Metadata Report for BODC Series Reference Number 1836808

• 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

Throughout the cruise, the wind sensors are affected by shielding. Shielding occurs when the sensor is partially blocked from the wind by the ship. This appears to become more prevalent when the ship is travelling above a certain speed. (BODC assessment)

Throughout the cruise, the wind sensors are affected by shielding. Shielding occurs when the sensor is partially blocked from the wind by the ship. This appears to become more prevalent when the ship is travelling above a certain speed. (BODC assessment)

Throughout the cruise, the wind sensors are affected by shielding. Shielding occurs when the sensor is partially blocked from the wind by the ship. This appears to become more prevalent when the ship is travelling above a certain speed. (BODC assessment)

Throughout the cruise, the wind sensors are affected by shielding. Shielding occurs when the sensor is partially blocked from the wind by the ship. This appears to become more prevalent when the ship is travelling above a certain speed. (BODC assessment)

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

Gill Instruments Windsonic Anemometer

The Gill Windsonic is a 2-axis ultrasonic wind sensor that monitors wind speed and direction using four transducers. The time taken for an ultrasonic pulse to travel from the North to the South transducers is measured and compared with the time for a pulse to travel from South to North. Travel times between the East and West transducers are similarly compared. The wind speed and direction are calculated from the differences in the times of flight along each axis. This calculation is independent of environmental factors such as temperature.

Specifications

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

Kipp and Zonen Pyranometer Model CM6B

The CM6B pyranometer is intended for routine global solar radiation measurement research on a level surface. The CM6B features a sixty-four thermocouple junction (series connected) sensing element. The sensing element is coated with a highly stable carbon based non-organic coating, which delivers excellent spectral absorption and long term stability characteristics. The sensing element is housed under two concentric fitting Schott K5 glass domes.

Specifications

RRS Discovery cruise DY077 meteorology instrumentation

Instrumentation

The meteorological suite of sensors was located on the forecastle deck, at approximately 17.4 m above sea level. The anemometer orientation was 0° on the bow.

Skye Instruments PAR Energy Sensor Model SKE 510

The SKE 510 is suitable for measuring photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) from natural or artificial light sources. The sensor is fully waterproof and guaranteed submersible to 4m depth, and indoor versions are also available.

The instrument uses a blue-enhanced planar diffused silicon detector to measure energy (in W m^-2) over the 400-700 nm waveband. It has a cosine-corrected head and a square spectral response. The sensor can operate over a temperature range of -35 to 70 °C and a humidity range of 0-100% RH.

Specifications

Vaisala PTB210 Digital Barometer

The basic specifications for this pressure sensor are as follows:

• Manufacturer: Vaisala
• Type: Silicon capacitive sensor
• Model: PTB210
• Range: 900 - 1100 hPa
• Output: 0-5VDC
• Total Accuracy (20°C): ±0.30hPa
• Operating temperature: -40 to +60 deg C
• Weight: 110g
• Certification Ingress Protection: IP65

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

Vaisala Temperature and Relative Humidity HMP Sensors

A family of sensors and instruments (sensors plus integral displays or loggers) for the measurement of air temperature and relative humidity. All are based on a probe containing a patent (HUMICAP) capacitive thin polymer film capacitanece humidity sensor and a Pt100 platinum resistance thermometer. The probes are available with a wide range of packaging, cabling and interface options all of which have designations of the form HMPnn or HMPnnn such as HMP45 and HMP230. Vaisala sensors are incorporated into weather stations and marketed by Campbell Scientific.

All versions operate at up to 100% humidity. Operating temperature ranges vary between models, allowing users to select the version best suited to their requirements.

Further details can be found in the manufacturer's specification sheets for the HMP 45 series, HMP 70 series and HMP 230 series.

RRS Discovery cruise DY077 meteorology data processing procedures

Originator's Data Processing

The data were logged by the TECHSAS (TECHnical and Scientific sensors Acquisition System) version 5.9 data logging system into daily NetCDF files which were provided to BODC for processing. Data was additionally logged into the RVS Level-C format which have been archived at BODC.

Files delivered to BODC

BODC Data Processing

The data were reformatted to BODC internal format using standard banking procedures. Data were averaged at 60 second intervals. The following table shows how variables within the file were mapped to appropriate BODC parameter codes:

yyyymmdd-090000-MET-DY-SM_DY1.SURFMETv2

yyyymmdd-090000-Light-DY-SM_DY1.SURFMETv2

All data expressed at measurement altitude.

Calibrations

Field Calibrations

No field calibrations were applied to the data at BODC.

Manufacturers Calibrations

PAR/TIR

The following manufacturer's calibrations were applied to the PAR and TIR light sensors using:

y (W m ^-2 ) = (a x 10 ⁶ )/b

where 'a' is the raw data in volts and 'b' is the calibration offset (µV per W m ^-2 ) as shown below.

All the reformatted data were visualised using the in-house EDSERPLO software. Suspect data were marked by adding an appropriate quality control flag.

Absolute wind speed and direction

Relative wind speed and direction were corrected for the ship's heading and speed using the POS MV gyro heading, ship velocities (calculated at BODC from the main positional channels) and an anemometer orientation of 0° on the bow, thus obtaining the BODC derived absolute wind speed and direction parameters, with codes EWSBSS01 and EWDASS01 respectively.

Air pressure

A manufacturer's calibration was not applied to the barometer because there was no significant offset reported on the certified calibration certificate.

Air temperature and humidity

Manufacturer's calibrations were not applied to the temperature and humidity probe because there were no significant offsets reported on the certified calibration certificate.

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

No Fixed Station Information held for the Series

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: