Metadata Report for BODC Series Reference Number 835230

Metadata Summary

Data Description
Data Category Currents -subsurface Eulerian
Instrument Type
NameCategories
SonTek Argonaut moored 3D doppler current meter  current meters
Instrument Mounting subsurface mooring
Originating Country United States
Originator Prof Bill Johns
Originating Organization Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
Processing Status banked
Project(s) MOCHA
 

Data Identifiers

Originator's Identifier 37206/D309
BODC Series Reference 835230
 

Time Co-ordinates(UT)
Start Time (yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm) 2006-10-08 00:00
End Time (yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm) 2008-01-16 00:00
Nominal Cycle Interval 43200.0 seconds
 

Spatial Co-ordinates

Latitude 26.49468 N ( 26° 29.7' N )
Longitude 76.49897 W ( 76° 29.9' W )
Positional Uncertainty 0.05 to 0.1 n.miles
Minimum Sensor Depth 804.0 m
Maximum Sensor Depth 804.0 m
Minimum Sensor Height 4036.0 m
Maximum Sensor Height 4036.0 m
Sea Floor Depth 4840.0 m
Sensor Distribution Fixed common depth - All sensors are grouped effectively at the same depth which is effectively fixed for the duration of the series
Sensor Depth Datum Approximate - Depth is only approximate
Sea Floor Depth Datum Approximate - Depth is only approximate
 

Parameters
BODC CODE Rank Units Short Title Title
AADYAA01 1 Days Date(Loch_Day) Date (time from 00:00 01/01/1760 to 00:00 UT on day)
AAFDZZ01 1 Days Time(Day_Fract) Time (time between 00:00 UT and timestamp)
ACYCAA01 1 Dimensionless Record_No Sequence number
LCEWEL01 1 Centimetres per second CurrVelE_CM Eastward current velocity (Eulerian) in the water body by in-situ current meter
LCNSEL01 1 Centimetres per second CurrVelN_CM Northward current velocity (Eulerian) in the water body by in-situ current meter
PRSTPR01 1 Decibars MidWat_TotPress Pressure (measured variable) exerted by the water body plus atmosphere by semi-fixed in-situ pressure sensor
TEMPPR01 1 Degrees Celsius Temp Temperature of the water body
 

Definition of Rank
  • Rank 1 is a one-dimensional parameter
  • Rank 2 is a two-dimensional parameter
  • Rank 0 is a one-dimensional parameter describing the second dimension of a two-dimensional parameter (e.g. bin depths for moored ADCP data)

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

SonTek Argonaut-MD Acoustic Doppler Current Meter

This instrument is a 3D, vector averaging current meter with low power consumption allowing deployments of up to 2 years. It does not require calibration, has no moving parts, no threshold velocity and can be fitted with optional pressure and temperature sensors, Sea-Bird SeaCAT or an inductive modem. It uses a fixed measurement volume centered 1.25 m from the instrument for 3 MHz systems (2.0 m for 1.5 MHz systems) and is housed in a single canister (either Deltrin or Titanium) with internal memory and batteries. It can be clamped to the mooring line or mounted within a mooring cage.

Standard Features

Optional Features

Specifications

Velocity
Range ± 6 m/s
Resolution 0.1 cm/s
Accuracy ± 1% of measured velocity, ± 0.5 cm/s
Data Output User programmable from 10 seconds to 12 hours
Temperature Sensor
Resolution 0.01°C
Accuracy ± 0.1°C
Compass/Tilt Sensor
Resolution Heading, Pitch, Roll 0.1°
Accuracy Heading ± 2°
Accuracy Pitch, Roll ± 1°
Physical and Environmental
Operating temperature -5°C to 40°C
Storage Temperature -10°C to 50°C
Weight in air 5.6 kg/12.5 lb (Delrin housing)
  11.8 kg/26 lb (Titanium housing)
Power
Input power 6-16 VDC
Typical power consumption 0.2-03 W (continuous operation)
  0.001 W (stand-by)
Battery capacity (alkaline) 368 W-hr

Further information is available at http://www.sontek.com or can be found in the manufacturer's specification sheet .

RAPIDMOC/MOCHA Current Meter data processing document

This document outlines the procedures undertaken to process and quality assure current meter data collected under the RAPIDMOC and MOCHA projects.

Originator's processing

The raw data are downloaded from the instrument and converted to ASCII format.

Once in ASCII format the data are corrected for the following -

A 40 hour low pass filter is also applied to the data.

Calculating and applying calibrations

Manufacturers calibrations are applied.

Quality Control

Data were visually inspected for out-lying data and instrument electrical spikes removed.

BODC processing

Data are received after quality checks have been made and calibrations have been applied. The data files are submitted in ASCII format as one file per instrument.

