Metadata Report for L:\users\bodc\requests\rn207309\JR20140331\VMP\ishrefs

• Introduction
• Series Index
• Series Specific Information
• General Documentation
• Parameters
• BODC Quality Control Flags

Introduction

The BODC National Oceanographic Database (NODB) is a collection of entities known as series. Each series is a repeated set of measurements of one or more oceanographic parameters plus one or more of the independent variables time, latitude, longitude and depth. These data are delivered to the user as either simple ASCII files or as platform-independent binary files in QXF format (a BODC subset of NetCDF).

The database holds metadata for the series, including both fixed fields and plain-language documents. This is delivered to the user either as discrete XHTML files containing all the metadata for a series (Single-Series Reports) or as a condensed XHTML Combined Series Report.

The BODC metadata model includes three types of series aggregation entities:

• Data Activities are groupings of series measured simultaneously from a common platform. Data Activities generally either group together the series from the various instruments on a mooring or the series associated with a research cruise.
• Fixed Stations are groupings of series at a fixed location, where location may be a point, line or polygon. Generally they include series where the same parameters were measured in the same location at different times. However, they have also been used to cluster together the series from several simultaneous Data Activities at a common location.
• Projects are groupings of series associated with a common research activity, funding activity or other such political grouping of data.

The metadata for each of these aggregation entities is included in both types of report.

Report Layouts

Single-Series Report

The BODC Single-Series Report contains the following sections:

• The Metadata Summary contains the fixed-field metadata for the series.
• The Problem Reports section contains plain language metadata that should be taken into account by the user when assessing whether the data series is 'fit for purpose'.
• The Data Access Policy section contains information on the terms and conditions under which the data series may be supplied by BODC.
• The Data Policy section contains information (when presented) of the data management policy written and agreed by a programme steering committee. It provides the framework for short term and long term management of the data arising from the programme.
• The Narrative Documents section contains the main body of the plain-language metadata for the series. This may include further information that some users may like to take into account when assessing whether the series is 'fit for purpose'.
• The Project Information section contains the fixed-field and plain-language metadata for any projects to which the series is linked.
• The Data Activity Information section contains the fixed-field and plain-language metadata for any data activities to which the series is linked.
• The Fixed Station Information section contains the fixed-field and plain-language metadata for any fixed stations to which the series is linked.
• The BODC Quality Flags section contains the definitions of the single-character data quality codes that are associated with every value in the data files.

Combined Series Report

The BODC Combined Series Report contains six sections.

• Introductory text (this document).
• The Series Index. This is a summary table containing key metadata fields presented with one series on each row. Hyperlinks are provided to the Series Specific Information entry for each series.
• The Series Specific Information section is headed by a hyperlink index to its individual series entries. Each series entry consists of three elements:
  • The fixed-field metadata for the series.
  • The Problem Reports (plain language metadata that should be taken into account by the user when assessing whether the data series is 'fit for purpose') linked to the series.
  • A list of the plain language metadata documents linked to the series, with hyperlinks to the document text. This includes documents covering data access policies, projects, data activities and fixed stations in addition to narrative documents.
• The General Documentation section contains the document text. Each document is only included once no matter how series in the report are linked to it. An index, including hyperlinks, to the documents in the section is provided at the beginning. Each document is preceded by a list of hyperlinks to the Series Specific information for the series linked to that document.
• The Parameters section provides the definitions of the BODC parameter codes used to label the channels in the data files. It contains the superset of the parameters contained in all the series covered by the report. If information on the parameters contained in individual series is required then the Single-Series Report for that series should be consulted.
• The BODC Quality Flags section contains the definitions of the single-character data quality codes that are associated with every value in the data files.

