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AMT12 Total Dissolved Nitrogen (TDN) and Total Dissolved Phosphate (TDP) measurements

Originator's Protocol for Data Acquisition and Analysis

This data originates from analyses on CTD rosette bottles from 15 casts.

Water samples were collected from the twelve depths during the pre-dawn CTD cast using the Sea-Bird CTD rosette system. Following Knap et al. (1996) samples were collected in 50-ml plastic screw-top containers and frozen at -20 o C for analysis after the cruise.

TDN and TDP measurements were made after GF/F filtered samples were irradiated for 2 hrs in 10 ml quartz glass tubes with graphite stoppers at 85 o C under high intensity UV light, without any reaction initiators, catalysts or oxidants. The UV photooxidised samples were then processed through a continuous flow autoanalyser and standard colorimetric technique applied. These techniques followed the procedures outlined in Sanders and Jickells (2000). Analysis was carried out with the equivalent samples from AMT14 and AMT15.

References Cited

Knap A., Micheals A., Close A., Ducklow, Dickson A. (eds.) 1996. Protocols for the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) Core Measurements. JGOFS Report No. 19, 170pp. Reprint of the IOC Manuals and Guides No. 29, UNESCO 1994.

Sanders R. and Jickells T., 2000. Total organic nutrients in Drake Passage. Deep-Sea Research Part I, 47, 997-1014.

Instrumentation Description

Not relevant to this data set.

BODC Data Processing Procedures

Data together with the data from AMT14 and 15 were submitted to BODC in Microsoft Excel spreadsheet format on 2 occasions, with CTD cast, latitude, longitude and bottle depth to identify the samples and additional parameters for nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, DON and DOP data. The first spreadsheet referred to Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Phosphorus (TP) and the revised spreadsheet referred to Total Dissolved Nitrogen (TDN) and Total Dissolved Phosphorus (TDP). These are 2 different measurements depending on whether the samples are unfiltered or filtered. The query was referred to the data provider who confirmed the samples were filtered. Sample metadata were checked against information held in the database - there were no discrepancies.

Parameter codes defined in BODC parameter dictionary were assigned to the variables (TDN, stdevTDN, TDP and stdevTDP). The nitrate, nitrite and phosphate data were already loaded to the database as part of the nutrients dataset for this cruise and the DON and DOP provided in the original Excel files were not uploaded to the database as they were derived from the measured variables and nutrient data not directly measured. The data were assigned parameter codes defined in BODC parameter dictionary. The data were provided in units which were consistent with those used for the relevant parameters in the BODC database. Data loaded into BODC's database using established BODC data banking procedures.

A parameter mapping table is provided below;

Originator's Parameter Units Description BODC Parameter Code Units Comments
TDN µmol l -1 Concentration of nitrogen (total) per unit volume of the water body [dissolved plus reactive particulate <GF/F phase] by filtration, oxidation and colorimetric autoanalysis NTOTWCD1 µmol l -1 -
stdevTDN µmol l -1 Concentration standard deviation of nitrogen (total) per unit volume of the water body [dissolved plus reactive particulate <GF/F phase] by filtration, oxidation and colorimetric autoanalysis SDNTWCD1 µmol l -1 -
TDP µmol l -1 Concentration of phosphorus (total) per unit volume of the water body [dissolved plus reactive particulate <GF/F phase] by filtration, oxidation and colorimetric autoanalysis TPHSWCD1 µmol l -1 -
stdevTDP µmol l -1 Concentration standard deviation of phosphorus (total) per unit volume of the water body [dissolved plus reactive particulate <GF/F phase] by filtration, oxidation and colorimetric autoanalysis SDTPWCD1 µmol l -1 -

Data Quality Report

The dataset has been checked by the data originator - any suspect data values were flagged in the dataset before submission to BODC and have been loaded with BODC flag 'L'.

Problem Report

Not relevant to this data set.