |
| Generic Instrument Name | Fluorometer |
| Dataset-specific Description | Sea surface fluorometer, WetLabs Wet-Star fluorometer located in the Wet Lab clean seawater piping. A MetraByte A/D converter is used to convert the 0-5 vdc fluorometer output to serial data. |
| Generic Instrument Description | A fluorometer or fluorimeter is a device used to measure parameters of fluorescence: its intensity and wavelength distribution of emission spectrum after excitation by a certain spectrum of light. The instrument is designed to measure the amount of stimulated electromagnetic radiation produced by pulses of electromagnetic radiation emitted into a water sample or in situ. |
| Dataset-specific Instrument Name | Global Positioning System Receiver |
| Generic Instrument Name | Global Positioning System Receiver |
| Dataset-specific Description | The Furuno GP-1850W (primary GPS) and Furuno GP-90D receivers are the navigation devices for the ship. All GPS units are located on the bridge and are operated by the ship’s watch officer. Typical data provided are Time, Position, Velocity, Course-Over-Ground and Speed-Over-Ground. Heading and altitude from Ashtech GPS. |
| Generic Instrument Description | The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a U.S. space-based radionavigation system that provides reliable positioning, navigation, and timing services to civilian users on a continuous worldwide basis. The U.S. Air Force develops, maintains, and operates the space and control segments of the NAVSTAR GPS transmitter system. Ships use a variety of receivers (e.g. Trimble and Ashtech) to interpret the GPS signal and determine accurate latitude and longitude. |
| Dataset-specific Instrument Name | Gyro |
| Generic Instrument Name | Gyro |
| Generic Instrument Description | Compass with a motorized gyroscope that tracks true north (heading). |
| Dataset-specific Instrument Name | Knudsen 320 BR deepwater echosounder |
| Generic Instrument Name | Knudsen 320 BR deepwater echosounder |
| Dataset-specific Description | Depth data was obtained from the Knudsen bathymetry system. Values have been corrected for transducer depth (4 meters). Bathymetric systems (3.5 kHz and 12.0 kHz) include: Knudsen 320B/R with digital data logging and EPC graphic recorder, Knudsen 3260 Chirp echsounder, Edo 323 B 12 kHz transducer, and an array of 12 3.5 kHz transducers. |
| Generic Instrument Description | The Knudsen 320 B/R deepwater echosounder is a digital data logging system used to measure water depth (e.g. depth of the seafloor). The system is configured to work with different frequency transducers. For example, the Edo 323 B is a 12 kHz High Frequency (HF) transducer or it can be configured to work with an array of 3.5 kHz Low Frequency (LF) transducers mounted in the hull of a vessel. |
| Dataset-specific Instrument Name | MicroTSG Thermosalinograph |
| Generic Instrument Name | MicroTSG Thermosalinograph |
| Dataset-specific Description | SBE45 MicroTSG sensor connected to the clean seawater system in the Wet Lab. See SBE48 for best sea surface temperature data. More information on this instrument is available on its spec sheet. |
| Generic Instrument Description | An externally powered, high-accuracy instrument, designed for shipboard determination of sea surface (pumped-water) conductivity and temperature. Salinity and sound velocity can also be computed. |
| Dataset-specific Instrument Name | SBE 48 Hull Temperature Sensor |
| Generic Instrument Name | Sea-Bird SBE 48 Hull Temperature Sensor |
| Dataset-specific Description | Hull Temperature Sensor; magnetically coupled SBE48 to measure sea surface temperature (C) through the hull. Sensor is located in the bow. Sensor housing is contained in an insulation jacket to limit effect of ambient bow chamber air. |
| Generic Instrument Description | The SBE 48 is a high-accuracy temperature recorder with non-volatile memory, designed for shipboard determination of sea surface temperature. Installed with magnets just below the water line, the SBE 48's temperature sensor is in contact with the inside of the ship's hull. For more information, see the SBE48 Manual. |
| Dataset-specific Instrument Name | Weather Transmitter |
| Generic Instrument Name | Weather Transmitter |
| Dataset-specific Description | Vaisala WXT520 weather transmitters mounted on the forward mast, one each on port side and stbd side, 14.5 meters above sea level. |
| Generic Instrument Description | The ship-mounted Vaisala Weather Transmitter WXT520 measures: Wind speed and direction; Liquid precipitation: rainfall, duration, intensity; Barometric pressure; Air temperature and Relative humidity. (for more information see http://www.vaisala.com/en/products/multiweathersensors/Pages/WXT520.aspx) |
| Website | |
| Platform | R/V Oceanus |
| Report | |
| Start Date | 2011-08-07 |
| End Date | 2011-09-01 |
| Description | The primary objective of the proposed research is to quantify the distribution, abundance, species composition, shell condition, and vertical migratory behavior of oceanic thecosome pteropods in the northwest Atlantic and northeast Pacific, and correlate these quantities to hydrography and concurrent measurements of carbonate chemistry, including vertical and horizontal distributions of aragonite saturation. During OC473, the first cruise in the Atlantic, a combination of underway data collection and station activities will be conducted along a transect spanning 15 degrees of latitude (35° to 50° N) in the northwest Atlantic, employing six instrument packages: (1) a 1-m2 MOCNESS plankton net system; (2) a profiling Video Plankton Recorder / CTD package, including bottles for water sampling; (3) a deep (500m) towed broadband acoustic scattering system ; 94) a hull-mounted narrowband multi-frequency acoustic scattering system. It is possible that the hull mounted transducers will suffer from noise when the vessel is underway and so as a backup we will have a surface-towed sled with a backup complement of transducers; 5) an underway multi-parameter inorganic carbon analyzer and 6) a suite of chemistry-related instruments including a DIC auto-analyzer for discret bottle sample analysis, an alkalinity auto-titrator for bottle analysis and an Agilent spectrophotometer for discrete pH measurement.
Supporting documentation:
Cruise track image
Cruise information and original data are available from the NSF R2R data catalog. |
Modified version of the NSF award abstract:
The impact of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems represents a vital question facing both marine scientists and managers of ocean resources. Thecosome pteropods are a group of calcareous planktonic molluscs widely distributed in coastal and open ocean pelagic ecosystems of the world¡¦s oceans. These animals secrete an aragonite shell, and thus are highly sensitive to ocean acidification due to the water column's changing carbonate chemistry, and particularly the shoaling of the aragonite compensation depth at which seawater becomes corrosive to aragonite. In many regions, however, relatively little is known about the abundance, distribution, vertical migratory behavior, and ecological importance of pteropods. Assessing the likely ecosystem consequences of changes in pteropod dynamics resulting from ocean acidification will require a detailed understanding of pteropod distribution and abundance relative to changing aragonite saturation in the water column.
The primary objective of this project is to quantify the distribution, abundance, species composition, shell condition, and vertical migratory behavior of oceanic thecosome pteropods in the northwest Atlantic and northeast Pacific, and correlate these quantities to hydrography and concurrent measurements of carbonate chemistry, including vertical and horizontal distributions of aragonite saturation. In particular, the project will capitalize on present-day variability in the depth distribution of aragonite saturation levels within and between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as a "natural experiment" to address the hypotheses that pteropod vertical distribution, species composition, and abundance vary as the compensation depth becomes shallower. Secondary objectives are to develop acoustic protocols for the remote quantification of pteropod abundance for future integration into ocean acidification monitoring networks, and to characterize carbonate chemistry and nutrients along portions of two WOCE/CLIVAR Repeat Hydrography transects (A20 in the Atlantic and P17N in the Pacific) to identify decadal-scale changes in the carbonate system. These hypotheses and objectives will be addressed through two cruises along survey transects between 35 and 50 degrees North in the northwest Atlantic and northeast Pacific involving a combination of station-work and underway measurements, and a comprehensive array of instruments, including acoustic, optical, towed net, hydrographic, and carbonate chemistry sensors and sampling systems.