Series Index

This report contains the qualifying documentation and header information associated with the following data series extracted from the BODC database :

where Data Type

• QC = CTD or STD cast

Series Specific Information

BODC Series References 1734211 1734223 1734235 1734247 1734259 1734260 1734272 1734284 1734296 1734303 1734315 1734327 1734339 1734340 1734352 1734364 1734376 1734388 1734407 1734419 1734420

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734211

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 301955 472412 301976 304461 472398 472405 301962

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734223

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 301955 472412 301976 304461 472398 472405 301962

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734235

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 301955 472412 301976 304461 472398 472405 301962

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734247

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 301955 472412 301976 304461 472398 472405 301962

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734259

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 301955 472412 301976 304461 472398 472405 301962

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734260

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 301955 472412 301976 304461 472398 472405 301962

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734272

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 301955 472412 301976 304461 472398 472405 301962

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734284

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 301955 472412 301976 304461 472398 472405 301962

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734296

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 301955 472412 301976 304461 472398 472405 301962

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734303

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 476332 472398 472405 472412 301955

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734315

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 301955 472412 301976 304461 472398 472405 301962

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734327

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 476332 472398 472405 472412 301955

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734339

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 476332 472398 472405 472412 301955

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734340

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 476332 472398 472405 472412 301955

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734352

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 476332 472398 472405 472412 301955

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734364

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 476332 472398 472405 472412 301955

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734376

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 301955 472412 301976 304461 472398 472405 301962

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734388

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 301955 472412 301976 304461 472398 472405 301962

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734407

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 301955 472412 301976 304461 472398 472405 301962

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734419

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 301955 472412 301976 304461 472398 472405 301962

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

Information for BODC Series Reference 1734420

Data Description

Time Co-ordinates(UT)

Spatial Co-ordinates

The following additional documents apply to this series :

Data Access Policy Document 267816

Narrative Document 230610 301941 301948 301955 472412 301976 304461 472398 472405 301962

Cruise Summary Report Document James Clark Ross JR20140309

Fixed Station Document : 143611 216738 230887

Project Document : 163991

General Documentation

Data Access Policy Document

267816 Open Data supplied by Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

Narrative Documents

230610 Sea-Bird Electronics SBE 911 and SBE 917 series CTD profilers

301941 Rockland Scientific SPM-38 velocity shear probe

301948 Rockland Scientific FP07-38 microstructure thermistor

301955 Sea-Bird SBE 3F temperature sensor

301962 Sea-Bird SBE 7 microstructure conductivity sensor

301976 Rockland Scientific Vertical Microstructure Profiler VMP 5500

304461 Agilent 6890 networked gas chromatograph

472398 BODC Processing

472405 Instrument Description

472412 Originator's Data Processing

476332 Rockland Scientific Vertical Microstructure Profiler VMP 750 and 2000

Fixed Station Documents

143611 World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) Southern Repeat Section 1B - Falkland Islands to Elephant Island

216738 Drake Passage

230887 WOCE Hydrographic Programme Section A23

Project Information Documents

163991 Diapycnal and Isopycnal Mixing Experiment in the Southern Ocean (DIMES) project document

Data Access Policy Document : 267816

Applies to BODC Series Ref. Nos : 1734420, 1734211, 1734407, 1734388, 1734376, 1734364, 1734352, 1734340, 1734339, 1734327, 1734315, 1734303, 1734296, 1734284, 1734272, 1734260, 1734259, 1734247, 1734235, 1734223, 1734419

Open Data supplied by Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

You must always use the following attribution statement to acknowledge the source of the information: "Contains data supplied by Natural Environment Research Council."

Narrative Document : 230610

Applies to BODC Series Ref. Nos : 1734211, 1734223, 1734235, 1734247, 1734259, 1734260, 1734272, 1734284, 1734296, 1734303, 1734315, 1734327, 1734339, 1734340, 1734352, 1734364, 1734376, 1734388, 1734407, 1734419, 1734420

Sea-Bird Electronics SBE 911 and SBE 917 series CTD profilers

The SBE 911 and SBE 917 series of conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) units are used to collect hydrographic profiles, including temperature, conductivity and pressure as standard. Each profiler consists of an underwater unit and deck unit or SEARAM. Auxiliary sensors, such as fluorometers, dissolved oxygen sensors and transmissometers, and carousel water samplers are commonly added to the underwater unit.

