North Sea off Netherlands coast, near to 52° 22.19'N, 4° 00.13'E

Raw fluorometer output; Vertical velocity of the water column (currents); Salinity of the water column; Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents); Temperature of the water column; Acoustic backscatter in the water column; Transmittance and attenuance of the water column

Fluorometers; salinity sensor; acoustic backscatter sensors; transmissometers; CTD; water body temperature sensor; current profilers

The data set was gathered onboard R.V. Prince Madog to provide background water quality information in support of remotely sensed observations made by helicopter and aircraft. As the aim was to investigate bottom topography influences, particular emphasis was placed on the measurement of current in the water column by the hull-mounted ADCP. The best data were considered to be those collected on 24 and 25 April, when the ship was allowed to drift over the sandwave bed features under the tidal current and when hydro-meteorological conditions were favourable. The data collected are stored as time series with generally 27.5s intervals for the ISIS data and various intervals for the ADCP data (but highest resolution for 60s sampling time). The upward looking sonar data may reflect slope tilts rather than backscatter from surface roughness as the sonar sledge was towed on bed. As far as is known, data should be reliable and internally consistent.

MAST (1992) 'Mapping of Sea Bottom Topography in a Multi-Sensor Approach', Final Report on MAST Contract 0040-C, CEC Report.

University of Wales, School of Ocean Sciences
School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales Bangor, Menai Bridge, Anglesey,
Menai Bridge
Anglesey
LL59 5AB
United Kingdom