Louisiana Coastal Hypoxia Shelfwide Survey, July 1997

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Frequently-anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

    Title: Louisiana Coastal Hypoxia Shelfwide Survey, July 1997
    Abstract:
    Two sets of CTD data were taken during the July 23 - 29, 1997 survey of the Louisiana continental shelf. Hydrographic data were obtained with the LUMCON SeaBird 911+ CTD system and a Hydrolab Surveyor 3. Nutrient, Pigment, Suspended Sediment, Surface Salinity and Station Information data were also acquired.

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Rabalais, N., Unknown, Louisiana Coastal Hypoxia Shelfwide Survey, July 1997.

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -93.7
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -89.4
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 29.8
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 28.4
    Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Louisiana coastal waters, Northwestern Gulf of Mexico.

  3. What does it look like?

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning_Date: 23-Jul-1997
    Beginning_Time: Unknown
    Ending_Date: 29-Jul-1997
    Ending_Time: Unknown
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Database

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • Point (91)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.0001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.0001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Degrees and decimal minutes.

      The horizontal datum used is WGS84.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS84.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257223563.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    S797PortaSal
    The table lists station, depth and salinity (psu) values measured using a Guildline Instruments PortaSal. There are 89 records. (Source: None.)

    Depth
    Depth of HydroLab p sensor, 0.0 depth = bucket sample. (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:30.3
    Units:Meters

    PortaSal
    Salinity (psu) (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:3.928
    Maximum:35.119
    Units:psu

    Sta
    Station name of location sampled (Source: Producer defined)

    Character field

    StnID
    Station identification number (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:4
    Maximum:89
    Units:Integer

    S797HydroLab
    The table lists Hydrolab CTD station density, dissolved oxygen, percent oxygen saturation, pH, salinity, specific conductance and temperature values at depths. There are 849 records. (Source: None.)

    Density
    Density sigma-t (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-4.51
    Maximum:25.35
    Units:Density sigma-t

    Depth
    Depth of HydroLab pressure sensor (Source: Producer Defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.0
    Maximum:53.2
    Units:Meters

    DO
    Dissolved oxygen (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.05
    Maximum:16.84
    Units:mg/L

    DOPctSat
    Oxygen percent saturation (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.8
    Maximum:236
    Units:Percent

    pH
    pH (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:7.5
    Maximum:8.87
    Units:pH units

    Salin
    Salinity (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.4
    Maximum:36.4
    Units:psu

    SpCond
    Specific conductance (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.8
    Maximum:54.9
    Units:mS/cm

    Sta
    Station name of location sampled (Source: Producer defined)

    Character field

    StnID
    Station identification number (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:8
    Maximum:90
    Units:Integer

    Temp
    Temperature (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:18.84
    Maximum:33.71
    Units:Degrees centigrade

    S797Nutrient
    The table lists station NH4, NO2, NO2+NO3, NO3, PO4 and SiO3 values at depths. There are 172 records. (Source: None.)

    Depth
    Depth of HydroLab p sensor, 0.0 depth = bucket sample. (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:53.2
    Units:Meters

    NH4
    Ammonium (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.2
    Maximum:5.5
    Units:µg-at/L

    NO2
    Nitrite (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.1
    Maximum:2.5
    Units:µg-at/L

    NO2+NO3
    Nitrite + Nitrate (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.1
    Maximum:100.5
    Units:µg-at/L

    NO3
    Nitrate (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:100.1
    Units:µg-at/L

    PO4
    Phosphate (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.1
    Maximum:2.9
    Units:µg-at/L

    SiO3
    Silicate (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.6
    Maximum:99.4
    Units:µg-at/L

    Sta
    Station name of location sampled (Source: Producer defined)

    Character field

    StnID
    Station identification number (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:4
    Maximum:89
    Units:Integer

    S797Pigment
    The table lists station mean chlorophyll a, Fo/Fa ratio, mean phaeopigment and mean total pigment values at depths. There are 172 records. (Source: None.)