This highly inter-disciplinary project, combines expertise in zooplankton ecology, acoustics, and marine chemistry. The proposed work will result in a detailed baseline understanding of variability in the horizontal and vertical distribution, as well as species composition, of thecosome pteropods in the northwest Atlantic and northeast Pacific, making a key contribution to zooplankton ecology generally. In addition, by quantifying the response to current spatial variability within and between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the project will provide important information on the likely response of pteropod distribution to future changes in the vertical distribution of aragonite saturation levels, a necessary component in modeling the impacts of ocean acidification on marine ecosystem function, services, and resources.
Ocean acidification is increasingly appreciated as an urgent societal concern. Thecosome pteropods are key prey for a variety of commercially-exploited fish species, and the improved understanding the PIs seek of pteropod distribution and likely response to changing water column carbonate chemistry will have important implications for our understanding of potential effects of ocean acidification on marine resources.
The Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry (OCB) program focuses on the ocean's role as a component of the global Earth system, bringing together research in geochemistry, ocean physics, and ecology that inform on and advance our understanding of ocean biogeochemistry. The overall program goals are to promote, plan, and coordinate collaborative, multidisciplinary research opportunities within the U.S. research community and with international partners. Important OCB-related activities currently include: the Ocean Carbon and Climate Change (OCCC) and the North American Carbon Program (NACP); U.S. contributions to IMBER, SOLAS, CARBOOCEAN; and numerous U.S. single-investigator and medium-size research projects funded by U.S. federal agencies including NASA, NOAA, and NSF.
The scientific mission of OCB is to study the evolving role of the ocean in the global carbon cycle, in the face of environmental variability and change through studies of marine biogeochemical cycles and associated ecosystems.
The overarching OCB science themes include improved understanding and prediction of: 1) oceanic uptake and release of atmospheric CO2 and other greenhouse gases and 2) environmental sensitivities of biogeochemical cycles, marine ecosystems, and interactions between the two.
The OCB Research Priorities (updated January 2012) include: ocean acidification; terrestrial/coastal carbon fluxes and exchanges; climate sensitivities of and change in ecosystem structure and associated impacts on biogeochemical cycles; mesopelagic ecological and biogeochemical interactions; benthic-pelagic feedbacks on biogeochemical cycles; ocean carbon uptake and storage; and expanding low-oxygen conditions in the coastal and open oceans.
NSF Climate Research Investment (CRI) activities that were initiated in 2010 are now included under Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability NSF-Wide Investment (SEES). SEES is a portfolio of activities that highlights NSF's unique role in helping society address the challenge(s) of achieving sustainability. Detailed information about the SEES program is available from NSF (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504707).
In recognition of the need for basic research concerning the nature, extent and impact of ocean acidification on oceanic environments in the past, present and future, the goal of the SEES: OA program is to understand (a) the chemistry and physical chemistry of ocean acidification; (b) how ocean acidification interacts with processes at the organismal level; and (c) how the earth system history informs our understanding of the effects of ocean acidification on the present day and future ocean.
Solicitations issued under this program:
NSF 10-530, FY 2010-FY2011
NSF 12-500, FY 2012
NSF 12-600, FY 2013
NSF 13-586, FY 2014
NSF 13-586 was the final solicitation that will be released for this program.
PI Meetings:
1st U.S. Ocean Acidification PI Meeting(March 22-24, 2011, Woods Hole, MA)
2nd U.S. Ocean Acidification PI Meeting(Sept. 18-20, 2013, Washington, DC)
3rd U.S. Ocean Acidification PI Meeting (June 9-11, 2015, Woods Hole, MA – Tentative)
NSF media releases for the Ocean Acidification Program:
Press Release 10-186 NSF Awards Grants to Study Effects of Ocean Acidification
Discovery Blue Mussels "Hang On" Along Rocky Shores: For How Long?
Press Release 13-102 World Oceans Month Brings Mixed News for Oysters
| Funding Source | Award |
|---|---|
| NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) |