Metadata Report for BODC Series Reference Number 896550

Metadata Summary

Data Description
Data Category CTD or STD cast
Instrument Type
NameCategories
Sea-Bird SBE 43 Dissolved Oxygen Sensor  dissolved gas sensors
Chelsea Technologies Group Aquatracka fluorometer  fluorometers
Sea-Bird SBE 911plus CTD  CTD; water temperature sensor; salinity sensor
Chelsea Technologies Group Alphatracka transmissometer  transmissometers
Instrument Mounting lowered unmanned submersible
Originating Country United Kingdom
Originator Prof Toby Sherwin
Originating Organization Scottish Association for Marine Science
Processing Status banked
Project(s) Northern Seas Programme (NSP)
Northern Seas Programme (NSP) - Theme B
 

Data Identifiers

Originator's Identifier CTD017
BODC Series Reference 896550
 

Time Co-ordinates(UT)
Start Time (yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm) 2005-10-12 11:11
End Time (yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm) 2005-10-12 12:30
Nominal Cycle Interval 2.0 decibars
 

Spatial Co-ordinates

Latitude 57.54217 N ( 57° 32.5' N )
Longitude 12.86717 W ( 12° 52.0' W )
Positional Uncertainty Unspecified
Minimum Sensor Depth 3.96 m
Maximum Sensor Depth 1059.4 m
Minimum Sensor Height 10.6 m
Maximum Sensor Height 1066.04 m
Sea Floor Depth 1070.0 m
Sensor Distribution Variable common depth - All sensors are grouped effectively at the same depth, but this depth varies significantly during the series
Sensor Depth Datum Instantaneous - Depth measured below water line or instantaneous water body surface
Sea Floor Depth Datum Instantaneous - Depth measured below water line or instantaneous water body surface
 

Parameters
BODC CODE Rank Units Title
ACYCAA01 1 Dimensionless Sequence number
CPHLPM01 1 Milligrams per cubic metre Concentration of chlorophyll-a {chl-a} per unit volume of the water body [particulate phase] by in-situ chlorophyll fluorometer and manufacturer's calibration applied
DOXYSC01 1 Micromoles per litre Concentration of oxygen {O2} per unit volume of the water body [dissolved phase] by Sea-Bird SBE 43 sensor and calibration against sample data
POPTSR01 1 Percent Transmittance (red light wavelength) per 10cm of the water body by 10cm path length red light transmissometer
PRESPR01 1 Decibars Pressure (spatial co-ordinate) exerted by the water body by profiling pressure sensor and corrected to read zero at sea level
PSALCC01 1 Dimensionless Practical salinity of the water body by CTD and computation using UNESCO 1983 algorithm and calibration against independent measurements
TEMPCU01 1 Degrees Celsius Temperature of the water body by CTD and NO verification against independent measurements
 

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

A number of data values in the transmittance channel exceed 100%. It is believed such values occurred due to lenses on the transmissometer being fouled by an oil film. All values where transmittance exceeds 100% have been automatically flagged by the screening software used.

It should be noted that on 07/10/2005 the 10cm transmissometer attached to the stainless steel CTD frame was cleaned with the following air and blank readings being taken;

This air reading was 0.34 V lower than the previous calibration and bench test and this was believed to be as a result of the fouling of the lenses.

Subsequent cleaning on 13/10/2005 gave the following readings;

These later readings were nearly identical to the previous calibration and bench test results.

Despite data appearing to be more reasonable from cast 48 onwards, however, caution should be exercised when using these data considering the problems experienced earlier in the cruise.

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

Sea-Bird Dissolved Oxygen Sensor SBE 43 and SBE 43F

The SBE 43 is a dissolved oxygen sensor designed for marine applications. It incorporates a high-performance Clark polarographic membrane with a pump that continuously plumbs water through it, preventing algal growth and the development of anoxic conditions when the sensor is taking measurements.

Two configurations are available: SBE 43 produces a voltage output and can be incorporated with any Sea-Bird CTD that accepts input from a 0-5 volt auxiliary sensor, while the SBE 43F produces a frequency output and can be integrated with an SBE 52-MP (Moored Profiler CTD) or used for OEM applications. The specifications below are common to both.

Specifications

Housing Plastic or titanium
Membrane

0.5 mil- fast response, typical for profile applications

1 mil- slower response, typical for moored applications
Depth rating

600 m (plastic) or 7000 m (titanium)

10500 m titanium housing available on request
Measurement range 120% of surface saturation
Initial accuracy 2% of saturation
Typical stability 0.5% per 1000 h

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

CD176 Stainless Steel CTD Instrumentation

CTD unit and auxiliary sensors

The CTD system used on cruise CD176 was the Sea-Bird 911 plus. The Sea-Bird sensors were located within and near the bottom of the rosette frame, which housed 24 10-litre Niskin bottles. The CTD was fitted with the following scientific sensors:

Sensor Serial Number
Primary Temperature SBE-3P 4151
Secondary Temperature SBE-3P 4105
Primary Conductivity SBE-4C 3054
Secondary Conductivity SBE-4C 2580
Digiquartz Temperature Compensated Pressure Sensor 94756
Sea-Bird SBE 43 oxygen sensor 0709
Chelsea Alphatracka Mk II transmissometer 161050
Chelsea Aquatracka Mk III (chlorophyll a) fluorometer 088095
Benthos Altimeter 874
PML/RVS PAR DWIRR 10
PML/RVS PAR UWIRR 11
WetLabs BBRTD Back Scatter Sensor 115R

Independent salinity samples from the CTD were analysed during the cruise in a constant temperature laboratory using the Guildline Autosal model 8400B (s/n 68426). Dissolved oxygen concentrations were determined using a Winkler titration technique

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:

Parameter Range Initial accuracy Resolution at 24 Hz Response time
Temperature -5 to 35°C 0.001°C 0.0002°C 0.065 sec
Conductivity 0 to 7 S m-1 0.0003 S m-1 0.00004 S m-1 0.065 sec (pumped)
Pressure 0 to full scale (1400, 2000, 4200, 6800 or 10500 m) 0.015% of full scale 0.001% of full scale 0.015 sec

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

Aquatracka fluorometer

The Chelsea Instruments Aquatracka is a logarithmic response fluorometer. It uses a pulsed (5.5 Hz) xenon light source discharging between 320 and 800 nm through a blue filter with a peak transmission of 420 nm and a bandwidth at half maximum of 100 nm. A red filter with sharp cut off, 10% transmission at 664 nm and 678 nm, is used to pass chlorophyll-a fluorescence to the sample photodiode.

The instrument may be deployed either in a through-flow tank, on a CTD frame or moored with a data logging package.

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

Chelsea Technologies Group ALPHAtracka and ALPHAtracka II transmissometers

The Chelsea Technologies Group ALPHAtracka (the Mark I) and its successor, the ALPHAtracka II (the Mark II), are both accurate (< 0.3 % fullscale) transmissometers that measure the beam attenuation coefficient at 660 nm. Green (565 nm), yellow (590 nm) and blue (470 nm) wavelength variants are available on special order.

The instrument consists of a Transmitter/Reference Assembly and a Detector Assembly aligned and spaced apart by an open support frame. The housing and frame are both manufactured in titanium and are pressure rated to 6000 m depth.

The Transmitter/Reference housing is sealed by an end cap. Inside the housing an LED light source emits a collimated beam through a sealed window. The Detector housing is also sealed by an end cap. A signal photodiode is placed behind a sealed window to receive the collimated beam from the Transmitter.

The primary difference between the ALPHAtracka and ALPHAtracka II is that the Alphatracka II is implemented with surface-mount technology; this has enabled a much smaller diameter pressure housing to be used while retaining exactly the same optical train as in the Mark I. Data from the Mark II version are thus fully compatible with that already obtained with the Mark I. The performance of the Mark II is further enhanced by two electronic developments from Chelsea Technologies Group - firstly, all items are locked in a signal nulling loop of near infinite gain and, secondly, the signal output linearity is inherently defined by digital circuitry only.

Among other advantages noted above, these features ensure that the optical intensity of the Mark II, indicated by the output voltage, is accurately represented by a straight line interpolation between a reading near full-scale under known conditions and a zero reading when blanked off.