    MeanC
    Mean Chlorophyll a (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.13
    Maximum:301.39
    Units:µg/L

    MeanF
    Mean Fo/Fa ratio (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.47
    Maximum:5.44
    Units:FoFa ratio

    MeanP
    Mean Phaeopigments (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:13.07
    Units:µg/L

    SampD
    Depth of HydroLab p sensor, 0.0 depth = bucket sample. (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:53.2
    Units:Meters

    Sta
    Station name of location sampled (Source: Producer defined)

    Character field

    StnID
    Station identification number (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:4
    Maximum:90
    Units:Integer

    Total
    Total pigments (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.17
    Maximum:310.06
    Units:µg/L

    S797SeaBird
    The table lists SeaBird CTD cast station conductivity, density, oxygen percent saturation, fluorometer voltage, dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature and percent light transmission values at depths. There are 1772 records. (Source: None.)

    Cond
    Conductivity (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:3.046271
    Maximum:5.640157
    Units:S/m

    Density
    Density (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:8.2957
    Maximum:26.1003
    Units:sigma-t

    Depth
    Depth of SeaBird pressure sensor. (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.244
    Maximum:52.345
    Units:Meters

    DOPctSat
    Percent oxygen saturation. (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.65277
    Maximum:195.18154
    Units:Percent

    FluorV
    Fluorometer voltage. (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.7619
    Maximum:17.74
    Units:Voltage

    OxMg/L
    Dissolved oxygen (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.1114
    Maximum:12.88994
    Units:mg/L

    Sal
    Salinity (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:16.9964
    Maximum:36.9588
    Units:psu

    Sta
    Station name of location sampled. (Source: Producer defined.)

    Character field

    StnID
    Station identification number. (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:8
    Maximum:91
    Units:Integer

    Temp
    Temperature (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:18.5978
    Maximum:32.207
    Units:Degrees centigrade

    Xmiss
    Percent light transmission (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:39.72
    Maximum:97.41
    Units:Percent

    S797-Stn
    The table lists station date, depth, latitude, longitude, Secchi disk, time of HydroLab CTD cast, time of SeaBird CTD cast and time of suspended sediment sample values. There are 91 records. (Source: None.)

    Date
    Date station was sampled. (Date can be different for suspended sediment, HydroLab CTD cast and SeaBird CTD cast at same station). (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:19970723
    Maximum:19970729

    Fath
    Depth of Station as measured by RV Pelican's fathometer corrected for hull depth. (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:6
    Maximum:53.1
    Units:Meters

    Latitude
    Latitude of sampling station. (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:28.4987
    Maximum:29.706
    Units:Decimal degrees

    Longitude
    Longitude of sampling station. (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-93.6547
    Maximum:-89.4347
    Units:Decimal degrees

    Secc
    Secchi disk depth. (Source: Producer defined.)

    Character field. #.# = no sample. Shallowest measured sample was 0.9 meters. Deepest measured sample was greater than 16 meters.

    Sta
    Station name of location sampled. (Source: Producer defined.)

    Character field

    StnID
    Station identification number. (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:91
    Units:Integer

    TimeHL
    Time of beginning of HydroLab CTD cast as well as time of Pigment, PortaSal and Nutrient samples. (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:00:04:21
    Maximum:23:39:43
    Units:HH:mm:ss

    TimeSB
    Time of beginning of Seabird CTD cast. (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:00:15:00
    Maximum:23:58:00
    Units:HH:mm:ss

    TimeSS
    Time of suspended sediment sample. (Source: Producer defined.)

    Range of values
    Minimum:00:11:00
    Maximum:23:53:00
    Units:HH:mm:ss

    S797SuspSed
    The table lists station total suspended sediment values at the surface. There are 86 records. (Source: None.)

    Sta
    Station name of location sampled. (Source: Producer defined.)

    Character field

    StnID
    Station identification number. (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:90
    Units:Integer

    SuspSed
    Total suspended sediments in a surface bucket sample. (Source: Producer defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:3.1
    Maximum:50.22
    Units:mg/L

    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    The related data tables S797PortaSal, S797HydroLab, S797Nutrient, S797Pigment, S797SeaBird, S797-Stn and S797SuspSed contain spatial, temporal, physical and biological water quality data acquired during the July 1997 cruise. Each table contains a StnID field that can be used to key joins with other tables.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: For detailed attribute information contact Nancy Rabalais.

  8. What special analytical tools are available to help me understand this data set?

    Tool 0 of 14
    Autoanalyzer

    How to obtain this tool:

    How to access the tool:

    Tool_Access_Instructions: Unknown.

    Whom to contact for more information:

    Tom Oswald
    110 Coastal Studies Coastal Ecology Institute LSU
    Baton Rouge, LA 70803

    225 388-6700 (voice)
    Unknown

    Tool 0 of 14
    CTD

    How to obtain this tool:

    How to access the tool:

    Tool_Access_Instructions: Contact Sea-Bird Electronics

    Whom to contact for more information:

    Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc.
    1808 136th Place NE
    Bellevue, WA 98005
    USA

    425 643-9866 (voice)
    seabird@seabird.com

    Tool 0 of 14
    CTD

    How to obtain this tool:

    How to access the tool:

    Tool_Access_Instructions: Contact HydroLab Corporation

    Whom to contact for more information:

    Hydrolab Corporation
    8700 Cameron Road
    Austin, TX 78754
    US

    800-949-3766 (voice)
    techsupport@hydrolab.com

    Tool 0 of 14
    Portable salinometer

    How to obtain this tool:

    How to access the tool:

    Tool_Access_Instructions: Contact Guildine Instruments

    Whom to contact for more information:

    Guildline Instruments
    103 Commerce Street, Suite 160
    Lake Mary, FL 32746
    US

    800-232-4536 (voice)
    sales@guildline.com

    Tool 0 of 14
    Transmissometer

    How to obtain this tool:

    How to access the tool:

    Tool_Access_Instructions:
    Sea Tech, Inc. was acquired by Wet Labs, Inc. as of June 1, 1998. Contact Wet Labs, Inc.

    Whom to contact for more information:

    Wet Labs, Inc.
    620 Applegate St.
    Philomath, OR 97370-0518
    US

    541 929-5650 (voice)

    Tool 0 of 14
    Beckman type dissolved oxygen sensor.

    How to obtain this tool:

    How to access the tool:

    Tool_Access_Instructions: Contact Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc.

    Whom to contact for more information:

    Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc.
    1808 136th Place NE
    Bellevue, WA 98005
    USA

    425 643-9866 (voice)
    seabird@seabird.com

    Tool 0 of 14
    Conductivity sensor.

    How to obtain this tool:

    How to access the tool:

    Tool_Access_Instructions: Contact Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc.

    Whom to contact for more information:

    Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc.
    1808 136th Place NE
    Bellevue, WA 98005
    USA

    425 643-9866 (voice)
    seabird@seabird.com

    Tool 0 of 14
    Fluorometer

    How to obtain this tool:

    How to access the tool:

    Tool_Access_Instructions: Contact Chelsea Technologies Group

    Whom to contact for more information:

    Chelsea Technologies Group
    55 Central Avenue
    West Molesey, Surrey KT8 2QZ
    UK

    +44 (0)20 84819000 (voice)
    sales@chelsea.co.uk

    Tool 0 of 14
    Fathometer

    How to obtain this tool:

    How to access the tool:

    Tool_Access_Instructions: Contact Odom Hydrographic Systems, Inc.

    Whom to contact for more information:

    Odom Hydrographic Systems, Inc.
    1450 Seaboard Ave
    Baton Rouge, LA 70810
    USA

    225 769-3051 (voice)
    email@odomhydrographic.com

    Tool 0 of 14
    Global positioning system.

    How to obtain this tool:

    How to access the tool:

    Tool_Access_Instructions: Contact Trimble Navigation Ltd

    Whom to contact for more information:

    Trimble Navigation Ltd
    645 North Mary Ave.
    Sunnyvale, CA 94088-3642
    US

    408 481 800 (voice)

    Tool 0 of 14
    Pressure sensor.

    How to obtain this tool:

    How to access the tool:

    Tool_Access_Instructions: Contact Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc.

    Whom to contact for more information:

    Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc.
    1808 136th Place NE
    Bellevue, WA 98005
    USA

    425 643-9866 (voice)
    seabird@seabird.com

    Tool 0 of 14
    Titrator.

    How to obtain this tool:

    How to access the tool:

    Tool_Access_Instructions: Contact Mettler Toledo

    Whom to contact for more information:

    Mettler Toledo
    Mettler Toledo, Inc. 1900 Polaris Parkway
    Columbus, OH 43240
    USA

    1 800 523-5123 (voice)

    Tool 0 of 14
    Pump.

    How to obtain this tool:

    How to access the tool:

    Tool_Access_Instructions: Contact Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc.

    Whom to contact for more information:

    Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc.
    1808 136th Place NE
    Bellevue, WA 98005
    USA

    425 643-9866 (voice)
    seabird@seabird.com

    Tool 0 of 14
    Differential Global Positioning System

    How to obtain this tool:

    How to access the tool:

    Tool_Access_Instructions: Contact Starlink Inc.