Once the submitted data files are safely archived, the data undergo reformatting and banking procedures:

Parameter mapping

The following describes the parameters contained in the originator's files and their mapping to BODC parameter codes:

Identifier Unit Definition BODC parameter code Units Unit conversion Comments
YY year Year AADYAA01 days - Combined with MM and DD to form a date and transferred
MM month Month AADYAA01 days - Combined with MM and DD to form a date and transferred
DD day Day AADYAA01 days - Combined with MM and DD to form a date and transferred
HH hour Decimal hours AAFDZZ01 days /24 Transferred
T °C Temperature TEMPPR01 °C - Transferred
P dbar Pressure PRSTPR01 dbar - Transferred
U cm/s Eastward velocity LCEWEL01 cm/s - Transferred
V cm/s Northward velocity LCNSEL01 cm/s - Transferred

Project Information

Meridional Overturning Circulation and Heatflux Array (MOCHA) Project

Introduction

Users of these data are referred to the Meridional Overturning Circulation and Heatflux Array (MOCHA) Project Website for more information. The following text has been taken from the website.

Scientific Rationale

To set in place a system for continuous observation of the meridional heat transport in the subtropical Atlantic, with which to document its variability and its relationship to oberved climate fluctuations, and to assess climate model predictions

Overview

MOCHA is a collaborative project, partnered with the UK RAPID Program, to measure the heat and freshwater transports of the North Atlantic Ocean. These transports are called the Thermohaline or Overturning Circulation. Simply put, warm waters move poleward at the surface of the ocean, where they cool and sink, to return equatorward in the deep ocean.

Data Activity or Cruise Information

Data Activity

Start Date (yyyy-mm-dd) 2006-10-07
End Date (yyyy-mm-dd) 2008-04-17
Organization Undertaking ActivityRosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
Country of OrganizationUnited States
Originator's Data Activity IdentifierWB3#3
Platform Categorysubsurface mooring

RAPID Moored Instrument Rig WB3#3

This rig was deployed as part of the Western Boundary (WB) array of the MOCHA/RAPIDMOC project.

Deployment cruise RV Seward Johnson cruise SJ14-06
Recovery cruise RV Seward Johnson cruise SJ08-03

The rig was anchored to the sea bed and was kept erect by a large sub-surface float supplemented by groups of smaller buoyancy all attached on titanium swivels.

Instruments deployed on the rig

Depth Instrument
55m Sea-Bird SBE37 SMP MicroCAT (#0481)
99m Nortek Aquadopp current meter (#1138)
100m Sea-Bird SBE37 SMP MicroCAT (#4622)
245m Sea-Bird SBE37 SMP MicroCAT (#0484)
396m Nortek Aquadopp current meter (#1123)
400m Sea-Bird SBE37 SMP MicroCAT (#4623)
595m Sea-Bird SBE37 SMP MicroCAT (#0487)
790m Sea-Bird SBE37 SMP MicroCAT (#4626)
804m SonTek Argonaut MD current meter (#D309)
993m Sea-Bird SBE37 SMP MicroCAT (#4625)
1195m Sea-Bird SBE37 SMP MicroCAT (#4624)
1209m Nortek Aquadopp current meter (#1148)
1600m Sea-Bird SBE37 SMP MicroCAT (#3166)
2001m Sea-Bird SBE37 SMP MicroCAT (#3167)
2022m Nortek Aquadopp current meter (#1144)
2502m Sea-Bird SBE37 SMP MicroCAT (#3860)
3003m Sea-Bird SBE37 SMP MicroCAT (#4627)
3035m Nortek Aquadopp current meter (#1136)
3505m Sea-Bird SBE37 SMP MicroCAT (#4628)
4004m Sea-Bird SBE37 SMP MicroCAT (#3163)
4038m Nortek Aquadopp current meter (#1156)
4505m Sea-Bird SBE37 SMP MicroCAT (#3862)
4815m Sea-Bird SBE37 SMP MicroCAT (#3864)

Instrument Sea-Bird SBE37 MicroCAT #3864 was flooded and no data are expected

Other Series linked to this Data Activity - 831173 831185 831253 835278 831161 831228 831265 831289 831216 835242 835266 831148 831136 835229 831197 831277 835254 831124 831204 831241 835217

Cruise

Cruise Name SJ-14-06
Departure Date 2006-09-25
Arrival Date 2006-10-12
Principal Scientist(s)William E Johns (Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science)
Ship RV Seward Johnson

Complete Cruise Metadata Report is available here

Fixed Station Information

Fixed Station Information

Station NameWestern Boundary Array
CategoryOffshore area
Latitude26° 37.50' N
Longitude73° 37.50' W
Water depth below MSL

RAPIDMOC/MOCHA Western Boundary (WB) Array

The Western Boundary Array defines a box in which moorings were deployed at the western side of the North Atlantic as part of the RAPIDMOC project and the collaborative project Meridional Overturning Circulation and Heatflux Array (MOCHA). The box region has latitudinal limits of 26° N to 27.5° N and longitudinal limits of 69.5° W to 77.5° W. Moorings have occupied this region since 2004 and are typically deployed for 6 to 18 months.