Underwater unit

The CTD underwater unit (SBE 9 or SBE 9 plus) comprises a protective cage (usually with a carousel water sampler), including a main pressure housing containing power supplies, acquisition electronics, telemetry circuitry, and a suite of modular sensors. The original SBE 9 incorporated Sea-Bird's standard modular SBE 3 temperature sensor and SBE 4 conductivity sensor, and a Paroscientific Digiquartz pressure sensor. The conductivity cell was connected to a pump-fed plastic tubing circuit that could include auxiliary sensors. Each SBE 9 unit was custom built to individual specification. The SBE 9 was replaced in 1997 by an off-the-shelf version, termed the SBE 9 plus, that incorporated the SBE 3 plus (or SBE 3P) temperature sensor, SBE 4C conductivity sensor and a Paroscientific Digiquartz pressure sensor. Sensors could be connected to a pump-fed plastic tubing circuit or stand-alone.

Temperature, conductivity and pressure sensors

The conductivity, temperature, and pressure sensors supplied with Sea-Bird CTD systems have outputs in the form of variable frequencies, which are measured using high-speed parallel counters. The resulting count totals are converted to numeric representations of the original frequencies, which bear a direct relationship to temperature, conductivity or pressure. Sampling frequencies for these sensors are typically set at 24 Hz.

The temperature sensing element is a glass-coated thermistor bead, pressure-protected inside a stainless steel tube, while the conductivity sensing element is a cylindrical, flow-through, borosilicate glass cell with three internal platinum electrodes. Thermistor resistance or conductivity cell resistance, respectively, is the controlling element in an optimized Wien Bridge oscillator circuit, which produces a frequency output that can be converted to a temperature or conductivity reading. These sensors are available with depth ratings of 6800 m (aluminium housing) or 10500 m (titanium housing). The Paroscientific Digiquartz pressure sensor comprises a quartz crystal resonator that responds to pressure-induced stress, and temperature is measured for thermal compensation of the calculated pressure.

Additional sensors

Optional sensors for dissolved oxygen, pH, light transmission, fluorescence and others do not require the very high levels of resolution needed in the primary CTD channels, nor do these sensors generally offer variable frequency outputs. Accordingly, signals from the auxiliary sensors are acquired using a conventional voltage-input multiplexed A/D converter (optional). Some Sea-Bird CTDs use a strain gauge pressure sensor (Senso-Metrics) in which case their pressure output data is in the same form as that from the auxiliary sensors as described above.

Deck unit or SEARAM

Each underwater unit is connected to a power supply and data logging system: the SBE 11 (or SBE 11 plus) deck unit allows real-time interfacing between the deck and the underwater unit via a conductive wire, while the submersible SBE 17 (or SBE 17 plus) SEARAM plugs directly into the underwater unit and data are downloaded on recovery of the CTD. The combination of SBE 9 and SBE 17 or SBE 11 are termed SBE 917 or SBE 911, respectively, while the combinations of SBE 9 plus and SBE 17 plus or SBE 11 plus are termed SBE 917 plus or SBE 911 plus.

Specifications

Specifications for the SBE 9 plus underwater unit are listed below:

Further details can be found in the manufacturer's specification sheet.