    Whom to contact for more information:

    Starlink Incorporated
    500 Center Ridge Drive, Suite 600
    Austin, TX 78753
    US

    512 454-5511 (voice)


Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    Rabalais, N.N., Turner, R.E. and Wiseman Jr, W.J. Funding: Funds for the research were provided by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, the Louisiana Sea Grant Program, and Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium.

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Nancy N. Rabalais
    Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium
    Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium 8124 Hwy 56
    Chauvin, LA 70344
    USA

    985 851 2800 (voice)
    985 851 2874 (FAX)
    Unknown


Why was the data set created?

The physical, biological and chemical data collected are part of a long-term coastal Louisiana dataset. The goal is to understand physical and biological processes that contribute to the causes of hypoxia and use the data to support environmental models for use by resource managers.


How was the data set created?

  1. What methods were used to collect the data?

    Method 0 of 11
    Type: Field SeaBird

    The Sea-Bird CTD number of scans to average in the deck unit is set to one. At the beginning of each hydrocast the entire CTD/Rosette package was soaked while submerged 0.5m to 1.0m below the surface until pump flow and oxygen values observed via the Sea-Bird deck unit indicated the system was operating correctly.

    In order to minimize the effect of delays in oxygen sensor response time caused by temperature, sensor condition and plumbing configuration, the CTD package was lowered as close to dead slow as possible. The sensor packages were located below the Niskin bottles and rosette.

    At stations where the watch chief deemed the structure of the oxygen profile contained features useful in post-processing the oxygen data (AlignCTD), the CTD package was raised at the same speed it was lowered. At all other stations, the upcast is rapid in order to save time.

    Method 0 of 11
    Type: Field HydroLab

    Deployment: The HydroLab CTD was attached by chain to a lead weight. The weight was lowered to the bottom by hydrowire. With the weight on the bottom, the Hydrolab sonde was positioned just above the bottom. When the oxygen sensor stabilized, a data record of all the sensor values was stored electronically. The sonde was raised in approximately 0.5-meter increments, after D.O. sensor stabilization, data records were stored. After storing data for the few meters closest to the bottom, the Hydrolab was raised to two to three meters from the surface and a data record was saved. The sonde was raised, and records stored, in approximately 0.5-meter increments until finally a record was stored with the sonde submerged but as close as possible to the surface.

    Method 0 of 11
    Type: Field Pigment

    Water for chlorophyll analysis (30 - 100 ml) was filtered on board ship through GF/F (0.7 micron) filters, which are then fixed in 5 ml of DMSO/90% acetone (40/60) solution, allowed to extract for at least one hour in the dark, then measured pre- and post-acidification on a Turner Model 10 fluorometer.

    Method 0 of 11
    Type: Field PortaSal

    PortaSal Field: Water were collected in a triple-rinsed 500ml Nalgene jar from a twice-rinsed bucket of surface water. The jar lid was secured tightly to minimize evaporation.

    Method 0 of 11
    Type: Field Station Locations

    Field station locations: Stations were occupied along 13 generally North-South transects across the Louisiana coastal shelf. Station depths ranged from 6.0 to 53.1 meters. The objective was to delimit and describe the area of midsummer bottom dissolved oxygen less than 2 (mg/L). Due to limitations of equipment, time and funding, this was not always possible. Northern end stations of transects were chosen based on the survey vessel's minimum depth limits for each longitude. The Northern extent of hypoxia was not reached on thirteen transects. Optimally, one or two stations South of the Southern most station with bottom dissolved oxygen less than 2 (mg/L) were sampled. The limit of hypoxia on the Southern end of all transect was reached. The limit of hypoxia was not reached at stations M1 and M3 on the Western end of the survey.

    Method 0 of 11
    Type: Field Nutrient

    Care was taken that the collector's hands were clean and avoided touching the water. Gloves were worn when three replicate sample vials and caps were triple rinsed with sample before vial filling and closing. Samples were not filtered. The sample vials were frozen for later analysis in the laboratory.

    Method 0 of 11
    Type: Field Suspended Sediments

    Water (approximately 300 to 1000 ml) was filtered on board ship through pre-weighed GF/F filters, rinsed with distilled water. The filters were placed in Petri dishes and frozen for later analysis.

    Method 0 of 11
    Type: Lab Suspended Sediments

    Suspended sediment filters were dried at 40 - 60 degrees centigrade for 24 hours. Filters were weighed. Total suspended sediments was derived from volume filtered, pre-weight and post weight values.

    Method 0 of 11
    Type: Lab Nutrient

    Nitrogen and phosphorus are analyzed according to methods described in EPA publication EPA 600/4-79-020 (1979), method 350.1 for ammonia-N, method 353.2 for nitrate/nitrite-N, and method 365.1 for phosphate-P. Silicate is analyzed according to Technicon Industrial method 186-72 W/B (1977).

    Method 0 of 11
    Type: Field water samples

    Water for chlorophyll, nutrient analyses, Portasal salinity and suspended sediments was collected from the surface by twice-rinsed bucket, from mid-water in 5-l Niskin bottles on the Seabird CTD/rosette system and from bottom in a 5-l bottom tripping Niskin bottle secured in a frame with the Hydrolab Surveyor 3.

    Depth values of 0 indicate a bucket sample collected from the surface of the water. Deepest depths of water samples were from the bottom-tripping Niskin and correspond to the deepest depth recorded from the Hydrolab. Other depths indicate the p-sensor reading for 5-l Niskin bottles on the Seabird rosette. The Seabird p-sensor was located approx. 1 meter below the mid-point of the 5-l Niskin.

    Method 0 of 11
    Type: Lab Sea-Bird

    Sea-Bird CTD data were acquired and post processed using Seasoft version 4.225. All scans were processed without averaging or interpolation with a bin size of one scan. In order to improve alignment between oxygen sensor values and other CTD sensor values, the Seasoft module ALIGNCTD was used to determine which advance best compensated for the delay in oxygen sensor response time. When Seabird data were processed, dissolved oxygen was advanced relative to temperature and conductivity values: + 6.47 seconds.

    Data values reported are from downcasts. Downcast scans selected for each CTD station were chosen to illustrate: 1) data values as near to the surface as possible, 2) data values at whole meter increments, and 3) data values as close to the bottom as the CTD was lowered. In certain cases where data values of a parameter changed significantly between whole meter increments, 0.1- or 0.2-meter scans were selected.

  2. From what previous works were the data drawn?

  3. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: Unknown (process 1 of 1)
    Unknown.


How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    S797HydroLab: The Hydrolab Surveyor 3 Conductivity, pH and Oxygen sensors were serviced and calibrated before deployment and maintained in accordance with Hydrolab recommended procedures. The Sonde and Logger are returned to the factory at least annually for inspection and service. Percent oxygen saturation for Hydrolab values above 175% saturation were derived from the figure given in Green and Carritt, 1967, J. Mar. Res., 25(2):140-147.

    S797Nutrient: Nutrient analyses were conducted by Tom Oswald under the supervision of R. E. Turner.

    S797Pigment: The Turner Designs model 10 fluorometer was calibrated for chlorophyll a against a chemical supply house chlorophyll a standard measured on a spectrophotometer yearly (or more frequently if needed). During the cruise, the Fluorometer was blanked and calibrated daily in accordance with Turner Designs recommended procedures. Pigment measurements were supervised and quality controlled by Nancy Rabalais.

    S797SeaBird: Sea-Bird SBE 13-01 dissolved oxygen sensors, the Paroscientific Digiquartz® pressure sensor, the SBE 3-01/F temperature sensors , SBE 5-01 pumps, and the SBE 4-01/0 Conductivity sensors were factory tested and calibrated at Sea-Bird recommended intervals and maintained and serviced by RV Pelican Electronic Technical support staff in accordance with Sea-Bird procedures. The Sea Tech 5.0 cm Transmissometer was factory tested and calibrated at Sea Tech recommended intervals and maintained and serviced by RV Pelican Electronic Technical support staff in accordance with Sea Tech procedures. The Chelsea AQUATRAKA III Fluorometer was factory tested and calibrated at Chelsea Instruments recommended intervals and maintained and serviced by RV Pelican Electronic Technical support staff in accordance with Chelsea procedures.

    Oxygen sensors were calibrated using the procedures described in Seabird APPLICATION NOTE NO. 13-1, Rev. D. The Winkler Titration (OXFITW) oxygen value was determined chemically from replicate samples processed using a Mettler DL21 Titrator. Shipboard Winkler titrations during the cruise were used to develop a regression against CTD data, which were corrected if necessary. A correction was not needed for the July 1997 CTD oxygen data because there was good agreement of SeaBird CTD values with Winkler values and bottom values obtained from the HydroLab CTD.

