Metadata Report for BODC Series Reference Number 2053548

• 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

SEAL Analytical QuAAtro colorimetric autoanalyser

The SEAL QuAAtro high Performance Microflow Analyzer is the latest generation of the original world-class Technicon^TM Segmented Flow Analysis (SFA) systems.

A basic SFA system consists of an autosampler, a peristaltic pump, a chemistry manifold, a detector and data acquisition software. Sample and reagents are pumped continuously through the chemistry manifold. Air bubbles are introduced at regular intervals forming unique reaction segments which are mixed using glass coils. Glass is ideal, as it is inert, stays clean and enables easy visual checks.

In SFA, reactions run to completion and the ratio of sample to reagents in the detector reaches a constant maximum value. This results in ultra-low detection limits and exceptional reproducibility. Variations in reaction time, temperature and sample matrix do not affect the results as they do in other colorimetric techniques, such as flow injection analysis, where the reaction is not brought to completion.

QuAAtro is a microflow SFA system, the internal diameter of all glassware being 1 mm. This reduces reagent consumption and increases throughput, with most methods running at 100 - 120 samples hour. The integrated enclosed manifold and detector are heated to 37 °C. Flow stability is ensured as the optimal bubble frequency for each method is programmed by silent air valves. Automatic start-up, method changeover and shutdown allows true unattended operation and overnight running. QuAAtro checks its own performance, with automatic monitoring of noise, drift, bubble pattern and light energy, before and during a run.

Up to four methods can run at the same time on one console, and there is a special 5-channel version for nutrients in seawater. Two consoles can be combined to give an 8-channel system.

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

Non-toxic (underway) sea water supply

A source of uncontaminated near-surface (commonly 3 to 7 m) seawater pumped continuously to shipboard laboratories on research vessels. There is typically a temperature sensor near the intake (known as the hull temperature) to provide measurements that are as close as possible to the ambient water temperature. The flow from the supply is typically directed through continuously logged sensors such as a thermosalinograph and a fluorometer. Water samples are often collected from the non-toxic supply. The system is also referred to as the underway supply.

Nutrients from non-toxic supply for Cruise DY086

Originator's Protocol for Data Acquisition and Analysis

Sampling methodology

During DY086, water samples were analysed for the determination of inorganic nutrient concentrations. The analyses were for Nitrate + Nitrite (NO₂+NO₃), Silicate (SiO₂), Nitrite (NO₂) and Phosphate (PO₄). This analysis used underway samples drawn from the ship's non-toxic water supply in the Clean Seawater Laboratory.

15ml centrifuge tubes were rinsed three times from the non-toxic supply on board the ship before being filled up with the sample water, whilst the ship was in moving between sampling sites. Samples were labelled with a sequential number, starting at 01, and stored in a fridge in the laboratory before analysis. Analysis was usually completed within 12 hours of the sample being taken, but no longer than 24 hours after the sample was taken. Samples were not taken from the non-toxic supply whilst the ship was stationery.

Analytical methodology

The samples were analysed using a QuAAtro 39 segmented flow auto-analyser, which is manufactured by SEAL Analytical UK Ltd using common colourimetric techniques. The exact methods were ones optimised by SEAL Analytical UK Ltd for their instrument, further details of which can be found in the cruise report.

DY086 Cruise report

Further information can be found in the DY086 Cruise report.

BODC Data Processing Procedures

Data received were loaded into the BODC database using established BODC data banking procedures. Where data were provided by the originator as replicates the data were averaged and standard deviations calculated, unless the sampling was repeated due to suspicious values in which case the replicate measurement was loaded. A parameter mapping table is provided below:

Project Information

Controls over Ocean Mesopelagic Interior Carbon Storage: COMICS

COMICS is a four-year collaborative research project that aims to quantify the flow of carbon in the ocean?s ?twilight? zone in order to accurately model global climate change. This ?twilight? zone is the part of the ocean between 100m and 1000m below the sea surface, where only a small amount of light from the sun can still penetrate.

By investigating carbon dynamics in the ocean interior, COMICS will help to improve predictions of future global climate change.

The COMICS project is led by the National Oceanography Centre and is a collaboration between the British Antarctic Survey and the universities of Queen Mary London, Liverpool, Oxford and Southampton. The project received funding from the Natural Environmental Research Council and runs between April 2017 and 2021.

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: