Metadata Report for BODC Series Reference Number 1816740

• 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

Cruise DY077 Originator's CTD Data Processing

Sampling Strategy

A total of 23 CTD casts were preformed using a stainless steel rosette frame throughout the cruise to the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP) sustained observatory. CTD cast 0013 was aborted at 100m on the return to the surface due to issues with the wire out being incorrect by 40m. The CTDs were used primarily to test sensors and releases although samples were also taken specifically for the USA Thorium group (to 350m). Samples were also taken to look at typical profiles in the region, for sediment trap water, micro-plastic analysis and method development. The new OTEG phosphate analyser, (initially there was also a nitrate one but it leaked and was removed before CTD 004), were also put onto the frame and triggered to start measurements once sub-merged. As sensors took up room on the frame only 21 of the 24 Niskin bottles were used during DY077. On each occasion that samples were taken the order of sampling was: Dissolved Oxygen, Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC), Inorganic Nutrients, Salinity and associated parameters from the top 200m. The associated parameters from the surface samples were chlorophyll and PIC.

Sensor Issues

On the first three casts there were some issues with the configuration file for the Transmissometer and the Chelsea Fluorimeter being on the wrong channels. This was corrected by swapping around the channels in the software that they were assigned to. The XML. CON files were then changed to reflect this, so that when the data was replayed it was correct. The dissolved oxygen values also appeared incorrect on the first two dives, due to short turn around time, it was decided to continue with the sensor on cast 003, at which point it became very clear that the instrument was faulty. Once returned to surface, after cast was complete the sensor was replaced for S/N: 43-2818. On the first deep cast ( cast 003) it became apparent that the altimeter was incorrectly set up. The cast was completed without incident ( CTD package no closer than 35m to sea bed). On surfacing the problem was investigated and it was found it had a scale factor of 1 in its set up, this was then changed to its correct value of 15. Due to the problems on the first three dives, it has been suggested that in the future PAP cruises that a shallow CTD be carried out as test cast to check all sensor readings including altimeter. Further details of the sensor issues can be found in the cruise report.

Field Calibrations

The conductivity was not calibrated as bottle salinity samples were not deemed accurate enough by the originator. CTD Oxygen Data were calibrated against bottle samples. In order to compare oxygen bottle data with sensor data, dissolved oxygen data were converted from µmol/l to µmol/kg by dividing the values with the insitu density. More information on the unit conversion can be found on page 88 of the cruise report.

Data Processing

Data were processed by BODC on behalf of the PAP scientists using the MEXEC software suite available from the NOC Marine Physics and Ocean Climate group. The MEXEC processing follows the initial Sea Bird conversions and corrections (time alignment and hysteresis correction of oxygen data and cell thermal mass correction for conductivity). Conductivity was not calibrated as bottle salinity samples were not deemed accurate enough. The oxygen sensor was faulty throughout cruise, therefore this channel should not be processed.

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

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

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

Benthos Programmable Sonar Altimeter (PSA) 916 and 916T

The PSA 916 is a submersible altimeter that uses the travel time of an acoustic signal to determine the distance of the instrument from a target surface. It provides the user with high resolution altitude or range data while simultaneously outputting data through a digital serial port. A wide beam angle provides for reliable and accurate range measurements under the most severe operational conditions. The instrument is electronically isolated to eliminate any potential signal interference with host instrument sensors. The PSA 916 is an upgrade of the PSA 900.

The standard model (PSA 916) has an operational depth range of 0 - 6000 m, while the titanium PSA 916T has a depth range of 0 - 10000 m. All other specifications for the two versions are the same.

Specifications

Further details can be found in the manufacturer's specification sheets for the PSA 916 and the PSA 916T.

Instrument Description

CTD Unit and Auxiliary Sensors

A Sea-Bird 911plus CTD system was used on cruise DY077. This was mounted on a 24-way stainless steel rosette frame, equipped with 21 Niskin bottles. As sensors took up room on the frame only 21 of the 24 Niskin bottles were used during DY077. On the first three casts the dissolved oxygen sensor was faulty and there were also some issues with the configuration files for the transmissometer and the Chelsea Fluorimeter. These sensors were replaced after cast 003. Below are the CTD sensor configuration tables for the first three casts and for the CTD sensor configuration from the forth cast onwards .

Sensor information for casts 001, 002 & 003:

Sensor information from cast 004 onwards:

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:

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.

Biospherical Instruments Log Quantum Cosine Irradiance Sensor QCP-2300 & QCP-2350

The QCP-2300 is a submersible cosine-collector radiometer designed to measure irradiance over Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) wavelengths. It features a constant (better than ±10%) quantum response from 400 to 700 nm with the response being sharply attenuated above 700 nm and below 400 nm.

The sensor is a blue-enhanced high stability silicon photovoltaic detector with dielectric and absorbing glass filter assembly. The output is a DC voltage typically between 0 and 5 VDC that is proportional to the log of the incident irradiance.

