Metadata Report for BODC Series Reference Number 1043415

Metadata Summary

Data Description
Data Category Fluorescence or pigments
Instrument Type
NameCategories
Chelsea Instruments FASTtracka I Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometer  active fluorometers
Instrument Mounting research vessel
Originating Country United Kingdom
Originator Dr Mark Moore
Originating Organization National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Processing Status QC in progress
Project(s) Oceans 2025
Oceans 2025 Theme 10
Oceans 2025 Theme 10 SO4
Oceans 2025 Theme 2
Oceans 2025 Theme 2 WP2.6
 

Data Identifiers

Originator's Identifier UW_FVFM_D321
BODC Series Reference 1043415
 

Time Co-ordinates(UT)
Start Time (yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm) 2007-07-27 12:36
End Time (yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm) 2007-08-22 19:30
Nominal Cycle Interval 996.0 seconds
 

Spatial Co-ordinates

Southernmost Latitude 58.52560 N ( 58° 31.5' N )
Northernmost Latitude 62.94160 N ( 62° 56.5' N )
Westernmost Longitude 22.52480 W ( 22° 31.5' W )
Easternmost Longitude 17.03580 W ( 17° 2.1' W )
Positional Uncertainty Unspecified
Minimum Sensor Depth 5.0 m
Maximum Sensor Depth 5.0 m
Minimum Sensor Height -
Maximum Sensor Height -
Sea Floor Depth -
Sensor Distribution Fixed common depth - All sensors are grouped effectively at the same depth which is effectively fixed for the duration of the series
Sensor Depth Datum Approximate - Depth is only approximate
Sea Floor Depth Datum -
 

Parameters
BODC CODE Rank Units Title
AADYAA01 1 Days Date (time from 00:00 01/01/1760 to 00:00 UT on day)
AAFDZZ01 1 Days Time (time between 00:00 UT and timestamp)
ACYCAA01 1 Dimensionless Sequence number
ALATGP01 1 Degrees Latitude north (WGS84) by unspecified GPS system
ALONGP01 1 Degrees Longitude east (WGS84) by unspecified GPS system
FMMAXI01 1 Dimensionless Maximum in-vivo fluorescence (chlorophyll) {Fm} of the water body by bench fast repetition rate fluorometer (FRRF) and derivation from the raw data from the dark chamber
FOMINI01 1 Dimensionless Minimum in-vivo fluorescence (chlorophyll) {Fo} of the water body by bench fast repetition rate fluorometer (FRRF) and derivation from the raw data from the dark chamber
FVFMMI01 1 Dimensionless Photochemical quantum efficiency {Fv/Fm} of the water body by bench fast repetition rate fluorometer (FRRF) and calculation from Fm and Fo fluorescence yields from the dark chamber
SIGPSII1 1 Angstrom squared per quantum Functional absorption cross-section {Sigma-PSII} of the water body by bench fast repetition rate fluorometer (FRRF) and derivation from the raw data from the dark chamber
 

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)

Problem Reports

No Problem Report Found in the Database

Data Quality Report

There is a large time interval in all data channels between 19/8/2007 07:05:19 and 17:14:20. This was due to an interruption in logging (see cruise report p211).

Data Access Policy

Public domain data

These data have no specific confidentiality restrictions for users. However, users must acknowledge data sources as it is not ethical to publish data without proper attribution. Any publication or other output resulting from usage of the data should include an acknowledgment.

The recommended acknowledgment is

"This study uses data from the data source/organisation/programme, provided by the British Oceanographic Data Centre and funded by the funding body."

Narrative Documents

Chelsea Technologies Group FASTtracka MKI FRRF

The FASTtracka is a Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometer (FRRF) designed to measure the variable fluorescence of marine phytoplankton. It can be deployed on its own or integrated in moorings, profiling systems or in towed applications.

