Water-column environmental variables and accompanying discrete CTD measurements collected offshore the U.S. Mid- and South Atlantic (ver. 2.0, July 2022)

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Frequently anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
Water-column environmental variables and accompanying discrete CTD measurements collected offshore the U.S. Mid- and South Atlantic (ver. 2.0, July 2022)
Abstract:
Various water column variables, including salinity, dissolved inorganic nutrients, dissolved inorganic carbon, and radio-carbon isotopes were measured in samples collected using a Niskin-bottle rosette at selected depths from deepwater sites offshore the US Mid- and South Atlantic from September 2017 to April 2019. CTD (Conductivity Temperature Depth) data were also collected at each depth that a Niskin-bottle sample was collected and are presented along with the water sample data during the following five cruises: PC1704 (USGS field activity 2017-004-FA) in September 2017, ENG615 (USGS field activity 2018-024-FA) in June 2018, AT41 (USGS field activity 2018-042-FA) in August 2018, BMCC-2018 (USGS field activity 2018-053-FA) in October 2018, and RB1903 (USGS field activity 2019-620-FA) in April 2019.
This data release supersedes version 1.0, published in March 2021 at https://doi.org/10.5066/P9V7ODDR. Versioning details are documented in the accompanying VersionHistory_P9K2GOAL.txt file.
Supplemental_Information:
Additional information about the USGS field activities from which these data were derived is available online at:
http://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2017-004-FA http://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2018-024-FA http://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2018-042-FA http://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2018-053-FA http://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2019-620-FA
Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Prouty, Nancy G., and Baker, Miranda C., 2021, Water-column environmental variables and accompanying discrete CTD measurements collected offshore the U.S. Mid- and South Atlantic (ver. 2.0, July 2022): data release DOI: 10.5066/P9K2GOAL, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, California.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -83.9978
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -74.5177
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.2404
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 29.2495
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 01-Sep-2017
    Ending_Date: 18-Apr-2019
    Currentness_Reference:
    Ground condition at time data were collected.
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: comma-delimited text
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a Point data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • Point (207)
    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 Decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is D_WGS_1984.
      The ellipsoid used is D_WGS_1984.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257224.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    A comma-delimited text file with the first line being a header line.
    Comma separated values containing data points from CTD water column profiles with cruise, ship, site, station, cast, Niskin bottle, sample ID, date of collection, bottle depth (m), latitude, longitude, temperature, conductivity, pressure, oxygen, turbidity, fluorescence, altimeter, salinity, and ctd depth, and output from seawater geochemistry lab analysis from seawater sampling from individual Niskin bottles. (Source: Producer defined.)
    Cruise
    Name of cruise on which samples and measurements were collected. The name of the cruise may contain a ship abbreviation and year (BCMM-2018=Brooks McCall and [year]; PC-1704=R/V Pisces and [20XX year, month]; Ron Brown=RB1903 and [20XX year, month], AT41=R/V Atlantis and sequential cruise number), and ENG615 ADEON=R/V Endeavor, cruise EN615 for the Atlantic Deepwater Ecosystem Observatory Network [ADEON]). (Source: Producer defined) List of cruise names
    Ship
    Name of ship on which samples and measurements were collected. (Source: Producer defined) List of ship names
    Site
    Name of site for which samples and measurements were collected. (Source: Producer defined) List of site names
    CTD Station
    Name of CTD stations based on ship name (BCMM=Brooks McCall; PC=R/V Pisces; AT=R/V Atlantis) and/or CTD sequence (e.g., CTD12) where samples and measurements were collected. (Source: Producer defined) List of CTD stations.
    CTD number
    Number of CTD cast (Source: Producer defined.)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:13
    Units:unitless
    Resolution:1
    Niskin bottle number
    Number of Niskin bottle number (Source: Producer defined.)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:24
    Units:unitless
    Resolution:1
    Sample ID
    Sample ID based on ship abbreviation (BCMM=Brooks McCall; PC=R/V Pisces; AT=R/V Atlantis) and CTD number of cast where samples were collected, niskin bottle number (e.g., N3) or water sample number (e.g., W049); or site abbreviation (BLE=Blake Escarpment; JAX=Jacksonville; CHMB=Charleston Bump; SAV=Savannah; WIL=Wilmington; VAC=Virginia Inter-Canyon), and sequential sample number. (Source: Producer defined.) List of sampled IDs names
    Date of collection
    Date [MM/DD/YY] (Source: Producer defined.)