    Winkler titrations were conducted under the supervision of Nancy Rabalais. Data reductions from the SeaBird were generated by Ben Cole and quality controlled by Nancy Rabalais.

    S797-Stn: Times and locations of operations were acquired from RV Pelican's Multiple Instrument Data Acquisition System (MIDAS) which was maintained by the ship's electronic staff. Navigational data were acquired from a Starlink differential GPS or a Trimble GPS with a Micronet Receiver Station with sub 5-meter accuracy. Station depths were logged from the ship’s Odom Echotrac II fathometer. The Secchi disk depths were measured by hand using standard protocol.

    S797PortaSal: The samples were analyzed in the lab by Guildline Instruments PortaSal, using Guildine methods. Salinity analyses were conducted by Jim Lee under the supervision of R. E. Turner.

    S797SuspSed: Suspended sediment concentrations were supervised and quality controlled by Nancy Rabalais.

    N.B. There may have been a problem with samples collected with the bottom tripping Niskin. Surface PortaSal samples were collected at each station in order to get precise salinity values for the bucket samples. On transect C in addition to surface salinity samples; bottom salinity samples were collected from the Niskin. The salinity samples were read after the cruise in the laboratory using both the HydroLab and the PortaSal.

    PortaSal salinity readings matched those taken in the lab with the Hydrolab. Surface salinity data recorded in the field also corresponded well with the PortaSal data. Bottom salinities recorded in the field with the Hydrolab and CTD, however, were an average of 4 ppt higher than those recorded in the lab with the Hydrolab and PortaSal using water taken from the horizontally mounted bottom-tripping Niskin. Lab values ranged between 1.0 and 6.7 ppt lower than field samples.

    Since the proper functioning of the Hydrolab was supported by the PortaSal and the CTD, the water from the horizontal Niskin does not appear to have been collected at the bottom. Smaller discrepancies (< 1 ppt) could be expected due to the Niskin not sampling at exactly the same location as the other instruments. Differences of

     3 ppt, however, are highly unlikely.  Water column data suggest
    
    that the horizontally mounted Niskin sample salinities would have been encountered above the bottom.

    The horizontal Niskin was used to collect bottom water samples at all stations, but bottom salinity samples were collected only for transect C. The possibility exists that other bottom samples also had salinities that differed from those recorded by the Hydrolab or CTD. The "bottom" samples may not represent bottom water.

    N. Rabalais performed an additional procedure in quality-control/quality-assurance by evaluating relationships between the data in S797PortaSal, S797HydroLab, S797Nutrient, S797Pigment, S797-Stn and S797SuspSed.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    Station positions are logged from the ship's differential GPS at the beginning of sampling operations. GPS manufacturer's accuracy claim is 1-5 meters 95% of the time. Wind, currents and tidal forces may move the ship from the beginning position.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    Unknown.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    At stations A'4, A'5, A7 and B6 maximum HydroLab p-sensor depth is greater than station depth reported by ship's Fathometer. This may be attributable to drift during sampling operations. Two density sigma-t values are negative.


How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
1. Dataset credit required. 2. Experience with similar datasets has shown that when data are plotted or used in further analysis, outlying values may occasionally be discovered. Please report any possible problems with the data to N. Rabalais.

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    Nancy N. Rabalais
    Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium
    Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium 8124 Hwy 56
    Chauvin, LA 70344
    USA

    985 851 2800 (voice)
    985 851 2874 (FAX)
    Unknown

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    I, the data requestor, agree to credit the data originators in any publications, reports or presentations generated from this data. I also accept that although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. I recognize that these data are best acquired from the originator and not from a secondary source. I recognize that careful attention must be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data. I will not hold Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

  5. Is there some other way to get the data?

    Contact distributor


Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 26-Feb-2002
Last Reviewed: 05-Jul-2002
To be reviewed: 15-Jun-2012

Metadata author:
Ben Cole
Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium
LUMCON 8124 Hwy 24
Chauvin, LA 70344
USA

985 851 2800 (voice)
985 851 2874 (FAX)
Unknown

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)


Generated by mp version 2.6.2 on Mon Sep 09 15:54:11 2002
Created using the Automated Cast-net Metadata Entry Tool