For optimum measurements in a wide range of environmental conditions, the Mark I and Mark II are available in 5 cm, 10 cm and 25 cm path length versions. Output is default factory set to 2.5 volts but can be adjusted to 5 volts on request.

Further details about the Mark II instrument are available from the Chelsea Technologies Group ALPHAtrackaII specification sheet.

CD176 Stainless Steel CTD Originator Processing

Sampling Strategy

A total of 66 CTD casts were performed during the cruise which sailed between Birkenhead and Falmouth via Rockall, Iceland and Oban incorporating the Extended Ellett Line and Wyville Thomson Ridge. 64 of the casts deployed during the cruise were housed in a stainless steel frame equipped with dual temperature and conductivity sensors. The CTDs were located within and near the bottom of the rosette frame which held 24 10-litre Niskin water sampling bottles.

Data Processing

Following the completion of each CTD cast the data were saved to the deck unit PC and transferred over the network to a Unix data disk. On 16th October 2005 the Seabird CTD software on both master and slave deckunit PCs was upgraded to v5.35 following problems with crashing and this software was used to perform all subsequent processing steps.

Raw data files were converted to engineering units and ASCII (.CNV) files using the DATCNV program. SeaBird bottle data files (.BTL), with information on pressure and other readings logged at the time of bottle firing, were also generated during the data conversion process. The WILDEDIT program was run to remove any large pressure spikes and then the SeaSoft program ALIGNCTD was run to advance the oxygen measurements. CELLTM was run, according to SeaBird's recommendations, to remove conductivity cell thermal mass effects from the measured conductivity and FILTER was run on the pressure channel. Salinity and density were calculated using the DERIVE program and TRANSLATE wrote the data to an output .CNV file. Following despiking of the data in MATLAB the program LOOPEDIT was run with a minimum CTD velocity of 0.25 m/s. Finally the data were binned to 2 db intervals using the BINAVERAGE program thus being formatted according to the WHP (WOCE Hydrographic Programme) standards.

For CD176 the raw .dat and .hdr Sea-Bird files for CTD cast 34 were never supplied to the data originator or to BODC from the ship and should be considered as lost.

Field Calibrations

The salinity and oxygen data from the CTD were calibrated using independent values obtained from the CTD water bottles.

The final calibration of the CTD salinity sensor on the stainless steel frame is given here;

With a correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.9955

Where SA is the actual salinity and SM is the measured salinity (calculated from CTD conductivity)

The final calibration of the CTD oxygen sensor on the stainless steel frame is given here;

With a correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.9718

Where OA is the actual oxygen concentration and OM is the measured oxygen concentration

References

Sherwin, T. A. et al, (2005). 'Cruise CD176 Birkenhead to Falmouth via Rockall, Iceland and Oban', Internal Report No 248, Scottish Association for Marine Science.

Available - Cruise CD176 Internal Report

CD176 Stainless Steel CTD Processing undertaken by BODC

The data arrived at BODC in a total of 65 ASCII, WHP (WOCE Hydrographic Program) standard files with 63 of these files representing CTD casts from the stainless steel frame deployed during the cruise. These files contain 2 db-bin averaged data including temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen channels processed to WOCE standards alongside concurrent fluorometer and transmissometer data.

24 Hz ASCII versions of these data are also available from BODC, upon request. These files are held in their original format and, although containing additional parameters, have undergone less quality control by the originator and remain uncalibrated

The lodged WHP standard cast were reformatted to BODC's internal QXF format. The following table shows the mapping of variables within the ASCII files to appropriate BODC parameter codes:

Originator' Variable Units Description BODC Parameter Code Units Comments
Pressure dbar Pressure exerted by the water column PRESPR01 dbar -
Temperature °C Temperature of the water column by CTD TEMPCU01 °C -
Salinity - Practical salinity of the water column PSALCC01 - Calibrated by data originator using discrete water samples from CTD bottles
Dissolved Oxygen Concentration µmol/kg Concentration of oxygen per unit volume of the water column DOXYSC01 µmol/l Calibrated by data originator and converted to µmol/l during transfer
Transmittance % Transmittance per 10 cm of the water column by 10 cm path transmissometer. POPTSR01 % -
Fluorescence mg/m3 Concentration of chlorophyll-a per unit volume of the water column CPHLPM01 mg/m3 -

