Metadata Report for BODC Series Reference Number 897147
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
Data Description |
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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
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
- Optimized 45° slant, 120° orthogonal beam geometry for 3D current measurements without directional bias
- 1.5 MHz acoustic frequency
- 600 m rated Delrin housing with 40mm transducers
- Reflected echo intensity output
- RS 232 communication protocol
- ViewArgonaut Windows software allowing real time data collection, data retrieval, diagnostics and processing
- Internal memory
- Compass/tilt sensor
- Internal alkaline battery pack
Optional Features
- 6000m rated titanium housing with 40mm ceramics
- 20 mm transducers (Delrin only)
- Integrated external CT sensor
- Integrated internal inductive modem
- Mounting clamps
- Internal piezoresistive pressure sensor
- In-line load cage
- RS 422 communications protocol
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.
BODC Processing
Data were received by BODC in ASCII format files. The series were reformatted to the internal QXF format using BODC transfer function 325. The following table shows how the variables within the file were mapped to the appropriate BODC parameter codes.
| Original parameter name | Original Units | Description | BODC Parameter Code | BODC Units | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | DD/MM/YYYY HH:MI | date and time | AADYAA01 and AAFDZZ01 | day number and day fraction GMT | Conversion by transfer |
| u + v | cm/s | Eastward and northward current velocity | LCDAEL01 (direction) and LCSAEL01 (speed) | °, cm/s | Converted by transfer to current direction (Eulerian) in the water column by in-situ current meter and correction to true North, and current speed (Eulerian) in the water column by in-situ current meter |
| T | degrees Celsius | Temperature | TEMPPR01 | degrees Celsius |
Following transfer to QXF, the data were screened using BODC's in-house visualisation software, EDSERPLO. Any data considered as suspect were flagged 'M'. Flags from the originator marking suspect data were retained during transfer and flagged 'L'.
Originator's Data Processing
Sampling Strategy
The Sontek Argonaut MD current meter deployed in Loch Earn had a sampling frequency of 15 readings per hour. The instrument included a temperature sensor.
Data Processing
FRS applied the standard manufacturers' calibrations to all current and temperature data, and produced ASCII files for submission to BODC. Data files were named according to the mooring code (743) and the instrument number (1). The current meter file (7431) contained eastward and northward velocities, and temperature.
Project Information
No Project Information held for the Series
Data Activity or Cruise Information
Data Activity
| Start Date (yyyy-mm-dd) | 2007-04-04 |
| End Date (yyyy-mm-dd) | 2007-06-29 |
| Organization Undertaking Activity | Fisheries Research Services Aberdeen Marine Laboratory (now Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Country of Organization | United Kingdom |
| Originator's Data Activity Identifier | 743 |
| Platform Category | subsurface mooring |
FRS current meter mooring, Loch Earn
The mooring was located at 56° 23.37' N, 004° 14.17' W in a nominal water depth of 28 m.
The mooring was deployed on 04 April 2007 by Fisheries Research Services (FRS, now known as Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) and recovered on 29 June 2007. Both deployment and recovery were performed by a small boat. The mooring consisted of the following instruments.
| Instrument type | Serial Number | Deployment start | Deployment end | Instrument depth (m) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sontek Argonaut MD | D226 | 2007-04-04 | 2007-06-29 | 1 |
Cruise
| Cruise Name | Earn2007 |
| Departure Date | 2007-04-04 |
| Arrival Date | 2007-04-04 |
| Principal Scientist(s) | Stuart Wallace (Fisheries Research Services Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Ship | Unknown self-propelled boat |
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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
