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CD176 Discrete Salinity Sampling Document

Originator's Protocol for Data Acquisition and Analysis

Water samples were collected from CTD stations throughout the cruise for later onboard analysis. In addition, discrete samples were regularly taken throughout the cruise from the outflow of the thermosalinograph in the wet lab.

The salinity samples were analysed onboard using a Guildline Autosal 8400B salinometer (s/n 68426). The salinometer was located in a constant temperature laboratory, with an ambient temperature of 20 - 20.5°C, operating a 21°C bath temperature. The samples were run manually and processed according to WOCE standards and protocols.

CTD bottle salinities were ultimately used by the data originator to calibrate the stainless steel CTD conductivity sensor, while those samples taken from the outflow of the thermosalinograph were used to calibrate the Surfmet TSG system.

References Cited

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

BODC Data Processing Procedures

The salinity data were supplied to BODC in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Salinity values were extracted from this and loaded into BODC's ocean database under an ORACLE Relational Database Management System. Data that were considered unrealistic were flagged suspect.

The originator's spreadsheet for cast 36 assigned the deepest salinity sample to bottle 2, but the recorded depth and corresponding salinity values obtained from the CTD sensors suggest that it is more likely that bottle 1 was sampled. This was corrected in the BODC database, but a flag was also assigned to draw attention to this uncertainty.

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