Narrative Document : 301941

Applies to BODC Series Ref. Nos : 1734211, 1734223, 1734235, 1734247, 1734259, 1734260, 1734272, 1734284, 1734296, 1734303, 1734315, 1734327, 1734339, 1734340, 1734352, 1734364, 1734376, 1734388, 1734407, 1734419, 1734420

Rockland Scientific SPM-38 velocity shear probe

A velocity shear probe measuring microstructure velocity fluctuations in oceans and lakes. The instrument measures a single spatial component of turbulent velocity fluctuations, in a direction perpendicular to the probes main axis. The sensing head is based upon the design by Osborn (1974) and the sensing element consists of a parabolic, flexible rubber tip. The oncoming flow produces a hydrodynamic lift force proportional to the fluctuating cross-stream velocity component u. A piezo-ceramic beam embedded in the rubber tip translates the lift force into an electric signal that is proportional to u. The length of the sensing tip (10 mm) determines the maximum wavenumber resolution of the sensor which is approximately 48 cycles per meter. The measurements can be corrected to include wavenumbers up to 150 cpm.

Specifications

References cited

Osborn, T.R., 1974. Vertical profiling of velocity microstructure. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 4, 109-115.

Narrative Document : 301948

Applies to BODC Series Ref. Nos : 1734211, 1734223, 1734235, 1734247, 1734259, 1734260, 1734272, 1734284, 1734296, 1734303, 1734315, 1734327, 1734339, 1734340, 1734352, 1734364, 1734376, 1734388, 1734407, 1734419, 1734420

Rockland Scientific FP07-38 microstructure thermistor

A fast-response temperature sensor measuring microstructure temperature fluctuations for oceanographic applications. The sensing tip is a microbead thermistor (manufactured by GE Thermometics), mounted on a 9.525 mm diameter stainless steel sting which can be attached to ocean microstructure instruments. The instrument consists of small diameter glass-coated thermistor bead, thermetically sealed onto the tip of a shock-resistant glass rod.

Specifications

Narrative Document : 301955

Applies to BODC Series Ref. Nos : 1734211, 1734223, 1734235, 1734247, 1734259, 1734260, 1734272, 1734284, 1734296, 1734303, 1734315, 1734327, 1734339, 1734340, 1734352, 1734364, 1734376, 1734388, 1734407, 1734419, 1734420

Sea-Bird SBE 3F temperature sensor

Water temperature sensor primarily designed for use on the SBE 25 and 25plus Sealogger CTD systems but can be used as a component in custom oceanographic profiling systems or high-accuracy temperature-monitoring applications. The sensor operates over the range -5 to +35 °C and has an initial accuracy of +/-0.001°C. The sensor has a depth rating of 6800 m (aluminum housing) or 10500 m (titanium housing). The SBE 3F is an enhanced version of the SBE 3 temperature sensor.

Please see the SBE 3F specification sheet for further details.

Narrative Document : 301962

Applies to BODC Series Ref. Nos : 1734211, 1734223, 1734235, 1734247, 1734259, 1734260, 1734272, 1734284, 1734296, 1734315, 1734376, 1734388, 1734407, 1734419, 1734420

Sea-Bird SBE 7 microstructure conductivity sensor

Microstructure conductivity sensor designed for use on marine profiling applications to characterise small scale ocean conductivity features. The sensor is primarily used for the determination of conductivity gradients but it is configured to respond to absolute conductivity as well. The SBE 7 has an accuracy typically within 0.005 S m^-1 over periods of several hours and has a high speed micro-scale resolution of 3 dbar at 100 cycles m -1 (-3 dbar at 1000 Hz). The sensor has aluminium housing and a depth rating of 6800 m.

Please see the SBE 7 specification sheet for further details.

Narrative Document : 301976

Applies to BODC Series Ref. Nos : 1734211, 1734223, 1734235, 1734247, 1734259, 1734260, 1734272, 1734284, 1734296, 1734315, 1734376, 1734388, 1734407, 1734419, 1734420

Rockland Scientific Vertical Microstructure Profiler VMP 5500

A full ocean-depth untethered vertical microstructure turbulence profiler for the measurement of dissipation-scale turbulence along with temperature and conductivity for up to 5500 m depth. The instrument is fitted with pressure, temperature (SBE-3F) and conductivity (SBE-4C) sensors, three acceleration sensors, a PC104 computer data acquisition and communication system, anti-aliasing filters and a standard suite of microstructure sensors which includes two SPM-38-5 velocity shear probes, two FP07-38-5 fast thermistors and an optional microstructure conductivity probe (SBE7).