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

Project Information

Northern Seas Programme

The Northern Seas describes an area extending from the Irish and northern North Sea across the Norwegian Sea up to the marginal Arctic pack-ice zone, including territorial waters of the UK, Norway, Iceland, Denmark and Russia. These waters are an important marine environment playing a significant part in regulating world climate due to the area's role in thermocline circulation in addition to acting as a sink for man-made pollutants carried north by ocean currents. These environments are experiencing increasing pressures from both natural and human impacts and consequently the Northern Seas Programme was developed to help advance the understanding of how marine systems in Northern Seas respond to environmental and anthropogenic change.

Scientific Objectives

The central aim of the programme was to 'improve understanding of how the sensitivity of marine ecosystems to environmental perturbation, both natural and anthropogenic, varies along a latitudinal gradient'.

This aim was addressed through the following integrated themes:

Theme A: Understanding fjordic systems: insights for coastal and oceanic processes

Theme B: Ocean Margins: the interface between the coastal zone and oceanic realm

Theme C: Measuring and modelling change: sea sensors and bioinformatics

The Northern Seas Programme was active between 2001 and 2007. The fieldwork programme to address these objectives was conducted by staff from the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS).

Northern Seas Programme Theme B

Theme B: Ocean Margins: the interface between the coastal zone and oceanic realm

The interface between coastal and oceanic realms at the ocean margins has been addressed through the following sub-themes:

Sub Theme B1: Carbon dynamics at ocean margins

Sub Theme B2: The Ellett Line time series

Sub Theme B3: The ecology of deep-water fisheries of the Northern Rockall Trough

Data Activity or Cruise Information

Cruise

Cruise Name CD176
Departure Date 2005-10-06
Arrival Date 2005-11-01
Principal Scientist(s)Toby J Sherwin (Scottish Association for Marine Science)
Ship RRS Charles Darwin

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 - 896390 896408 896421 896433 896445 896457 896469 896470 896482 896494 896501 896513 896525 896537 896562 896574 896586 896734 896746 896758 896771 896783 896795 896863 896875 896887 896899 896906 896979 896980 896992 897006 897018 897031 897043 897055 897067 897079 897080

Other Cruises linked to this Fixed Station (with the number of series) - 0508S (29) 0700S (20) 0703S (20) CD176 (39) D233 (25) D242 (45) D245 (25) D312 (51) D321 (D321A) (12) D321B (59) D340A (58) D351 (23) PO300_2 (31)

Fixed Station Information

Station NameEllett Line/Extended Ellett Line Station D
CategoryOffshore location
Latitude57° 32.52' N
Longitude12° 52.02' W
Water depth below MSL1000.0 m

Ellett Line/Extended Ellett Line: Station D

Station D is one of 58 fixed CTD stations, which together form The Extended Ellett Line. The line lies between Iceland and the Sound of Mull (Scotland) crossing the Iceland Basin and Rockall Trough via the outcrop of Rockall. As part of this initiative, CTD dips, together with associated discrete sampling of the water column, have typically been carried out annually at this station since September 1996.

Prior to September 1996, Station D was part of a shorter repeated survey section, consisting of 35 fixed stations, known as The Ellett Line (originally termed the Anton Dohrn Seamount Section). This line incorporated those stations across the Rockall Trough and Scottish shelf between Rockall and the Sound of Mull and was visited at regular intervals (usually at least once a year) between 1975 and January 1996.

Other Cruises linked to this Fixed Station (with the number of series) - 0508S (1) 0700S (1) 0703S (1) CD44 (1) CD92B (1) CH1/85 (1) CH10/84 (1) CH103 (1) CH105 (1) CH11/77 (1) CH11/83 (1) CH112 (1) CH114 (1) CH11B/78 (1) CH120 (1) CH13/77 (1) CH14 (1) CH14A/75 (1) CH2/78 (2) CH2/84 (1) CH4/77 (1) CH4/80 (1) CH4/85 (1) CH6/78 (1) CH67A (1) CH6B/77 (1) CH6B/81 (1) CH7/80 (1) CH71A (1) CH75B (1) CH7B/82 (1) CH8/76 (1) CH8/85 (1) CH81 (1) CH9/78 (1) CH97 (1) D180 (1) D233 (1) D242 (1) D312 (1) D321B (1) D340A (1) D351 (1) LF1/89 (1) LF2/89 (1) PO300_2 (1)

Fixed Station Information

Station NameEllett Line
CategoryOffshore route/traverse

Ellett Line

The Ellett Line is a hydrographic transect consisting of 35 individual fixed stations which were occupied, usually at least once a year, between 1975 and 1996. The time series is named after the scientist David Ellett, who coordinated the survey work at Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory (DML), near Oban. The transect ran between the north west coast of Scotland to the small outcrop of Rockall, via the Anton Dohrn Seamount - a prominent bathymetric feature in the Rockall Trough (see map). STD/CTD dips and associated water sampling for the analysis of nutrients were routinely performed during each station occupation.

In 1996 the transect was lengthened to incorporate new additional fixed stations crossing the Iceland Basin from Rockall to Iceland. This transect, which is still routinely occupied annually, is now known as the Extended Ellett Line and is a collaborative effort between scientists at Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory and the Southampton site of the National Oceanography Centre (NOC).

Map of standard stations (1975-1996)

BODC image

Map produced using the GEBCO Digital Atlas

The white triangles indicate the nominal positions of the Ellett Line stations (1975- 1996). Measurements made along the Ellett Line lie within a box bounded by co-ordinates 56° 40.02' N, 13° 42.0' W at the south west corner and 57° 37.2' N, 6° 7.98' W at the north east corner.

Nominal Ellett Line stations (1975-1996)

Listed below are nominal details of the standard hydrographic stations that formed the Ellett Line between 1975 and January 1996.

Station Latitude Longitude Depth Range
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

History of Ellett Line occupations (1975-January 1996)

BODC Cruise Identifier Cruise Dates Ship
CH3/75 4-13 March 1975 RRS Challenger
CH7A/75 1-6 May 1975 RRS Challenger
CH10A/75 4-10 July 1975 RRS Challenger
CH12A/75 26 August-2 September 1975 RRS Challenger
CH14A/75 7-12 November 1975 RRS Challenger
CH5A/76 29 March-5 April 1976 RRS Challenger
CH8/76 19 May-1 June 1976 RRS Challenger
CH12/76 4-15 August 1976 RRS Challenger
CH15/76 7-16 October 1976 RRS Challenger
CH17/76 7-20 December 1976 RRS Challenger
CH4/77 25 February-11 March 1977 RRS Challenger
CH6B/77 14-19 April 1977 RRS Challenger
CH10/77 29 June-10 July 1977 RRS Challenger
CH11/77 12-26 July 1977 RRS Challenger
CH13/77 20 August-3 September 1977 RRS Challenger
CH2/78 30 January-13 February 1978 RRS Challenger
CH6/78 11-21 April 1978 RRS Challenger
CH9/78 31 May-10 June 1978 RRS Challenger
CH11B/78 29 July-12 August 1978 RRS Challenger
CH11D/78 3-17 September 1978 RRS Challenger
CH14B/78 4-11 November 1978 RRS Challenger
CH7/79 10-23 May 1979 RRS Challenger
S5/79 19 June-2 July 1979 RRS Shackleton
CH13/79 11-16 September 1979 RRS Challenger
CH16/79 28 October-11 November 1979 RRS Challenger
CH4/80 26 February-7 March 1980 RRS Challenger
CH7/80 21 April-6 May 1980 RRS Challenger
CH2/81 26 January-4 February 1981 RRS Challenger
CH6A/81 CH6B/81 6-25 April 1981 RRS Challenger
CH10/81 4-14 July 1981 RRS Challenger
CH15/81 6-20 October 1981 RRS Challenger
CH7A/82 CH7B/82 26 April-16 May 1982 RRS Challenger
CH15/82 16-30 October 1982 RRS Challenger
CH7B/83 23 May-2 June 1983 RRS Challenger
CH11/83 10-24 August 1983 RRS Challenger
CH2/84 23 June-8 July 1984 RRS Challenger
CH10/84 16 November-6 December 1984 RRS Challenger
CH1/85 20 January-5 February 1985 RRS Challenger
CH4/85 2-16 May 1985 RRS Challenger
CH8/85 14-28 August 1985 RRS Challenger
CH9 8-22 January 1987 RRS Challenger
CH14 24 April-7 May 1987 RRS Challenger
CH22 23 November-5 December 1987 RRS Challenger
CH25 24 February-7 March 1988 RRS Challenger
CH30 6-23 June 1988 RRS Challenger
D180 20 January-4 February 1989 RRS Discovery
LF1/89 5-11 May 1989 RV Lough Foyle
LF2/89 4-10 August 1989 RV Lough Foyle
CD44 24 November-2 December 1989 RRS Charles Darwin
CH67A 21-29 June 1990 RRS Challenger
CH71A 29 August-5 September 1990 RRS Challenger
CH75B 23 February-3 March 1991 RRS Challenger
CH81 1-8 July 1991 RRS Challenger
CH97 25 September-6 October 1992 RRS Challenger
CH101B 13-20 March 1993 RRS Challenger
CH103 12-24 May 1993 RRS Challenger
CH105 3-16 September 1993 RRS Challenger
CH110 10-20 March 1994 RRS Challenger
CH112 28 April-13 May 1994 RRS Challenger
CH114 15-29 August 1994 RRS Challenger
CH116 17-29 November 1994 RRS Challenger
CD92B 13 April-2 May 1995 RRS Charles Darwin
CH120 18 July-6 August 1995 RRS Challenger
CH124 8-27 January 1996 RRS Challenger

