Metadata Report for BODC Series Reference Number 2243704

• 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

Seal Analytical AutoAnalyzer 3HR

The model AA3 is an upgrade from Seal Analytics AutoAnalyzer II and is specifically designed for colorimetric determination of dissolved nutrients in environmental smaples. This model fully automates repetitive and complex sample analysis and can perform solvent extractions, distillation, gas diffusion, on-line filtration and in-line UV digestion in a continuously flowing stream.

It has a modular design which can integrate a sampler, pump, chemistry test module and photometer. It also accepts Multitest Manifolds designed to extend any size analyzer to a multiple chemistry system capable of dual range of tests which, in turn, eliminate the need to change manifolds and filters when changing tests.

The AA3 uses segmented flow analysis principles to reduce inter-sample dispersion, it can analyse up to 100 samples per hour using stable LED light sources. It also contains glass coils, which allow for chemically inert and easy visual checks.

The available modules are:

• Digital colorimeter: bubble through the flow cell to increase sampling rate and true Dual beam operation with continuous real-time referencing
• High Precision Pump: multi-speed motor, electronic air injection, optional valves for auto reagent switching and a buil in leak detector
• Multitest Manifold: allows for up to 16 different analyses
• Chemistry Module: glass coils which are chemically inter and allow for clear view of the flow, gas difusion or dialysis options
• XY2/XY3: high capacity random access sampler, up to 180/270 samples in cups or tubes in 2/3 racks, separate rack for standards, optional integrated pump and auto-diluter
• Distillation Module: automatic in line distillation when required before colorimetric analysis

Further information can be found in the manufacturer's brochure.

Niskin Bottle

The Niskin bottle is a device used by oceanographers to collect subsurface seawater samples. It is a plastic bottle with caps and rubber seals at each end and is deployed with the caps held open, allowing free-flushing of the bottle as it moves through the water column.

Standard Niskin

The standard version of the bottle includes a plastic-coated metal spring or elastic cord running through the interior of the bottle that joins the two caps, and the caps are held open against the spring by plastic lanyards. When the bottle reaches the desired depth the lanyards are released by a pressure-actuated switch, command signal or messenger weight and the caps are forced shut and sealed, trapping the seawater sample.

Lever Action Niskin

The Lever Action Niskin Bottle differs from the standard version, in that the caps are held open during deployment by externally mounted stainless steel springs rather than an internal spring or cord. Lever Action Niskins are recommended for applications where a completely clear sample chamber is critical or for use in deep cold water.

Clean Sampling

A modified version of the standard Niskin bottle has been developed for clean sampling. This is teflon-coated and uses a latex cord to close the caps rather than a metal spring. The clean version of the Levered Action Niskin bottle is also teflon-coated and uses epoxy covered springs in place of the stainless steel springs. These bottles are specifically designed to minimise metal contamination when sampling trace metals.

Deployment

Bottles may be deployed singly clamped to a wire or in groups of up to 48 on a rosette. Standard bottles and Lever Action bottles have a capacity between 1.7 and 30 L. Reversing thermometers may be attached to a spring-loaded disk that rotates through 180° on bottle closure.

CTD nutrients data for Cruise JC247

Originator's Protocol for Data Acquisition and Analysis

Sampling methodology

Water column depth profile samples were taken from a stainless steel CTD (conductivity, temperature and depth) rosette during the RRS James Cook Cruise JC247. The CTD rosette was fitted with a standard steel cable and 20L OTE (Ocean Test Equipment) Niskin bottles. Acid clean 60ml HDPE (high-density polyethylene) Nalgene bottles were used for all the nutrient sampling. These were aged, acid washed and cleaned initially, and stored with a 10% acid solution between sampling. The sample bottle and cap were washed 3 times before taking the final sample, and capped tightly. The samples were stored in the dark at 4°C until analysis, which was as soon as practical. Nutrient free (Semperguard) gloves were used and other clean handling protocols were adopted as close to those according to the GO-SHIP nutrient manual protocols (Becker et al, 2020).

Analytical methodology

The PML (Plymouth Marine Laboratory) 5-channel (nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, ammonium and silicate) SEAL analytical AAIII system with high-resolution colorimeters was used for analysis. This is a micro-molar segmented flow colorimetric auto-analyser with classical proven analytical techniques. The analytical chemical methodologies used were according to Brewer and Riley (1965) for nitrate, Grasshoff (1976) for nitrite, Mantoura and Woodward (1983) for ammonium, and Kirkwood (1989) for silicate and phosphate.

The instrument was calibrated with calibrated home produced nutrient stock standards. Daily quality control samples were analysed using Nutrient Reference Materials from SCOR / Jamstec and KANSO Technos, Japan. Batches CH and BU were used during the cruise. The nutrients were all within an accuracy of 2 - 3%.

References Cited

Becker S., Aoyama M., Woodward E.M.S., Malcolm S., Bakker K., Coverly S., Mahaffey C. and Tanhua T., 2020. GO-SHIP Repeat Hydrography Nutrient Manual: The precise and accurate determination of dissolved inorganic nutrients in seawater, using continuous flow analysis methods. Frontiers in Marine Science 7, 2296-7745. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.581790.

Brewer P.G. and Riley J.P., 1965. The automatic determination of nitrate in seawater. Deep Sea Research, 12, 765-72.

Grasshoff K., 1976. Methods of seawater analysis. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim and New York, 317pp.

Mantoura R.F.C and Woodward E.M.S, 1983. Optimization of the indophenol blue method for the automated determination of ammonia in estuarine waters. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 17(2), 219-224. https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-7714(83)90067-7

Kirkwood D., 1989. Simultaneous determination of selected nutrients in seawater. ICES CM 1989/C:29.

JC247 Cruise report

Further information can be found in the JC247 Cruise report.

BODC Data Processing Procedures

Data received were loaded into the BODC database using established BODC data banking procedures. A parameter mapping table is provided below:

Data Quality Report

The limit of detection for AMONAATX was 0.03 umol/l. Values below this limit have been flagged '<' by BODC.

Null values were flagged as 'NA' or 'N/A' by the originator. These have been flagged 'N' by BODC.

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

BODC Sample Metadata Report for JC247_CTD_CTD2

Please note:the supplied parameters may not have been sampled from all the bottle firings described in the table above. Cross-match the Sample Reference Number above against the SAMPRFNM value in the data file to identify the relevant metadata.

Cruise

Complete Cruise Metadata Report is available here

Fixed Station Information

Fixed Station Information

Fixed Station - Whittard Canyon - The Canyons Marine Conservation Zone

The Canyons MCZ is located in the far south-west corner of the UK continental shelf, more than 330 km from Land's End, Cornwall. It encompasses the steep part of the shelf break where the seabed drops from a depth of 100 m to the oceanic abyssal plain at 2000 m. It is unique within the context of England's largely shallow seas due to its depth, sea-bed topography and the coral features it contains.

There are two large canyons within the site, which add to its topographic complexity: the Explorer Canyon to the north and the Dangaard Canyon below it. The wider Whittard Canyon area encapsulates the Canyons MCZ and also includes a network of submarine canyons to the West. The MCZ, also known as a Marine Protected Area (MPA), was designated in November 2013 under the Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009). The Canyons MCZ covers an area of 661 km², which extends to approximately 5200 km² when Whittard Canyon is included.

On the northernmost wall of the Explorer Canyon is a patch of live Cold-water coral reef (Lophelia pertusa) and Coral gardens, both of which are a OSPAR threatened and/or declining habitat. This is the only known example of living Cold-water coral reef recorded within England's seas, making it unique in these waters.

Cold-water corals and Coral gardens typically support a range of other organisms. The coral provides a three-dimensional structure and a variety of microhabitats that provide shelter and an attachment surface for other species. Both Cold-water corals and Coral gardens can be long-lived but are extremely slow growing (at about 6 mm a year), making protection important for their conservation. Another reef-forming cold-water coral, Madrepora oculata, is also present in the site.

The variety of deep-sea bed communities present are indicative of the range of substrates found in and around the canyons, including bedrock, biogenic reef, coral rubble, coarse sediment, mud and sand. These biological communities include cold-water coral communities (Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata), Coral gardens, feather star (Leptometra celtica) assemblages and Sea-pen and burrowing megafauna communities (including, burrowing anemone fields, squat lobster (Munida sp.) assemblages, barnacle assemblages and deep-sea sea-pen (Kophobelemnon sp.) fields).

Sampling History

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: Whittard Canyon - The Canyons Marine Conservation Zone

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

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