All microstructure sensors are held in the nose cone and can be exchanged or replaced in the field, without the need of disassemble the main pressure case of the VMP which can hold up to 6 microstructure probes in any combination. The main pressure case contains the pressure transducer as well as the accelerometers, electronics for signal conditioning A/D conversion and data logging, and is separated from the nose cone by a 38 mm thick bulkhead which prevents water penetration into the main pressure case.

The instrument has an aluminium frame with syntactic foam attached for floatation. Data are collected on the downcast and after reaching a pre-defined depth the profiler releases ballast weights so that the instrument becomes positively buoyant. The instrument rises to the surface with a nominal speed of 1.0 ms^-1. As a backup, there is a triple-redundancy emergency ballast release consisting of a corrosion trigger, time-out trigger and pressure rate-of-change trigger. The VMP 5500 has a strobe light and a radio beacon and can also be fitted with an Argos transmitter for locating the instrument after it has returned to the surface. The VMP 5500 was replaced by the VMP 6000 in 2010.

Please see the VMP 5500 specification sheet for further details.

Narrative Document : 304461

Applies to BODC Series Ref. Nos : 1734211, 1734223, 1734235, 1734247, 1734259, 1734260, 1734272, 1734284, 1734296, 1734315, 1734376, 1734388, 1734407, 1734419, 1734420

Agilent 6890 networked gas chromatograph

A networked gas chromatograph that separates and analyses gas mixtures in water or air. The instrument includes a dual channel design supporting two inlets and two detectors. An automatic liquid sampling system is fully integrated into the mainframe control and atmospheric pressure and temperature compensation is standard. The instrument also supports 6 column oven ramps with 7 plateaus.

The 6890N is completely customisable depending on the application, with choices of inlets, columns, detectors and sampling systems. Available detectors include; flame ionization, thermal conductivity, micro-electron capture, nitrogen-phosphorus, single- or dual-wavelength flame photometric. Specialised detectors include: atomic emission, Helium ionization, sulphur chemiluminescence and pulsed discharge ionization. All detectors include electronic pneumatics control and electronic on/off for all detector gases. Carrier and makeup gas settings are selectable for He, H2, N2, and argon/methane. There is a choice of inlets including; packed purged injection port, split/splitless capillary inlet, temperature-programmable cool on-column, programmable temperature vaporizer and volatiles inlet. A full array of gas sampling and column switching valves are also available. The instrument has a 7683 ALS interface and incorporates local area network technology as standard.

The Agilent 6890N uses many of the same components as the Agilent 6850N GC producing virtually identical results, but the Agilent 6850N is only half as wide. The Agilent 6890N replaces the HP Agilent 5890 and is no longer in production.

Please see the Agilent 6890N brochure and data sheet for further details.

Narrative Document : 472398

Applies to BODC Series Ref. Nos : 1734211, 1734223, 1734235, 1734247, 1734259, 1734260, 1734272, 1734284, 1734296, 1734303, 1734315, 1734327, 1734339, 1734340, 1734352, 1734364, 1734376, 1734388, 1734407, 1734419, 1734420

BODC Processing

Twenty one profiles were provided by the originator, 11 from the VMP-5500 which stopped working after cast 22, and 6 from the VMP-2000 which was used after the VMP-5500 failed. The profiles were provided in two structured Matlab files (one for each VMP) and converted into BODC internal format using standard BODC processing procedures. The following table shows how the variables within the Matlab file were mapped to appropriate BODC parameter codes:

VMP-5500

This instrument was used for profile numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20 and 22.

