Metadata Report for BODC Series Reference Number 1748974
Metadata Summary
Problem Reports
Data Access Policy
Narrative Documents
Project Information
Data Activity or Cruise Information
Fixed Station Information
BODC Quality Flags
SeaDataNet Quality Flags
Metadata Summary
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Problem Reports
No Problem Report Found in the Database
Data Access Policy
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 Documents
SPX Bran+Luebbe Autoanalyser 3
The instrument uses continuous flow analysis (CFA) with a continuous stream of material divided by air bubbles into discrete segments in which chemical reactions occur. The continuous stream of liquid samples and reagents are combined and transported in tubing and mixing coils. The tubing passes the samples from one apparatus to the other with each apparatus performing different functions, such as distillation, dialysis, extraction, ion exchange, heating, incubation, and subsequent recording of a signal.
An essential principle of the system is the introduction of air bubbles. The air bubbles segment each sample into discrete packets and act as a barrier between packets to prevent cross contamination as they travel down the length of the tubing. The air bubbles also assist mixing by creating turbulent flow (bolus flow), and provide operators with a quick and easy check of the flow characteristics of the liquid.
Samples and standards are treated in an exactly identical manner as they travel the length of the tubing, eliminating the necessity of a steady state signal, however, since the presence of bubbles create an almost square wave profile, bringing the system to steady state does not significantly decrease throughput and is desirable in that steady state signals (chemical equilibrium) are more accurate and reproducible.
The autoanalyzer can consist of different modules including a sampler, pump, mixing coils, optional sample treatments (dialysis, distillation, heating, etc), a detector, and data generator. Most continuous flow analyzers depend on color reactions using a flow through colorimeter, however other methods have been developed that use ISE, flame photometry, ICAP, fluorometry, and so forth.
More details can be found in the manufacturer's introduction to autoanalysers andinstrument description.
Non-toxic (underway) sea water supply
A source of uncontaminated near-surface (commonly 3 to 7 m) seawater pumped continuously to shipboard laboratories on research vessels. There is typically a temperature sensor near the intake (known as the hull temperature) to provide measurements that are as close as possible to the ambient water temperature. The flow from the supply is typically directed through continuously logged sensors such as a thermosalinograph and a fluorometer. Water samples are often collected from the non-toxic supply. The system is also referred to as the underway supply.
Discrete inorganic nutrient samples from ship's underway supply and tow fish during RRS Discovery cruise DY008
Originator's Protocol for Data Acquisition and Analysis
Sampling strategy
A total of 62 discrete samples were collected from the ship's underway non-toxic pumped seawater supply and via a tow fish. The underway samples were collected at approximately 6 m below sea-level and the tow fish samples from approximately 1.5 to 2 m water depth. The water sample was transferred from the underway supply to a 60 ml HDPE Nalgene bottles (acid washed and cleaned) using a silicone tubing, with the sample bottle being washed three times before the taking the final sample.
Samples collected from the tow fish followed the protocol described above, however the sampling was done through a long length tube (approximate 1.3 m) which directed the water into the clean lab. The tube was flushed during approximately 4.3 minutes before samples were collected. Sample collection was done with a constant flow rate of about 3.6 l min-1 .
Samples from the ship's underway non-toxic seawater supply were taken to the lab and analysed shortly after collection, whereas the samples from the tow fish were taken to shore to be analysed. Gloves and other clean handling protocols were adopted following the GO-SHIP protocols.
Sample Analysis
The inorganic nutrient samples were analysed using a 5 channel (nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, silicate and ammonium) Bran and Luebbe AAIII segmented flow, colorimetric, autoanalyser. The data were calibrated against home nutrient standards and then compared against Certified Nutrient Reference Materials, from KANSO Technos, Japan.
The analytical chemical methodologies used were according to Brewer and Riley (1965) for nitrate, Grasshoff (1976) for nitrite, Kirkwood (1989) for phosphate and silicate, and Mantoura and Woodward (1983) for ammonium. The detection limits were 0.01 µ mol l-1 (nitrite), 0.02 µ mol l-1 (nitrate+nitrite), 0.03 µ mol l-1 (ammonium) and 0.02 µ mol l-1 (phosphate). There was no limit for silicate.
References
Kirkwood D., 1989. Simultaneous determination of selected nutrients in seawater. ICES CM 1989/C:29.
Brewer and Riley, 1965. The automatic determination of nitrate in sea water. Deep Sea Research, 12, 765-72.
Grasshoff K., 1976. Methods of seawater analysis. Verlag Chemie, Weiheim and New York, 317pp.
Mantoura R.F.C and Woodward E.M.S, 1983. Optimization of the indophenol blue method for the automated determination of ammonia in estuarine waters. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, 17, 219-24.
