Metadata Report for BODC Series Reference Number 1077172

• 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

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

Neil Brown MK3 CTD

The Neil Brown MK3 conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) profiler consists of an integral unit containing pressure, temperature and conductivity sensors with an optional dissolved oxygen sensor in a pressure-hardened casing. The most widely used variant in the 1980s and 1990s was the MK3B. An upgrade to this, the MK3C, was developed to meet the requirements of the WOCE project.

The MK3C includes a low hysteresis, titanium strain gauge pressure transducer. The transducer temperature is measured separately, allowing correction for the effects of temperature on pressure measurements. The MK3C conductivity cell features a free flow, internal field design that eliminates ducted pumping and is not affected by external metallic objects such as guard cages and external sensors.

Additional optional sensors include pH and a pressure-temperature fluorometer. The instrument is no longer in production, but is supported (repair and calibration) by General Oceanics.

Specifications

These specification apply to the MK3C version.

Further details can be found in the 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.

SeaTech Transmissometer

Introduction

The transmissometer is designed to accurately measure the the amount of light transmitted by a modulated Light Emitting Diode (LED) through a fixed-length in-situ water column to a synchronous detector.

Specifications

• Water path length: 5 cm (for use in turbid waters) to 1 m (for use in clear ocean waters).
• Beam diameter: 15 mm
• Transmitted beam collimation: <3 milliradians
• Receiver acceptance angle (in water): <18 milliradians
• Light source wavelength: usually (but not exclusively) 660 nm (red light)

Notes

The instrument can be interfaced to Aanderaa RCM7 current meters. This is achieved by fitting the transmissometer in a slot cut into a customized RCM4-type vane.

A red LED (660 nm) is used for general applications looking at water column sediment load. However, green or blue LEDs can be fitted for specilised optics applications. The light source used is identified by the BODC parameter code.

Further details can be found in the manufacturer's Manual.

Project Information

Biogeochemistry in the Deep Ocean Benthic Boundary (BENBO)

Introduction

BENBO was a Thematic Programme funded by the U.K's Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). It ran between 1997 and 2000, bringing together scientists from several research groups to study the biogeochemical processes at work on the seabed. In total, there were four multidisciplinary research cruises linked to the BENBO Programme.

Scientific Rationale

The fundamental aim of the BENBO Programme was to gain a better understanding of the physical, chemical and biological processes occurring at the seabed in the relatively undisturbed marine environment to the west of Britain. The broad objective was to provide a more accurate picture of the biogeochemical interactions within the benthic boundary layer in relation to episodic influxes of organic material following surface ocean phytoplankton blooms. Coupled with this was a desire to further understand the residence times and fates of anthropogenic pollutants, such as trace metals, within this environment.

Fieldwork

In order to achieve the objectives of BENBO, scientists undertook three research cruises to the Rockall Trough region. Three different localities were selected for study on the basis of bottom current activity, phyto-detrital input and water depth. The first cruise (CD107, August 1997) was a preliminary site assessment. This was followed by two process cruises (CD111, April-May 1998 and CD113, June-July 1998). A further cruise (CH143, May-June 1999) was part-funded by BENBO to retrieve moorings left at the study sites.

A wide variety of techniques/instrumentation were employed by BENBO. These included:

• CTDs

• ARIES sampling

• Moored current meters, transmissometers and sediment traps

• Seabed photography and faunal sampling

• In-situ lander and laboratory incubation experiments

• Sediment coring activities

Contacts

Data Activity or Cruise Information

No Data Activity or Cruise Information held for the Series

Fixed Station Information

Fixed Station Information

DML Muck Deep Station MD4

Station MD4 is one of six fixed CTD stations south west of the Isle of Muck, Scotland. This region has been a focus of studies involving scientists at Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory (DML).

Related Fixed Station activities are detailed in Appendix 1

BODC Quality Control Flags

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

SeaDataNet Quality Control Flags

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

Appendix 1: DML Muck Deep Station MD4

Related series for this Fixed Station are presented in the table below. Further information can be found by following the appropriate links.

If you are interested in these series, please be aware we offer a multiple file download service. Should your credentials be insufficient for automatic download, the service also offers a referral to our Enquiries Officer who may be able to negotiate access.