The QCP-2300 is specifically designed for integration with 12-bit CTD systems and dataloggers requiring a limited-range of signal input.

Specifications

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

WETLabs Single-angle Backscattering Meter ECO BB

An optical scattering sensor that measures scattering at 117°. This angle was determined as a minimum convergence point for variations in the volume scattering function induced by suspended materials and water. The measured signal is less determined by the type and size of the materials in the water and is more directly correlated to their concentration.

Several versions are available, with minor differences in their specifications:

• ECO BB(RT)provides analog or RS-232 serial output with 4000 count range
• ECO BB(RT)D adds the possibility of being deployed in depths up to 6000 m while keeping the capabilities of ECO BB(RT)
• ECO BB provides the capabilities of ECO BB(RT) with periodic sampling
• ECO BBB is similar to ECO BB but with internal batteries for autonomous operation
• ECO BBS is similar to ECO BB but with an integrated anti-fouling bio-wiper
• ECO BBSB has the capabilities of ECO BBS but with internal batteries for autonomous operation

Specifications

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

WETLabs C-Star transmissometer

This instrument is designed to measure beam transmittance by submersion or with an optional flow tube for pumped applications. It can be used in profiles, moorings or as part of an underway system.

Two models are available, a 25 cm pathlength, which can be built in aluminum or co-polymer, and a 10 cm pathlength with a plastic housing. Both have an analog output, but a digital model is also available.

This instrument has been updated to provide a high resolution RS232 data output, while maintaining the same design and characteristics.

Specifications

Further details are available in the manufacturer's specification sheet or user guide.

DY077 CTD BODC Processing

The CTD data were supplied to BODC as 22 MStar files and converted to the BODC internal format.

During transfer the originator's variables were mapped to unique BODC parameter codes. The following table shows the parameter mapping.

Following transfer the data were screened using BODC in-house visualisation software. Suspect data values were assigned the appropriate BODC data quality flag. Missing data values, where present, were changed to the missing data value and assigned a BODC data quality flag. The faulty oxygen sensor for first three stations was reading saturation levels above 100%. This was flagged by BODC

Project Information

Fix0³ - Fixed-Point Open Ocean Observatories

Fixed point Open Ocean Observatory network (FixO³) is a EUR7 million, four-year (2013-2017) research programme network including 29 partners from academia, research institutions and small and medium enterprises (SME). In addition, 12 international experts from a wide range of disciplines comprise an Advisory Board.

Background

FixO³ is coordinated by the National Oceanography Centre, UK, and seeks to integrate European open ocean fixed point observatories and to improve access to these key installations for the broader community. These will provide multidisciplinary observations in all parts of the oceans from the air-sea interface to the deep seafloor. FixO³ will build on the significant advances achieved through the FP7 programmes EuroSITES, ESONET and CARBOOCEAN.

Open ocean observation is currently a high priority for European marine and maritime activities. FixO³ will provide important data on environmental products and services to address the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and in support of the EU integrated Maritime Policy.

The FixO³ network will provide free and open access to in situ fixed point data of the highest quality. It will provide a strong integrated framework of open ocean facilities in the Atlantic from the Arctic to the Antarctic and throughout the Mediterranean, enabling an integrated, regional and multidisciplinary approach to understand natural and anthropogenic change in the ocean.

The programme will be achieved through:

1. Co-ordination activities to integrate and harmonise the current procedures and processes. Strong links will be fostered with the wider community across academia, industry, policy and the general public through outreach, knowledge exchange and training.

2. Support actions to offer a) access to observatory infrastructures to those who do not have such access, and b) free and open data services and products.

3. Joint research activities to innovate and enhance the current capability for multidisciplinary in situ ocean observation.

Further details are available on the FixO³ website.

Participants

29 different partners involved in FixO³. These institutions are;

• Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
• Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS)
• Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR)
• MARUM, Unviersity of Bremen (UniHB)
• Universitetet I Bergen (UiB)
• Universitetet I Tromsø (UiT)
• Alfred Wegener Institut für Polarund Meeresforschung (AWI)
• University of Exeter (UNEXE)
• SLR Consulting (SLR)
• Institut français de recherché pour l'exploitation de la mer (IFREMER)
• Blue Lobster IT ltd. (BLIT)
• Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
• Marine Institute (MI)
• The University Court of The University of Aberdeen (UNIABDN)
• Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)
• Universidad de las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC)
• University of St Andrew (USTAN)
• Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO)
• NKE Instrumentation (NKEI)
• Instituto Nacional de Desenvolvimento das Pescas (INDP)
• Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
• Texcel Technology Plc (TEXCEL)
• University of Gothenburg (UGOT)
• 52°North(52°North)
• Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche (CNR)
• Stichting Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut Voor Zeeonderzoek (NIOZ)
• Imar- Instituto do Mar (IMAR)

Research details

Overall, twelve Work Packages have been funded by the FixO³ programme. These are described in brief below:

• Work Package 1: Project Management.
  - To effectively manage FixO³ to maximise the production of results in the most cost effective manner and to the proposed timescales.
  - To facilitate communication and integration between the partners and disseminate information about the project to the wider community.
  - To identify and resolve disputes between partners.
  - To keep the project on track, and ensure timely interaction and delivery of reports to the European Commission.