Other Series linked to this Fixed Station for this cruise - 896390 896408 896421 896433 896445 896457 896469 896470 896482 896494 896501 896513 896525 896537 896562 896574 896586 896863 896875 896887 896899 896906 896979 896980 896992 897006 897018 897031 897043 897055 897067

Other Cruises linked to this Fixed Station (with the number of series) - 0508S (29) 0700S (20) 0703S (20) CD176 (31) CD44 (34) CD92B (47) CH1/85 (19) CH10/77 (3) CH10/81 (21) CH10/84 (22) CH101B (13) CH103 (37) CH105 (34) CH10A/75 (15) CH11/77 (28) CH11/83 (35) CH110 (19) CH112 (35) CH114 (31) CH116 (25) CH11B/78 (26) CH11D/78 (14) CH120 (28) CH124 (32) CH12A/75 (3) CH13/77 (19) CH13/79 (17) CH14 (29) CH14A/75 (21) CH14B/78 (17) CH15/80 (8) CH15/81 (16) CH16/79 (13) CH2/78 (32) CH2/81 (13) CH2/82 (4) CH2/84 (29) CH22 (14) CH25 (18) CH3/83 (1) CH30 (23) CH4/77 (19) CH4/80 (29) CH4/85 (30) CH5A/76 (18) CH6/78 (25) CH63_2 (5) CH67A (27) CH6A/81 (14) CH6B/77 (24) CH6B/81 (20) CH7/79 (18) CH7/80 (16) CH71A (32) CH74A_1 (13) CH75B (31) CH7A/75 (24) CH7A/82 (24) CH7B/82 (13) CH7B/83 (29) CH8/76 (27) CH8/85 (30) CH81 (30) CH86B (8) CH89B (9) CH9 (25) CH9/78 (22) CH97 (30) CH9B/80 (10) D180 (30) D233 (10) D242 (23) D245 (25) D312 (34) D321B (35) D340A (34) D351 (34) DSK1/86 (10) FR13/85 (12) FR13/87 (2) FR14B/87 (2) FR18/87 (11) FR7B/86 (6) FR8/86 (13) LF1/89 (29) LF2/89 (30) PO300_2 (31) S5/79 (8)

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