VMP-2000

This instrument was used for profile numbers 21, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37.

The reformatted data were visualised using the in-house EDSERPLO software. The data were screened and quality control flags were applied to data as necessary.

Narrative Document : 472405

Applies to BODC Series Ref. Nos : 1734211, 1734223, 1734235, 1734247, 1734259, 1734260, 1734272, 1734284, 1734296, 1734303, 1734315, 1734327, 1734339, 1734340, 1734352, 1734364, 1734376, 1734388, 1734407, 1734419, 1734420

Instrument Description

Vertical Microstructure Profilers and support sensors

Two vertical microstructure profilers were used during cruise leg 1 of JR299 (JR20140309); a tethered VMP-2000 and an untethered VMP-5500.

VMP-5500

This instrument was used for profile numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20 and 22.

VMP-2000

This instrument was used for profile numbers 21, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37.

Please see the cruise report for further details of the instrumentation performance and recommendations.

Narrative Document : 472412

Applies to BODC Series Ref. Nos : 1734211, 1734223, 1734235, 1734247, 1734259, 1734260, 1734272, 1734284, 1734296, 1734303, 1734315, 1734327, 1734339, 1734340, 1734352, 1734364, 1734376, 1734388, 1734407, 1734419, 1734420

Originator's Data Processing

Sampling Strategy

Twenty one Vertical Microstructure Profiler (VMP) deployments were carried out successfully during the cruise, 18 of them in conjunction with standard CTD stations.

Two VMPs owned by NOCS, one tethered VMP-2000 and one untethered VMP-5500, were used during cruise leg 1 of JR299 (JRJR20140309). The general mode of deployment was to deploy the VMP during two out of every three CTD stations. The preference was to use the non-tethered VMP-5500 profiler but this broke down after cast 22, caused by failure with the PC-104 computer board, therefore the VMP-2000 was used for the last few casts.

Data processing

Instrument calibrations for the VMP CTD were applied and corrections for the fact the unit was not pumped, but no external calibration either to the ship CTD or water samples were made.

A matlab routine (finestructure_processing_routine.m) was used to process the seabird finestructure. The temperature and salinity data from the CTD sensors were processed as follows:

1. Near-surface data below 10 dbar were removed to eliminate the noisy data at the near surface from influencing further processing.
2. Conductivity, temperature and pressure data were then adjusted to account for the spatial displacement between the pressure sensor (at the VMP nose) and the CTD sensors (on the VMP body).
3. The temperature, conductivity and pressure were despiked.
4. The short-term mismatch between temperature and conductivity signals due to dissimilar sensor responses and the long-time mismatch between temperature and conductivity signals due to the thermal inertia of the conductivity cell were corrected.
5. The effects of conductivity cell thermal expansion and pressure contraction were corrected.
6. Low pass filters then corrected pressure, temperature, conductivity and salinity profiles to eliminate high frequency noise.
7. Temperature, conductivity and salinity profiles were averaged in pressure bins of 0.5 dbar.

Another matlab routine (vmp_process_micro.m) was then used to convert the data to real units and to calibrate the seabird data. The epsilon and chi values are estimated by integrating the power spectra of the shear and the microtemperature gradient, respectively. The data were averaged into regular 0.5 dbar bins.

Lastly the data were averaged into 1 dbar bins and saved as a matlab structure file using a Matlab program. The average results from the two shear or microtemperature probes were used, unless a probe was noisy, in which case the noisy probe data was discarded.