The operation mode comprises a rapid series of high frequency flashes (200 kHz), which enable the measurement of the absorption cross section of photosystem II (PSII), the rate of electron transport and the level of photochemical quenching. A 16 MHz clock microcontroller monitors the digital acquisition of the stimulated fluorescence and the excitation flashes, while simultaneously measuring Photosynthetic Active Radiation (PAR). These concurrent measurements allow for estimates of phytoplankton primary productivity to be made.

A comparison of ambient-irradiated and dark adapted phytoplankton samples is possible due to the optical head dual (light and dark) chamber design. All measurements are stored on an internal memory card with a 24 MB capacity and are downloaded through an RS232 connector.

Additional specifications include a maximum depth rating of 500 m and a chlorophyll-a sensitivity of 0.1 to 30 µg l-1.

Further information can be found in the manufacturer's specification sheet or the user guide.

Instrument Description

The Chelsea Technologies Group (CTG) FASTtracka TM I Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometer (FRRf) was connected to the ship's non-toxic supply within the bottle annex. Non-toxic seawater was pumped from a pick-up depth of approx. 5 m. The sensor was operated in flow-through mode. The manufacturer's calibration values for this instrument (Serial no. 05 5335 001) was 532.70 x 1010 quanta m-2 count-1 (30 Oct 2006).

Originator's Data Processing

Sampling Strategy

The Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometer (FRRf) was run between the 27/07/2007 12:36:06 to the 22/08/2007 19:30:00. The data were stored internally on the instrument and downloaded at between 1-3 day intervals.

Data Acquisition and Processing

Variable fluorescence was measured and processed in a similar manner to that described by Moore et al. (2005). Saturation of the variable chlorophyll fluorescence was performed using 100 flashlets of 1.1 µs duration with a 2.3 µs repetition rate. Subsequent relaxation of fluorescence was monitored using flashlets provided at 9.8 µs spacing, giving a total relaxation protocol length of around 2 ms. Data were not blank-corrected.

Table 1. Chelsea FASTtracka TM I gain settings

Originator's ID Start date/time End date/time Gain
UW1 27/07/2007 12:27 28/07/2007 11:57 4
UW2 28/07/2007 12:28 30/07/2007 15:54 4
UW3 30/07/2007 16:42 31/07/2007 15:13 4
UW4 31/07/2007 13:52 02/08/2007 14:34 4
UW5 02/08/2007 14:49 04/08/2007 14:29 4
UW6 04/08/2007 14:45 07/08/2007 14:59 4
UW7 07/08/2007 15:22 09/08/2007 12:02 4
UW8 09/08/2007 12:21 10/08/2007 06:30 4
UW9 10/08/2007 06:38 10/08/2007 17:27 1
UW10 10/08/2007 17:43 11/08/2007 17:05 4
UW11 11/08/2007 17:14 12/08/2007 16:36 4
UW12 12/08/2007 16:37 13/08/2007 14:20 4
UW13 13/08/2007 14:35 14/08/2007 17:15 4
UW14 14/08/2007 17:24 15/08/2007 16:42 4
UW15 15/08/2007 16:47 16/08/2007 19:20 4
UW16 16/08/2007 19:43 17/08/2007 16:13 4
UW17 17/08/2007 16:21 18/08/2007 15:59 4
UW18 18/08/2007 16:07 19/08/2007 07:07 4
UW19 19/08/2007 16:58 20/08/2007 17:15 4
UW20 20/08/2007 17:21 21/08/2007 14:48 4
UW21 21/08/2007 14:55 22/08/2007 19:30 4

References Cited

Moore, C.M., Lucas, M.I., Sanders, S., and Davidson, R., 2005. Basin-scale variability of phytoplankton bio-optical characteristics in relation to bloom state and community structure in the Northeast Atlantic. Deep-Sea Research I 52:401-419

Processing at BODC

The data arrived at BODC in one Microsoft Excel file representing all of the processed measurements collected during cruises D321 and D321B (raw binary files were also received and are available on request). The Excel file was reformatted to two internal NetCDF format files (one for each cruise) using BODC generated code. The following table shows how the variables within the Excel file were mapped to appropriate BODC parameter codes:

Originator's variable Units Description BODC code Units Comments
Jday day fractions Julian day from the beginning of the year (0/0/2007 00:00:00) - - Converted to BODC format
Long decimal degrees Longitude East ALONGP01 decimal degrees  
Lat decimal degrees Latitude North ALATGP01 decimal degrees  
Fo arbitrary units Minimal Fuorescence yields measured in the dark FOMINI01 not specified  
Fm arbitrary units Maximal Fuorescence yields measured in the dark FMMAXI01 not specified  
Fv/Fm ratio Maximum photochemical quantum efficiency in the dark FVFMMI01 dimensionless  
Sigma x10-20 m-2* Functional absorption cross-section of PSII in the dark SIGPSII1 Angstroms squared quanta-1 x10-20 m-2 = 1 Angstrom squared

*units were confirmed with originator as per quanta

The reformatted data were visualised using the in-house EDSERPLO software. Suspect data were marked by adding an appropriate quality control flag, missing data by both setting the data to an appropriate value and setting the quality control flag.

Project Information

Oceans 2025 - The NERC Marine Centres' Strategic Research Programme 2007-2012

Who funds the programme?

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funds the Oceans 2025 programme, which was originally planned in the context of NERC's 2002-2007 strategy and later realigned to NERC's subsequent strategy (Next Generation Science for Planet Earth; NERC 2007).

Who is involved in the programme?

The Oceans 2025 programme was designed by and is to be implemented through seven leading UK marine centres. The marine centres work together in coordination and are also supported by cooperation and input from government bodies, universities and other partners. The seven marine centres are:

Oceans2025 provides funding to three national marine facilities, which provide services to the wider UK marine community, in addition to the Oceans 2025 community. These facilities are:

The NERC-run Strategic Ocean Funding Initiative (SOFI) provides additional support to the programme by funding additional research projects and studentships that closely complement the Oceans 2025 programme, primarily through universities.

What is the programme about?

Oceans 2025 sets out to address some key challenges that face the UK as a result of a changing marine environment. The research funded through the programme sets out to increase understanding of the size, nature and impacts of these changes, with the aim to:

In order to address these aims there are nine science themes supported by the Oceans 2025 programme:

In the original programme proposal there was a theme on health and human impacts (Theme 7). The elements of this Theme have subsequently been included in Themes 3 and 9.

When is the programme active?

The programme started in April 2007 with funding for 5 years.

Brief summary of the programme fieldwork/data

Programme fieldwork and data collection are to be achieved through:

The data is to be fed into models for validation and future projections. Greater detail can be found in the Theme documents.

Oceans 2025 Theme 10

Oceans 2025 is a strategic marine science programme, bringing marine researchers together to increase people's knowledge of the marine environment so that they are better able to protect it for future generations.

Theme 10: Integration of Sustained Observations in the Marine Environment spans all marine domains from the sea-shore to the global ocean, providing data and knowledge on a wide range of ecosystem properties and processes (from ocean circulation to biodiversity) that are critical to understanding Earth system behaviour and identifying change. They have been developed not merely to provide long-term data sets, but to capture extreme or episodic events, and play a key role in the initialisation and validation of models. Many of these SOs will be integrated into the newly developing UK Marine Monitoring Strategy - evolving from the Defra reports Safeguarding our Seas (2002) and Charting Progress (2005), thus contributing to the underpinning knowledge for national marine stewardship. They will also contribute to the UK GOOS Strategic Plan (IACMST, 2006) and the Global Marine Assessment.

Weblink: http://www.oceans2025.org/

Oceans 2025 Theme 10, Sustained Observation Activity 4: The Extended Ellett Line

The Ellett Line (begun in 1975 and since 1996 the Extended Ellett Line from Scotland to Iceland) crosses important north Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC) components and thus provides an additional contribution to understanding the north Atlantic response to climate change. Sustained Observation Activity (SO) 4 will repeat this section annually collecting a wide variety of physical and biogeochemical measurements, and will, to enhance the time variable component, make use of Argo floats and gliders. SO 4 will be implemented by physical, biological and chemical scientists at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS) and the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS).

SO 4 formally contributes to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)-funded Marine Environmental Change Network (MECN). Established in 2002 to coordinate and promote the collection and utilisation of marine time-series and long-term data sets, the goal of the network is to use long-term marine environmental data from around the British Isles and Ireland to separate natural fluctuations from global, regional and local anthropogenic impacts.

The specific deliverables for SO 4 are:

More detailed information on this Work Package is available at pages 15 - 16 of the official Oceans 2025 Theme 10 document: Oceans 2025 Theme 10

Weblink: http://www.oceans2025.org/

Oceans 2025 Theme 2: Marine Biogeochemical Cycles

Marine biogeochemical cycles are the key processes that control the cycling of climate-active gases within the surface ocean; the main transport mechanisms governing the supply of nutrients from deeper waters across the pycnocline; and the flux of material to deep water via the biological carbon pump. The broad aim of this Theme is to improve knowledge of major biogeochemical processes in the surface layer of the Atlantic Ocean and UK shelf seas in order to develop accurate models of these systems. This strategic research will result in predictions of how the ocean will respond to, and either ameliorate or worsen, climate change and ocean acidification.

Theme 2 comprises three Research Units and ten Work Packages. Theme 2 addresses the following pivotal biogeochemical pathways and processes:

The official Oceans 2025 documentation for this Theme can be found using the following link: Oceans 2025 Theme 2

Oceans 2025 Theme 2, Work Package 2.6: Plankton Communities and Biogeochemistry

The focus of this Work Package is to gain a better understanding of the ocean's biological carbon pump (OBP), an important process in the global carbon cycle. Small changes in its magnitude resulting from climate change could have significant effects, both on the ocean's ability to sequester CO2 and on the natural flux of marine carbon. The impact of climatic forcing on plankton in different regions is complex with poorly understood consequences for the OBP. However, there is growing evidence that both high and low latitude ecosystems are particularly susceptible to change. In the subpolar Atlantic, the biogeochemical paradigm is one of diatom-dominated spring blooms initiated by NO3 and Si concentrations set by winter overturning, which drive carbon export. But by late spring and early summer, nutrient limitation and grazing pressure shift phytoplankton community structure towards dinoflagellates and sometimes massive coccolithophore blooms characterised by calcification rather than silicification processes. High residual nitrate concentrations and low chlorophyll levels in the Irminger basin in late summer away from coastal margins suggest potential iron control over phytoplankton growth. But it is possible that grazing or light limitation may be responsible for the residual summer nitrate pool. The iron limitation, grazing and light hypotheses will be tested in the high-latitude North Atlantic, including the Irminger basin. In addition, the factors controlling the transition to calcareous and non-mineralising organisms will be examined as calcite may be important in downwards organic carbon export via the ballast effect.

Low-latitude oligotrophic subtropical gyres form the world's largest biomes. Covering a third of the Earth's surface, they are dominated by microbial communities that turn over nutrients rapidly in strongly stratified, nutrient-poor surface waters. Low nutrient levels make these systems finely balanced with considerable potential for change. In the North Pacific gyre, recent changes have strengthened stratification, favouring N2 fixation. This increases the nitrogen pool, with the system becoming increasingly P limited. In the NASG, the potential for P limitation is now thought to be higher than that in the Pacific. In the two Atlantic gyres, P concentrations are dramatically different. The supply of nutrients to the mixed layer could be attributed to vertical as well as horizontal advection. The latter could be important in establishing the availability of nutrients.

This Work Package will be primarily coordinated by the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOC). The NOC aims to assess the response of the two Atlantic gyre systems (NASG and SASG), by comparing their C, N, P and Fe nutrient fluxes and associated biogeochemistry including export and biogases, together with an assessment of the contribution of these biomes to the global OBP

Specific objectives are:

Aspects of this work will link to Oceans 2025 Theme 9 and 10, and Theme 2 WP 2.7

More detailed information on this Work Package is available from pages 15-17 of the official Oceans 2025 Theme 2 document: Oceans 2025 Theme 2

Weblink: http://www.oceans2025.org/

Data Activity or Cruise Information

Cruise

Cruise Name D321 (D321A)
Departure Date 2007-07-24
Arrival Date 2007-08-23
Principal Scientist(s)John T Allen (National Oceanography Centre, Southampton)
Ship RRS Discovery

Complete Cruise Metadata Report is available here

Fixed Station Information

Fixed Station Information

Station NameExtended Ellett Line
CategoryOffshore route/traverse

Extended Ellett Line

The Extended Ellett Line is a hydrographic transect consisting of 58 individual fixed stations which have been occupied, typically on an annual basis, since September 1996. The Line runs from the south of Iceland, across the Iceland Basin to the outcrop of Rockall, and across the Rockall Trough to the north west coast of Scotland (see map). CTD dips and associated water sampling for the analysis of nutrients are routinely performed during each station occupation.

The Extended Ellett Line augments the original Ellett Line time series - a shorter repeated transect which encompassed those stations between Rockall and Scotland. Work on the Ellett Line was typically carried out at least once a year between 1975 and 1996.

Map of standard stations (1996-present)

BODC image

Map produced using the GEBCO Digital Atlas

The white triangles indicate the nominal positions of the Extended Ellett Line stations visited since September 1996. Measurements made along the Extended Ellett Line lie within a box bounded by co-ordinates 56° N, 21° W at the south west corner and 65° N, 6° W at the north east corner.

Nominal Extended Ellett Line stations (September 1996-present)

Listed below are nominal details of the standard hydrographic stations that have formed the Extended Ellett Line since September 1996.

Station Latitude Longitude Depth Range
IB23S 63.318 N 20.210 W 125 m -
IB22S 63.217 N 20.067 W 660 m 0.0 nm
IB21S 63.133 N 19.917 W 1030 m 6.5 nm
IB20S 62.917 N 19.550 W 1415 m 16.4 nm
IB19S 62.667 N 19.667 W 1500 m 16.0 nm
IB18S 62.333 N 19.833 W 1800 m 16.0 nm
IB17 62.000 N 20.000 W 1700 m 20.6 nm
IB16 61.500 N 20.000 W 2000 m 30.1 nm
IB15 61.250 N 20.000 W 2375 m 15.0 nm
IB14 61.000 N 20.000 W 2400 m 15.0 nm
IB13 60.500 N 20.000 W 2500 m 30.1 nm
IB12 60.000 N 20.000 W 2700 m 30.1 nm
IB11 59.667 N 19.117 W 2680 m 33.3 nm
IB10 59.400 N 18.417 W 2420 m 26.7 nm
IB9 59.333 N 18.233 W 1910 m 6.9 nm
IB8 59.200 N 17.883 W 1540 m 13.4 nm
IB7 59.117 N 17.667 W 1000 m 8.3 nm
IB6 58.950 N 17.183 W 850 m 18.0 nm
IB5 58.883 N 17.000 W 1150 m 7.0 nm
IB4 58.500 N 16.000 W 1210 m 38.8 nm
IB3 58.250 N 15.333 W 680 m 25.8 nm
IB2 57.950 N 14.583 W 480 m 29.9 nm
IB1 57.667 N 13.900 W 160 m 27.7 nm
A 57.583 N 13.633 W 130 m 10.0 nm
B 57.567 N 13.333 W 210 m 9.7 nm
C 57.550 N 13.000 W 330 m 10.8 nm
D 57.542 N 12.867 W 1000 m 4.3 nm
E 57.533 N 12.633 W 1658 m 7.6 nm
F 57.508 N 12.250 W 1817 m 12.5 nm
G 57.492 N 11.850 W 1812 m 13.0 nm
H 57.483 N 11.533 W 2020 m 10.3 nm
I 57.467 N 11.317 W 750 m 7.0 nm
J 57.450 N 11.083 W 550 m 7.6 nm
K 57.400 N 10.867 W 850 m 7.6 nm
L 57.367 N 10.667 W 2076 m 6.8 nm
M 57.300 N 10.383 W 2340 m 10.1 nm
N 57.233 N 10.050 W 2100 m 11.5 nm
O 57.150 N 9.700 W 1900 m 12.4 nm
P 57.100 N 9.417 W 1050 m 9.7 nm
Q 57.050 N 9.217 W 350 m 7.2 nm
R 57.000 N 9.000 W 135 m 7.7 nm
S 56.950 N 8.783 W 125 m 7.7 nm
15G 56.883 N 8.500 W 125 m 10.1 nm
T 56.837 N 8.333 W 120 m 6.1 nm
14G 56.808 N 8.167 W 115 m 5.7 nm
13G 56.783 N 8.000 W 110 m 5.7 nm
12G 56.758 N 7.833 W 80 m 5.7 nm
11G 56.733 N 7.667 W 55 m 5.7 nm
10G 56.733 N 7.500 W 220 m 5.5 nm
9G 56.733 N 7.333 W 160 m 5.5 nm
8G 56.733 N 7.167 W 175 m 5.5 nm
7G 56.733 N 7.000 W 145 m 5.5 nm
6G 56.733 N 6.750 W 35 m 8.2 nm
5G 56.733 N 6.600 W 75 m 4.9 nm
4G 56.733 N 6.450 W 115 m 4.9 nm
3G 56.708 N 6.367 W 75 m 3.1 nm
2G 56.683 N 6.283 W 40 m 3.2 nm
1G 56.667 N 6.133 W 190 m 5.0 nm

