An approx. 52000 km2 survey of the northern North Sea (approx. 53 to 61° N and 2° W to 4° E) followed by a Langrangian study from approx.58 to 59.5° N and 1 to 4° E.

Concentration of alkanamines (amines) in the water column; Bacteria taxonomic abundance in water bodies; Air pressure; Air temperature; Atmospheric humidity; Particulate total and organic carbon concentrations in the water column; Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies; Other halocarbon concentrations in water bodies; Organosulphur and organoselenium species concentration parameters in water bodies; Dissolved organic carbon concentration in the water column; Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column; Wind strength and direction; Raw fluorometer output; Oxygen production and respiration in the water column; Zooplankton gut pigments; Lagrangian currents and transport rates in the water column; Vertical velocity of the water column (currents); Microzooplankton grazing; Particulate total and organic nitrogen concentrations in the water column; Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column; Optical backscatter; Phytoplankton taxonomic abundance in water bodies; Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column; Primary production in the water column; Salinity of the water column; Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents); Dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentration in the water column; Dissolved total and organic nitrogen concentrations in the water column; Radioactivity in water bodies; Zooplankton taxonomy-related abundance per unit volume of the water column; Zooplankton taxonomy-related biomass expressed as carbon per unit volume of the water column; Phaeopigment concentrations in the water column; Phycobolin pigment concentrations in the water column; Phytoplankton growth; Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column; Acoustic backscatter in the water column; Concentration of inorganic sulphur species in the water column; Sulphur species concentrations in the atmosphere; Virus abundance in water bodies; Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the atmosphere; Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the water column; Transmittance and attenuance of the water column; Silicate concentration parameters in the water column; Microzooplankton taxonomy-related biomass expressed as carbon per unit volume of the water column; Microzooplankton taxonomic abundance in water bodies; Bathymetry and Elevation; Carotenoid and flavenoid pigment concentrations in water bodies; Phytoplankton taxonomic biomass in water bodies; Temperature of the water column

Anemometers; meteorological packages; fluorometers; radiometers; optical backscatter sensors; bathythermographs; thermosalinographs; single-beam echosounders; nutrient analysers; plankton nets; discrete water samplers; continuous water samplers; sediment traps; gas chromatographs; autoanalysers; electron microscopes; high performance liquid chromatographs; titrators; gas chromatograph mass spectrometers; liquid scintillation counters; bench particle sizers; Global Navigation Satellite System receivers; Differential Global Positioning System receivers; acoustic backscatter sensors; CTD undulators; transmissometers; CTD; water body temperature sensor; current profilers; dissolved gas sensors; shipboard incubators

The dataset comprises physical, biogeochemical and biological measurements of water column properties. Hydrographic profiles of water temperature, salinity, fluorescence, turbidity, attenuance, dissolved oxygen and photosynthetically active radiation were collected, and were supplemented by measurements of surface ocean (temperature, salinity, fluorescence, attenuance) and meteorological (air pressure, air temperature, humidity, wind, irradiance) properties, as well as bathymetry. A comprehensive water sampling program provided biogeochemical data including measurements of dimethyl sulphide (DMS), dimethylsulphionopropionate (DMSP), nutrients, halocarbons, methylamines, pigments, radiogeochemistry and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Biological data were also collected, including samples of viruses, bacteria, phytoplankton, micro- and mesozooplankton. Currents throughout the water column were measured both at fixed locations and across the study area, while Lagrangian experiments provided further current data. The datqa were collected in the northern North Sea between 5th June 1999 and 1st July 1999 during RRS Discovery cruise D241. Hydrographic profiles were collected using a conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) package with attached auxiliary sensors, an undulating oceanographic recorder (UOR), a vessel-mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP), moored ADCP and temperature sensors, and a suite of standard underway hydrographic and meteorological sensors. Water samples for biogeochemical and biological analyses were collected from both the underway system and CTD bottles, while nets were deployed to collect zooplankton samples. Plankton samples were supplemented by respiration experiments conducted during the cruise. The Lagrangian current data were gathered from four drifters and a tracer experiment where the distribution of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) released from the ship was monitored via water samples collected from the CTD and the underway system. A survey of the region was carried out in order to locate an Emiliania huxleyi bloom suitable for the study and the chosen bloom was labelled with the SF6 tracer. The biogeochemical process study followed the patch as it drifted in a SE direction and was eventually subducted under Norweigian coastal water on 26 June. The study aimed to investigate DMS biogeochemistry within a coccolithophore bloom. The research was organised by NERC's Plymouth Marine Laboratory and involved the University of East Anglia, Scottish Association for Marine Science, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Marine Biological Association, Defence Research Agency, and Southampton Oceanography Centre. Data management support for the project is provided by the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC). The dataset is available on CD-ROM and can be requested from BODC.

DISCO researchers (2002) Dimethyl Sulphide Biogeochemistry within a Coccolithophore Bloom : An Overview (Deep-Sea Research II), P.H. Burkill, S.D. Archer, C. Robinson

British Oceanographic Data Centre
Joseph Proudman Building 6 Brownlow Street
Liverpool
Merseyside
L3 5DA
United Kingdom