Metadata Report for BODC Series Reference Number 2201209

• 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

These data have no specific confidentiality restrictions for users. However, users must acknowledge data sources as it is not ethical to publish data without proper attribution. Any publication or other output resulting from usage of the data should include an acknowledgment.

If the Information Provider does not provide a specific attribution statement, or if you are using Information from several Information Providers and multiple attributions are not practical in your product or application, you may consider using the following:

"Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v1.0."

Narrative Documents

Sea-Bird SBE 37 SMP {MicroCAT-CTP} (submersible) CTD logger

A high accuracy conductivity and temperature recorder with an integrated pressure sensor designed for deployment on moorings. The SM model uses a serial interface (SM) for real-time data transmissions and has internal batteries. The device is fitted with an integral pump (P).

For more information, please see this document: https://www.bodc.ac.uk/data/documents/nodb/pdf/SeaBird-datasheet-SBE37-SMP-July18.pdf

Originator's Processing Cruise DY108 (DY109) SeaBird SBE37 SMP-CTP MicroCAT Data: Darwin Mounds Mooring

Sampling Strategy

During the RRS Discovery DY108 (DY109) cruise, two Seabird MicroCATs were deployed on the Darwin Mounds long-term mooring, both carrying temperature, conductivity and pressure sensors sampling at 15 minute intervals. One MicroCAT (s/n 12456) was located at a nominal depth of 949 m, and the other (s/n 12458) was located at a nominal depth of 1024 m.

MicroCAT s/n 12456 was last calibrated for pressure on 12 August 2014, then both temperature and conductivity on 15 August 2014 prior to deployment. While MicroCAT s/n 12458 was last calibrated for pressure on 15 August 2014, then both temperature and conductivity on 21 August 2014 prior to deployment.
Both MicroCATs were validated on CTD deployment from cruise event DY108-047, carried out in the near vicinity of the intended mooring location immediately prior to the mooring deployment. During the up-cast of the CTD, 5 minute stops were made at four depths (1014 m, 945 m, 101 m, and 36 m) to provide cross-calibration data, sampling at 10 second intervals. Following standard processing, the CTD and MicroCAT data were summarised to median and 95% non-parametric confidence intervals for the periods of the stops. The resultant data and plots suggested that both MicroCATs were performing well. However, all data output from both MicroCATs were not corrected against independent water sampling. Further information can be found in the DY108 (DY109) and DY120 cruise reports.

Data Processing

After recovery, the data were downloaded using an inductive modem, and processed using SeaBird data processing software. The processed data were supplied to BODC for banking.

Processing by BODC of SeaBird SBE37 SMP-CTP MicroCAT data: Darwin Mounds Mooring, DY108 (DY109)

The data arrived at BODC in the format of .csv files, representing the data collected from the SBE37 MicroCATs s/n 12456 and 12458 attached to the Darwin Mounds long-term mooring, deployed during cruise DY108 (DY109).

During transfer to BODC internal format (QXF) the originator's variables were mapped to unique BODC parameter codes. The following table shows the parameter mapping:

The reformatted data were visualised using the in-house software. Any suspect data were flagged, using the BODC quality control flags.

Project Information

Marine LTSS: CLASS (Climate Linked Atlantic Sector Science)

Introduction

CLASS is a five year (2018 to 2023) programme, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and extended until March 2024.

Scientific Rationale

The ocean plays a vital role in sustaining life on planet Earth, providing us with both living resources and climate regulation. The trajectory of anthropogenically driven climate change will be substantially controlled by the ocean due to its absorption of excess heat and carbon from the atmosphere, with consequent impacts on ocean resources that remain poorly understood. In an era of rapid planetary change, expanding global population and intense resource exploitation, it is vital that there are internationally coordinated ocean observing and prediction systems so policy makers can make sound evidence-based decisions about how to manage our interaction with the ocean. CLASS will underpin the UK contribution to these systems, documenting and understanding change in the marine environment, evaluating the impact of climate change and effectiveness of conservation measures and predicting the future evolution of marine environments. Over the five-year period CLASS will enhance the cost-effectiveness of observing systems by migrating them towards cutting edge autonomous technologies and developing new sensors. Finally, CLASS will create effective engagement activities ensuring academic partners have transparent access to NERC marine science capability through graduate training partnerships and access to shipborne, lab based and autonomous facilities, and modelling capabilities.

Data Activity or Cruise Information

Data Activity

Darwin Mounds Long-Term Mooring - September 2019

This mooring was deployed as a contribution to the Climate Linked Atlantic Section Science (CLASS) project's sustained observations and marine protected area studies, supported by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (grant number NE/R015953/1).

The Darwin Mounds long-term mooring, deployed on DY108 (DY109), was anchored by a 1000 kg chain clump anchor and kept buoyant with 3 glass spheres. This mooring was subsurface.

Instruments deployed on the rig:

Related Data Activity activities are detailed in Appendix 1

Cruise

Complete Cruise Metadata Report is available here

Fixed Station Information

Fixed Station Information

Fixed Station - Darwin Mounds Marine Protected Area (MPA) Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

The Darwin Mounds are located approximately 160 km north-west of Cape Wrath, Scotland, at the north end of the Rockall Trough. The site was designated a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in June 2002 and was formally assigned a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) from March 2018. The site area is approximately 1377 km² and the water depth ranges from 710 - 1129 m. The site consists of a large number of coral-topped 'sand volcanoes' composed of sand overlying mud. The individual mounds are up to 75 m wide and 5 m high and are morphologically unique in UK waters. The mounds themselves are unusual geological features that are thought to have been formed by fluid expulsion from the seabed. The mounds are most elevated to the north of the site and diminish in height to the south. There are two denser regions of mounds in the north-east and north-west of the site. The north-east field of the Darwin Mounds measures approximately 13 km by 9 km and contains approximately 150 mounds, whereas the north-west field measures approximately 13 km by 4 km and contains approximately 75 mounds.

The mounds in the northern part of the site show an acoustic signature of a 'tail' which generally lies to the south-west of the mound feature consisting of elongate to oval patches up to 500 m long. The 'tail' feature of the mounds is thought to be unique globally. The tails are not topographically distinct from the surrounding seabed but are covered with a fine veneer of sand. They support substantial numbers of the xenophyophore Syringammina fragilissima (a single-celled organism that can grow up to 20 cm in diameter), in densities greater than the surrounding seabed.

On the majority of the mounds there are also multiple colonies of Lophelia pertusa growing, which in many cases have formed thickets which arise from the surface of the mound. This site was the first observed record of cold-water coral reefs growing on sand at the time of discovery. Like the topography of the mounds, the frequency of coral communities diminishes towards the south of the mound field. Although the reef habitat on top of the mounds is formed primarily from Lophelia pertusa, another cold-water coral Madrepora oculata is also present. The thickets of cold-water corals provide a habitat for echiuran worms, brittlestars, brisingiid starfish and sponges. Various fish have been observed among the mounds, but not at higher densities than the wider environment.

For further information see the JNCC website. Image available to download here.

Sampling History

Related Fixed Station activities are detailed in Appendix 2

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: DMLTM_092019

Related series for this Data Activity 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.

Appendix 2: Darwin Mounds Marine Protected Area, Special Area of Conservation

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.