Metadata Report for BODC Series Reference Number 589666
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
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Time Co-ordinates(UT) |
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Parameters |
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Problem Reports
No Problem Report Found in the Database
Data Access Policy
Public domain 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.
The recommended acknowledgment is
"This study uses data from the data source/organisation/programme, provided by the British Oceanographic Data Centre and funded by the funding body."
Narrative Documents
RAFOS Floats
RAFOS Floats are neutrally buoyant, free drifting instruments, which are launched from a ship in the research area. They consist of a 1.5m cylinder housing a pressure transducer; a temperature sensor; a battery pack; a satellite transmitter and antenna. Externally, there is a ballast weight to enable the float to remain at a near constant depth and an acoustic receiver that listens for positioning information.
Once deployed, the float will settle to a predetermined depth (typically from 300-4000 metres) and can remain there for up to two years. The float's acoustic receiver listens for signals from an array of moored sound sources. Each sound source transmits a unique signal at a specific time, which is received by the float. Knowing the speed of sound in water and the time delay, it is possible to calculate the distance of the float from that sound source. RAFOS floats track multiple sound sources. If the range to three sources are known, it is then possible to triangulate the position of the float at that given time.
Once the float has completed the mission, the ballast weight is dropped and the float rises to the surface. Once on the surface, all of the data collected during the mission is transmitted to an orbiting Argos satellite, which relays the data back.
It is therefore possible to map each float's position during the course of the mission, and thereby understand to ocean currents. In addition, the floats also measure instrument depth and sea temperature.
Project Information
Monitoring the Atlantic Inflow toward the Arctic (MAIA)
Introduction
MAIA is an EU Fifth Framework Programme supporting Key Action 2 (Global Change, Climate and Biodiversity) of Theme 4: Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development. The overall objective of MAIA is to develop an inexpensive and reliable system based on coastal sea level data for monitoring the inflows of Atlantic water into the northern seas.
Scientific Rationale
The flux of Atlantic Water to the northern seas is vital for the existence of life in northern Europe. More than half of the Atlantic Water appears to enter the Norwegian Sea to the west of the Faroe Islands. A lesser, warmer amount enters along the continental margin past Scotland. There have been several attempts to estimate and monitor these fluxes and see how the ice extent in the north is correlated to them.
The special goals of MAIA are:
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to monitor the inflow of salt and heat to the northern seas for the analysis of climate variability, distinguishing between warmer (eastern) and cooler (western) inflow past the Faroes, and the major routes through the Barents Sea, with a time resolution better than a week, a spatial resolution of the major routes and an accuracy better than 15%.
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to understand the causes of errors and recommend strategies to improve the future accuracy of such a monitoring tool.
Project Components
The project was divided into 3 phases:
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Phase I
Phase I was to analyse historical observations of sea-level fluctuations during the past decade and compare them with available bottom pressure and in situ current velocity measurements in the region of interest.
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Phase II
Phase II is a dedicated validation study in the Shetland- Iceland region and in the Barents Sea to verify that the system can give the required results to the desired accuracy and resolution. The validation period was from summer 2000 to November 2001.
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Phase III
Phase III of the project includes evaluating the validations, the effects of external influences and the ice studies, and making recommendations for future monitoring.
Data Activity or Cruise Information
Cruise
Cruise Name | GS07/01 |
Departure Date | 2001-05-08 |
Arrival Date | 2001-05-22 |
Principal Scientist(s) | Harald Loeng (Institute of Marine Research, Norway) |
Ship | G.O. Sars |
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:
Flag | Description |
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Blank | Unqualified |
< | Below detection limit |
> | In excess of quoted value |
A | Taxonomic flag for affinis (aff.) |
B | Beginning of CTD Down/Up Cast |
C | Taxonomic flag for confer (cf.) |
D | Thermometric depth |
E | End of CTD Down/Up Cast |
G | Non-taxonomic biological characteristic uncertainty |
H | Extrapolated value |
I | Taxonomic flag for single species (sp.) |
K | Improbable value - unknown quality control source |
L | Improbable value - originator's quality control |
M | Improbable value - BODC quality control |
N | Null value |
O | Improbable value - user quality control |
P | Trace/calm |
Q | Indeterminate |
R | Replacement value |
S | Estimated value |
T | Interpolated value |
U | Uncalibrated |
W | Control value |
X | Excessive difference |
SeaDataNet Quality Control Flags
The following single character qualifying flags may be associated with one or more individual parameters with a data cycle:
Flag | Description |
---|---|
0 | no quality control |
1 | good value |
2 | probably good value |
3 | probably bad value |
4 | bad value |
5 | changed value |
6 | value below detection |
7 | value in excess |
8 | interpolated value |
9 | missing value |
A | value phenomenon uncertain |
B | nominal value |
Q | value below limit of quantification |