Occupations of the Extended Ellett Line (September 1996-present)

BODC Cruise Identifier Cruise Dates Ship
D223A 28 September-21 October 1996 RRS Discovery
D230 7 August-17 September 1997 RRS Discovery
D233 23 April-1 June 1998 RRS Discovery
D242 7 September-6 October 1999 RRS Discovery
D245 * 27 January-20 February 2000 RRS Discovery
0700S * 8-22 May 2000 FRV Scotia
D253 4 May-20 June 2001 RRS Discovery
0703S * 15 April-5 May 2003 FRV Scotia
PO300_2 * 19 July-6 August 2003 RRS Poseidon
PO314 11 July-23 July 2004 RV Poseidon
CD176 6 October-1 November 2005 RRS Charles Darwin
D312 11-31 October 2006 RRS Discovery
D321A 24 July-23 August 2007 RRS Discovery
D321B 24 August-9 September 2007 RRS Discovery
0508S * 6-25 May 2008 FRV Scotia
D340A 10-25 June 2009 RRS Discovery
D351 10-28 May 2010 RRS Discovery
D365 13 May-02 June 2011 RRS Discovery

* These cruises only surveyed the original hydrographic section between Scotland and Rockall.

Other Series linked to this Fixed Station for this cruise - 751960 751972 753573 753585 756478 771438 771451 771487 772245 772257 772269

Other Cruises linked to this Fixed Station (with the number of series) - 0508S (29) 0700S (20) 0703S (20) CD176 (40) D233 (25) D242 (45) D245 (25) D312 (51) D321 (D321A) (11) D321B (59) D340A (58) D351 (23) PO300_2 (31)

BODC Quality Control Flags

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

Flag Description
Blank Unqualified
< Below detection limit
> In excess of quoted value
A Taxonomic flag for affinis (aff.)
B Beginning of CTD Down/Up Cast
C Taxonomic flag for confer (cf.)
D Thermometric depth
E End of CTD Down/Up Cast
G Non-taxonomic biological characteristic uncertainty
H Extrapolated value
I Taxonomic flag for single species (sp.)
K Improbable value - unknown quality control source
L Improbable value - originator's quality control
M Improbable value - BODC quality control
N Null value
O Improbable value - user quality control
P Trace/calm
Q Indeterminate
R Replacement value
S Estimated value
T Interpolated value
U Uncalibrated
W Control value
X Excessive difference