Narrative Document : 476332

Applies to BODC Series Ref. Nos : 1734303, 1734327, 1734339, 1734340, 1734352, 1734364

Rockland Scientific Vertical Microstructure Profiler VMP 750 and 2000

The VMP 750/2000 is a tethered vertical microstructure turbulence profiler for the measurement of dissipation-scale turbulence plus temperature and conductivity in coastal or open-ocean environments (pressure case rated to 750m/2000m for the VMP-750 and VMP-2000 respectively). The instrument is fitted with pressure, temperature (SBE-3F) and conductivity (SBE-4C) sensors, three-axis high-accuracy accelerometers, and a standard suite of microstructure sensors which includes an SPM-38-1 velocity shear probe, an FP07-38-1 fast thermistor and an optional microstructure conductivity probe (SBE7-38). The instrument is also fitted with a bottom landing guard to protect the sensors. ODAS4-RT real-time data acquisition and display software with signal conditionaing and telemetry electronics are included, in addition to a deck unit for data communication. An optional DISS 2.0 data processing library for Matlab is also available to enable processing and display of the turbulence microstructure data. Other sensors (e.g. micro conductivity, micro-fluorometer, dissolved oxygen) can also be added.

The VMP 750/2000 instrument has been constructed in a modular design, in that the composite instrumentation pressure case (forward half of the instrument) can be separated from drag and flotation elements. The tapered nose cone also has six possible positions for the turbulence sensors. This makes it possible to use the instrument package in various deployment configurations, such as moored or towed applications.

Please see the VMP 750/2000 specification sheet for further details.

Fixed Station Document 143611

Applies to BODC Series Ref. Nos : 1734211, 1734223, 1734235, 1734247, 1734259, 1734260, 1734272, 1734284, 1734296, 1734303, 1734315, 1734327, 1734339, 1734340, 1734352, 1734364, 1734376, 1734388, 1734407, 1734419, 1734420

World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) Southern Repeat Section 1B - Falkland Islands to Elephant Island

WOCE Southern Repeat Section 1B is a section across Drake Passage in the South Atlantic Ocean. The nominal end points of the section (to date) are at 52° 55.74' S, 58° 00.00' W (at the south of the Falkland Islands) and 61° 03.05' S, 54° 33.10' W (off Elephant Island at the north end of the Antarctic Peninsula).

The section was first occupied by the R/V Polarstern in 1992 (Gersonde, 1993). The first UK occupation of SR1b followed on RRS Discovery later the same year. The National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (formerly known as Southampton Oceanography Centre), in collaboration with the British Antarctic Survey, have occupied the section most years since 1993 on the RRS James Clark Ross. Additionally, there were three Spanish occupations on R/V Hespérides in February 1995, 1996 and 1998 (Garcia et al., 2002). A Drake Passage summary report for RRS James Clark Ross cruises between 1993 - 2000 has been produced.

A table of cruises which occupied SR1b is presented below with links to the relevant cruise reports (were available).

References

García, M. A., I. Bladé, A. Cruzado, Z. Velásquez, H. García, J. Puigdefàbregas and J. Sospedra, 2002: Observed variability of water properties and transports on the World Ocean Circulation Experiment SR1b section across the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. J. Geophys. Res. 107 (C10) 3162, 10.1029/2000JC000277.

Gersonde, R., 1993: The Expedition Antarktis X/5 of RV Polarstern in 1992. Berichte zur Polarforschung, 131, 167 pp.

Fixed Station Document 216738

Applies to BODC Series Ref. Nos : 1734211, 1734223, 1734235, 1734247, 1734259, 1734260, 1734272, 1734284, 1734296, 1734303, 1734315, 1734327, 1734339, 1734340, 1734352, 1734364, 1734376, 1734388, 1734407, 1734419, 1734420

Drake Passage

The World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE, 1990-1998) was a major international experiment which made measurements and undertook modelling studies of the deep oceans in order to provide a much improved understanding of the role of ocean circulation in changing and ameliorating the Earth's climate.

The Drake Passage is the narrowest constriction of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) - the largest current in the world and connects all three major oceanic basins both horizontally and vertically, thus being a key control in the global overturning circulation.Within the Drake Passage, two repeat hydrographic sections (SR1 and SR1b) were established by WOCE. These were designed to extend measurements collected earlier by the International Southern Ocean Studies (ISOS) programme and have continued beyond the WOCE time-frame.