Moored data summary

Year Cruise ID Number of moorings Data types (number of instruments)
2004 D278 9 (6 RAPIDMOC, 3 MOCHA) ADCP (2), BPR (8), CM (29), MCTD (52), MMP (1)
2005 KN182_2 11 (6 RAPIDMOC, 5 MOCHA) ADCP (2), BPR (6), CM (27), MCTD (56)
2006 RB06-02, SJ14-06 11 (6 RAPIDMOC, 5 MOCHA) ADCP (1), BPR (3), CM (22), IES (7), MCTD (60)
2007 RB07-01 7 (7 RAPIDMOC) ADCP (1), BPR (4), CM (16), MCTD (47)
2008 SJ08-03 11 (8 RAPIDMOC, 3 MOCHA) ADCP (2), BPR (3), CM (40), MCTD (80)
2009 RB0901, D344, D345 16 (11 RAPIDMOC, 5 MOCHA) ADCP (2), BPR (5), CM (39), MCTD (91), DVS (1)
2010 OC459-1, RB1009 9 (8 RAPIDMOC, 1 MOCHA) ADCP (1), BPR (7), CM (23), MCTD (54)
2011 KN200-4 7 (7 RAPIDMOC, 6 MOCHA) ADCP (2), BPR (7), CM (43), MCTD (86), DVS (1), IES (1)
2012 RB1201, EN517, D382 24 (19 RAPIDMOC, 5 MOCHA) ADCP (3), BPR (19), CM (74), MCTD (130), IES(1)
2014 JC103 24 (9 RAPIDMOC) BPR (8), CM (22), MCTD (36)

Cruise data summary

During the cruises to service the moored array, a variety of data types are collected. The table below is a summary of these data. The number of CTD profiles performed on these cruises within the box region defined above is also included. Trans-Atlantic hydrographic CTD sections have also been performed since 2004 and are included in the table.

Cruise ID Cruise description Data types Number of CTD profiles performed within the box region
D277 Initial array deployment DIS, MET, NAV, SADCP, SURF 1
D278 Initial array deployment DIS, MET, NAV, SADCP, SURF 16
D279 Hydrographic section CTD, DIS, LADCP, MET, NAV, SADCP, SURF 31
KN182_2 Array service CTD, DIS, MET, NAV, SADCP, SURF 64
RB0601 Array service CTD, DIS, LADCP, MET, NAV, SADCP, SURF 39
SJ14-06 Array service CTD, DIS, LADCP, MET, NAV, SADCP, SURF 33
RB07-01 Array service CTD, DIS, LADCP, MET, NAV, SADCP, SURF 36
SJ08-03 Array service CTD, DIS, LADCP, MET, NAV, SADCP, SURF 33
RB0901 Array service CTD, DIS, LADCP, MET, NAV, SADCP, SURF 35
D344 Array service CTD, DIS, MET, NAV, SADCP, SURF 3
D345 Array service CTD, DIS, LADCP, MET, NAV, SADCP, SURF 24
OC459-1 Array service CTD, DIS, MET, NAV, SADCP, SURF 9
OC459-2 Western Boundary Hydrographic section CTD, DIS, LADCP, MET, NAV, SADCP, SURF 27
D346 Hydrographic section CTD, DIS, LADCP, MET, NAV, SADCP, SURF 31
RB1009 WB4 service CTD, MET, SURF, NAV 2
KN200-4 Array service CTD, DIS, MET, NAV, SURF 34
RB1201 Array service CTD, DIS, MET, NAV, SURF 10
EN517 Array service CTD, DIS, LADCP, MET, NAV, SURF 31
D382 Array service CTD, DIS, MET, NAV, SURF 8
JC103 Array service CTD, DIS, MET, NAV, SURF 7

Data type ID and description

Data type ID Description
ADCP Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
BATH Bathymetry
BPR Bottom Pressure Recorder
CM Current Meter
CTD Conductivity-Temperature-Depth profiler
DIS Discrete water bottle samples
DVS Doppler Volume sampler
IES Inverted Echo Sounder
LADCP Lowered Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
MET Meteorology
MCTD Moored Conductivity-Temperature-Depth sensor
MOCTD Moored Conductivity-Temperature-Depth Oxygen sensor
MMP McLane Moored Profiler - profiling CTD and current meter
NAV Navigation
SADCP Shipborne Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
SURF Sea surface data

Other Series linked to this Fixed Station for this cruise - 775704 775716 775728 775741 775753 775765 775777 775789 775790 775808 775821 775833 775845 775857 775869 775870 831124 831136 831148 831161 831173 831185 831197 831204 831216 831228 831241 831253 831265 831277 831289 831290 831308 831321 831333 831345 831357 831369 831370 831382 831394 831401 831413 831425 831437 831449 831450 835198 835205 835217 835229 835242 835254 835266 835278 838412 895491 895509 895510 895522 895534

Other Cruises linked to this Fixed Station (with the number of series) - D278 (90) D344 (10) D345 (43) D346 (31) D382 (79) EN517 (11) JC103 (7) KN182_2 (87) KN200-4 (135) OC459-1 (64) RB0602 (42) RB0701 (58) RB0901 (78) RB1009 (24) RB1201 (91) SJ-08-03 Leg 1 (39) SJ-08-03 Leg 2 (76)

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
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