BODC Data Processing Procedures
The data arrived at BODC in one Excel (.xlsx) file containing discrete samples collected from the DY008 underway non-toxic, pumped-seawater supply and the tow fish water sampler. Data received were loaded into the BODC database using established BODC data banking procedures.
Originator's variables were mapped to appropriate BODC parameter codes as follows:
| Originator's Parameter | Originator's Unit | Description | BODC Parameter Code | BODC Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrite | µmol l-1 | Concentration of nitrite {NO2- CAS 14797-65-0} per unit volume of the water body [dissolved plus reactive particulate phase] by colorimetric autoanalysis | NTRIAATX | µmol l-1 |
| Nitrate+Nit | µmol l-1 | Concentration of nitrate+nitrite {NO3+NO2} per unit volume of the water body [dissolved plus reactive particulate phase] by colorimetric autoanalysis | NTRZAATX | µmol l-1 |
| Ammonium | µmol l-1 | Concentration of ammonium {NH4+ CAS 14798-03-9} per unit volume of the water body [dissolved plus reactive particulate phase] by colorimetric autoanalysis | AMONAATX | µmol l-1 |
| Silicate | µmol l-1 | Concentration of silicate {SiO44- CAS 17181-37-2} per unit volume of the water body [dissolved plus reactive particulate phase] by colorimetric autoanalysis | SLCAAATX | µmol l-1 |
| Phosphate | µmol l-1 | Concentration of phosphate {PO43- CAS 14265-44-2} per unit volume of the water body [dissolved plus reactive particulate phase] by colorimetric autoanalysis | PHOSAATX | µmol l-1 |
Data Quality Report
Two underway samples were sent with no position metadata. One sample had only the collection date, but not the time. in this case it was not possible to identify where the sample had been collected and so the nutrient concentrations were not loaded to BODC's database. The second sample (Reference number: 1831525) had date and time and position metadata was extracted from the navigation data recorded by the ship's GPS systems during the cruise.
Problem Report
None. (BODC assessment)
Project Information
Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry (SSB) Programme
Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry (SSB) is a £10.5 million, six-year (2011-2017) research programme, jointly funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The aim of the research is to reduce the uncertainty in our understanding of nutrient and carbon cycling within the shelf seas, and of their role in global biogeochemical cycles. SSB will also provide effective policy advice and make a significant contribution to the Living with Environmental Change programme.
Background
The Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry research programme directly relates to the delivery of the NERC Earth system science theme and aims to provide evidence that supports a number of marine policy areas and statutory requirements, such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and Marine and Climate Acts.
The shelf seas are highly productive compared to the open ocean, a productivity that underpins more than 90 per cent of global fisheries. Their importance to society extends beyond food production to include issues of biodiversity, carbon cycling and storage, waste disposal, nutrient cycling, recreation and renewable energy resources.
The shelf seas have been estimated to be the most valuable biome on Earth, but they are under considerable stress, as a result of anthropogenic nutrient loading, overfishing, habitat disturbance, climate change and other impacts.
However, even within the relatively well-studied European shelf seas, fundamental biogeochemical processes are poorly understood. For example: the role of shelf seas in carbon storage; in the global cycles of key nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon and iron); and in determining primary and secondary production, and thereby underpinning the future delivery of many other ecosystem services.
Improved knowledge of such factors is not only required by marine policymakers; it also has the potential to increase the quality and cost-effectiveness of management decisions at the local, national and international levels under conditions of climate change.
The Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry research programme will take a holistic approach to the cycling of nutrients and carbon and the controls on primary and secondary production in UK and European shelf seas, to increase understanding of these processes and their role in wider biogeochemical cycles. It will thereby significantly improve predictive marine biogeochemical and ecosystem models over a range of scales.
The scope of the programme includes exchanges with the open ocean (transport on and off the shelf to a depth of around 500m), together with cycling, storage and release processes on the shelf slope, and air-sea exchange of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide).
Further details are available on the SSB website.
Participants
15 different organisations are directly involved in research for SSB. These institutions are
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)
- Meteorological Office
- National Oceanography Centre (NOC)
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML)
- Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) / Scottish Marine Institute (SMI)
- University of Aberdeen
- University of Bangor
- University of East Anglia (UEA)
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Essex
- University of Liverpool
- University of Oxford
- Plymouth University
- University of Portsmouth
- University of Southampton
In addition, there are third party institutions carrying out sampling work for SSB, but who are not involved in the programme itself. These are:
- The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI)
- Irish Marine Institute (MI)
- Marine Science Scotland (MSS)
Research details
Overall, five Work Packages have been funded by the SSB programme. These are described in brief below:
-
Work Package 1: Carbon and Nutrient Dynamics and Fluxes over Shelf Systems (CaNDyFloSS).