The original section was SR1 (which also covers part of the A21 one time survey track). Subsequently, the section was shifted to the east (and designated SR1b) in order for it to lie on a satellite ground track as illustrated in the image below.

In addition to the hydrographic measurements, UK research in Drake Passage also includes a network of coastal and deep tide gauges, analysis of satellite altimeter data, and state-of-the-art global numerical modeling.

Fixed Station Document 230887

Applies to BODC Series Ref. Nos : 1734211, 1734223, 1734235, 1734247, 1734259, 1734260, 1734272, 1734284, 1734296, 1734303, 1734315, 1734327, 1734339, 1734340, 1734352, 1734364, 1734376, 1734388, 1734407, 1734419, 1734420

WOCE Hydrographic Programme Section A23

This section is part of the One-Time Survey of World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) designated A23. A hydrographic section from Antarctica to Brazil in the South West Atlantica. A full suite of physical, chemical, biological, meterological and tracer measurements were made. During WOCE in 1995 (James Clark Ross, cruise JR10) the A23 section area encompassed 20-70° S and 20-70° S. Part of this A23 section located in the eastern Scotia Sea has been repeated by the ALBATROSS project (James Clark Ross, cruise JR40) in 1999, the US CLIVAR repeat hydrography/CO₂ in 2005 (R/V Ronald H. Brown, cruise A16S_2005a) under the CLIVAR/Carbon repeat hydrography program and by the British Antarctic Survey Polar Oceans programme in 2010 (James Ross Clark, cruise JR235).

History of Occupations at Section A23

Project Information Document 163991

Applies to BODC Series Ref. Nos : 1734211, 1734223, 1734235, 1734247, 1734259, 1734260, 1734272, 1734284, 1734296, 1734303, 1734315, 1734327, 1734339, 1734340, 1734352, 1734364, 1734376, 1734388, 1734407, 1734419, 1734420

Diapycnal and Isopycnal Mixing Experiment in the Southern Ocean (DIMES) project document

DIMES is a US/UK field program aimed at measuring diapycnal and isopycnal mixing in the Southern Ocean, along the tilting isopycnals of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.

The Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC) of the ocean is a critical regulator of the Earth's climate processes. Climate models are highly sensitive to the representation of mixing processes in the southern limb of the MOC, within the Southern Ocean, although the lack of extensive in situ observations of Southern Ocean mixing processes has made evaluation of mixing somewhat difficult. Theories and models of the Southern Ocean circulation have been built on the premise of adiabatic flow in the ocean interior, with diabatic processes confined to the upper-ocean mixed layer. Interior diapycnal mixing has often been assumed to be small, but a few recent studies have suggested that diapycnal mixing might be large in some locations, particularly over rough bathymetry. Depending on its extent, this interior diapycnal mixing could significantly affect the overall energetics and property balances for the Southern Ocean and in turn for the global ocean. The goals of DIMES are to obtain measurements that will help us quantify both along-isopycnal eddy-driven mixing and cross-isopycnal interior mixing.

DIMES includes tracer release, isopycnal following RAFOS floats, microstructure measurements, shearmeter floats, EM-APEX floats, a mooring array in Drake Passage, hydrographic observations, inverse modeling, and analysis of altimetry and numerical model output.

DIMES is sponsored by the National Science Foundation (U.S.), Natural Environment Research Council (U.K) and British Antarctic Survey (U.K.)

For more information please see the official project website at DIMES

Parameters

Definition of Rank

• Rank 1 is a one-dimensional parameter
• Rank 2 is a two-dimensional parameter
• Rank 0 is a one-dimensional parameter describing the second dimension of a two-dimensional parameter (e.g. bin depths for moored ADCP data)

BODC Quality Control Flags

The following single character qualifying flags may be associated with one or more individual parameters within a data cycle :