• Work Package 2: Technical harmonization.
  - To review the current status of existing systems in operational use considered in the project;
  - To synthesize the characteristics of infrastructures offering TNA;
  - To increase the high-frequency measurements on fixed platforms;
  - To define the best technical practices for compatible, robust and cost-effective systems on a variety of fixed applications;
  - To promote tests of new or prototype instruments on a non-operational basis;
  - To define procedure for harmonizing and merging quality assessed high frequency fixed platform data;
  - To define procedures and technological solutions for integration and testing of new sensors on these systems;
  - To increase the traceability, quality and reliability of sensor metadata and data products.

• Work Package 3: Procedural harmonization.
  To harmonise procedures across the network the following steps will be undertaken:
  1) Assessment of operational procedures for sustained Eulerian observations
  2) Further development of principles of 'best practice'
  3) Development of the FixO³ observatories 'label' building on ESONET and in collaboration with JERICO
  

• Work Package 4: Data management and harmonization.
  To harmonise data policies and to provide a formal basis for data exchange between FixO³ infrastructures.
  - To improve standardisation, interoperability and compliance with major international initiatives
  - To harmonise data management and standardisation efforts with other European and international marine data and observatory infrastructures.
  - To foster the cooperation with the marine carbon observation community by disseminating FixO³ data via relevant international infrastructures and data centres such as the ICOS Ocean Thematic Centre
  To coordinate, harmonise and optimize the implementation and integration of Service Activities provided by the different partners in WP10 and to strengthen and monitor the dissemination of knowledge.

• Work Package 5: Innovation through industry.
  - Promote interaction between the ocean observatory research community and the commercial sector
  - Proactively promote FixO³ and wider open ocean observatory products and services to the commercial sector
  - Identify innovative products and services within the ocean observatory community and develop targeted IPR agreements to encourage interest by the commercial sector.

• Work Package 6: Interface with policy and intergovernmental bodies.
  - To link the FixO³ efforts to international and intergovernmental bodies and activities.
  - To ensure visibility and facilitate further implementation and long-term stewardship of deep-ocean fixed-point time series observations
  - To develop a strategy for the future.

• Work Package 7: International and European networking of fixed-point observatories
  - To consolidate and promote the synergy between European research groups and institutions.
  - To enhance the interaction with industry
  - To link ocean scientists and engineers into an international team in marine science.
  - Management of TNA activities.

• Work Package 8: Outreach and training.
  - To engage with, educate and inform public, scientific and policy user groups.
  - To develop an informative and interactive suite of complimentary tools that educates and engages public, scientific and policy user groups to maximise engagement with end users.
  - To produce educational and informational resources that deliver knowledge to end user groups
  - To deliver a series of training opportunities that informs, educates and promotes best practices to professional users of hardware, data and data products.
  

• Work Package 9: Transnational access to FixO³ infrastructures
  - To support external scientific users by providing coordinated, free-of-charge, transnational access to fixed open-ocean observatories, including:
  1) Ocean surface, water column and seafloor observatory installations and systems considered for transnational access under this proposal
  2) One shallow water test site able to make practical and fast tests of instruments, systems, procedures and new technologies applicable to fixed open-ocean observatories that will be accessible under TNA

• Work Package 10: Service activities: Access to data products and knowledge
  - To provide access to the data products and knowledge derived from most of the observatories which compromise the FixO³ network.

• Work Package 11: Optimisation of ocean observing capability
  - To carry out research on the specification for an optimum observational network of FixO³ platforms, integrated and complemented by other platforms.

• Work Package 12: Research and development on critical observatory functions
  - To enhance the capability of the FixO³ infrastructures to make very high quality observations
  - To develop a new low energy consuming platform design in order to promote more sensors per platform and extension capacities.

Observatories

FixO3

The British Oceanographic Data centre store data from PAP, NOG and SOG as of January 2018.

Data Activity or Cruise Information

Cruise

Complete Cruise Metadata Report is available here

Fixed Station Information

Fixed Station Information

Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP) Observatory

The Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP) observatory is a site at which moorings were deployed in the Northeastern Atlantic, as part of the ANIMATE (Atlantic Network of Interdisciplinary Moorings and Time-series for Europe), MERSEA (Marine Environment and Security for the European Area), EuroSITES, Oceans2025, Fix03 and CLASS projects. The PAP site is centred at latitude 49° N and longitude 16.5° W. Moorings have occupied this region since 2002 and are typically deployed for 12 months.

Please note: Near Real Time data is only stored at BODC where delayed mode data were not recovered. All near real time data can be found at the OceanSites GDA and through IFREMER.

Data summary

Status Indicators

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: Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP)

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.