This work package aims to perform a comprehensive study of the cycling of nutrients and carbon throughout the water column over the whole north-west European shelf. This will allow the fluxes of nutrients and carbon between the shelf and the deep ocean and atmosphere to be quantified, establishing the role of the north-west European continental shelf in the global carbon cycle. -
Work Package 2: Biogeochemistry, macronutrient and carbon cycling in the benthic layer.
This work package aims are to map the sensitivity and status of seabed habitats, based on physical conditions, ecological community structure and the size and dynamics of the nitrogen and carbon pools found there. This information will be used, in conjunction with some laboratory-based work, to generate an understanding of the potential impacts on the benthic community as a result of changing environmental conditions, such as rising CO2 levels. -
Work Package 3: The supply of iron from shelf sediments to the ocean.
The research for this work package addresses the question of how currents, tides, weather and marine chemistry allow new iron to be transported away from the shallow shelf waters around the United Kingdom (UK), to the nearby open ocean. This will ultimately allow an improved understanding of how the transport of iron in shelf waters and shelf sediments influences phytoplankton growth in open oceans. This in turn improves the understanding of carbon dioxide uptake by phytoplankton. -
Work Package 4: Integrative modelling for Shelf Seas Biogeochemistry.
The aim of this work package is the development of a new shelf seas biogeochemical model system, coupled to a state of the art physical model, that is capable of predicting regional impacts of environmental change of timescales from days to decades. It is envisaged that the combination of predictive tools and new knowledge developed in this work package will underpin development and implementation of marine policy and marine forecasting systems. - Work Package 5: Data synthesis and management of marine and coastal carbon (DSMMAC).
This work package is funded by Defra and is also known by the name 'Blue Carbon'. The aim is to provide a process-based, quantitative assessment of the role of UK coastal waters and shelf seas in carbon storage and release, using existing data and understanding, and also emerging results from SSB fieldwork, experiments and modelling. Particular emphasis will be given to processes that may be influenced by human activities, and hence the opportunity for management interventions to enhance carbon sequestration.
Fieldwork and data collection
The campaign consists of the core cruises in the table below, to the marine shelf (and shelf-edge) of the Celtic Sea on board the NERC research vessels RRS Discovery and RRS James Cook. These cruises will focus on the physics and biogeochemistry of the benthic and pelagic zones of the water column, primarily around four main sampling sites in this area.
| Cruise identifier | Research ship | Cruise dates | Work packages |
|---|---|---|---|
| DY008 | RRS Discovery | March 2014 | WP 2 and WP 3 |
| JC105 | RRS James Cook | June 2014 | WP 1, WP 2 and WP 3 |
| DY026 | RRS Discovery | August 2014 | WP1, WP 2 and WP 3 |
| DY018 | RRS Discovery | November - December 2014 | WP 1 and WP 3 |
| DY021 (also known as DY008b) | RRS Discovery | March 2015 | WP 2 and WP 3 |
| DY029 | RRS Discovery | April 2015 | WP 1 and WP 3 |
| DY030 | RRS Discovery | May 2015 | WP 2 and WP 3 |
| DY033 | RRS Discovery | July 2015 | WP 1 and WP 3 |
| DY034 | RRS Discovery | August 2015 | WP 2 and WP 3 |
Core cruises will be supplemented by partner cruises led by Cefas, MI, MSS, Bangor University and AFBI, spanning the shelf seas and shelf-edges around United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.
Activities will include coring, Conductivity Temperature and Depth (CTD) deployments, Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) surveys, moorings and wire-walker deployments, benthic lander observatories, autonomous gliders and submersible surveys, Marine Snow Catcher particulate matter analysis, plankton net hauls, in-situ sediment flume investigations and laboratory incubations with core and sea water samples.
Data Activity or Cruise Information
Cruise
| Cruise Name | DY008 |
| Departure Date | 2014-03-18 |
| Arrival Date | 2014-04-13 |
| Principal Scientist(s) | Henry Ruhl (National Oceanography Centre, Southampton) |
| Ship | RRS Discovery |
Complete Cruise Metadata Report is available here
Fixed Station Information
No Fixed Station Information held for the Series
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 |
SeaDataNet Quality Control Flags
The following single character qualifying flags may be associated with one or more individual parameters with a data cycle:
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | no quality control |
| 1 | good value |
| 2 | probably good value |
| 3 | probably bad value |
| 4 | bad value |
| 5 | changed value |
| 6 | value below detection |
| 7 | value in excess |
| 8 | interpolated value |
| 9 | missing value |
| A | value phenomenon uncertain |
| B | nominal value |
| Q | value below limit of quantification |