    Range of values
    Minimum:9/1/17
    Maximum:4/18/19
    Latitude
    Latitude of sample location (Source: Producer defined.)
    Range of values
    Minimum:29.2495
    Maximum:37.2404
    Units:decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.0001
    Longitude
    Longitude of sample location (Source: Producer defined.)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-83.9978
    Maximum:-74.5177
    Units:decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.0001
    Depth
    Water depth of deep-sea coral collection (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:2267
    Units:meters
    Resolution:1
    Temperature
    Temperature [ITS-90, deg C]. Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-1.3468
    Maximum:30.0084
    Units:degrees Celsius
    Resolution:0.0001
    Conductivity
    Conductivity (mS/cm). Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:32.83334
    Maximum:60.24224
    Units:millisiemens per centimeter
    Resolution:0.00001
    Pressure
    Pressure (decibars). Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:5.034
    Maximum:1390.201
    Units:decibars
    Resolution:0.001
    Sbeox0
    Oxygen, SBE 43 (mg/l). Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:3.7014
    Maximum:21.7075
    Units:milligrams per liter
    Resolution:0.0001
    Turbidity
    Turbidity, WET Labs ECO [NTU]. Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.0041
    Maximum:29.5419
    Units:Nephelometricy Turbidity Units
    Resolution:0.0001
    Fluorescence
    Fluorescence, WET Labs ECO-AFL/FL [mg/m^3]. Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.0006
    Maximum:10.3949
    Units:miligrams per cubic meter
    Resolution:0.0001
    AltM
    Altimeter [m] (Source: producer defined. Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured.)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.04
    Maximum:1480.89
    Units:meters
    Resolution:0.01
    Salinity
    Salinity, Practical [PSU]. Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:31.7899
    Maximum:36.9497
    Units:practical salinity units (PSU)
    Resolution:0.0001
    DepSM
    Depth [salt water, m]. Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:2.014
    Maximum:2193.720
    Units:meters
    Resolution:0.001
    Phosphate
    Dissolved inorganic phosphate concentration. Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: standard reporting value in inorganic chemistry)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:3.11
    Units:micromole per liter of seawater
    Resolution:0.01
    Silicate
    Dissolved inorganic silicate concentration. (Source: standard reporting value in inorganic chemistry)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.12
    Maximum:19.05
    Units:micromole per liter of seawater
    Resolution:0.01
    Nitrate+Nitrite
    Dissolved inorganic nitrate and nitrite concentration. (Source: standard reporting value in inorganic chemistry)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:29.97
    Units:micromole per liter of seawater
    Resolution:0.01
    ammonium
    Dissolved inorganic ammonium concentration. Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: standard reporting value in inorganic chemistry.)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:1.23
    Units:micromole per liter of seawater
    Resolution:0.01
    Nitrate delta-N-15
    delta-N-15 is a measure of the ratio of stable isotopes Nitrogen-15:Nitrogen-14 in nitrate, reported in parts per thousand (per mil). Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: standard reporting value in isotope chemistry)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.86
    Maximum:12.87
    Units:parts per thousand (per mil)
    Resolution:0.01
    Nitrate delta-O-18
    delta-O-18 is a measure of the ratio of stable isotopes Oxygen-18:Oxygen-16 in nitrate, reported in parts per thousand (per mil). Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: standard reporting value in isotope chemistry)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.51
    Maximum:2.52
    Units:parts per thousand (per mil)
    Resolution:0.01
    Water delta-O-18
    delta-O-18 is a measure of the ratio of stable isotopes Oxygen-18:Oxygen-16 in water, reported in parts per thousand (per mil). Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: standard reporting value in isotope chemistry)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.75
    Maximum:1.16
    Units:parts per thousand (per mil)
    Resolution:0.01
    water delta-D
    delta-D is a measure of the ratio of stable isotopes Hydrogen (deuterium)-2:Hydrogen-1 in water, reported in parts per thousand (per mil). Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: standard reporting value in isotope chemistry)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-6.86
    Maximum:8.39
    Units:parts per thousand (per mil)
    Resolution:0.01
    Fraction Modern
    Fraction modern is a measurement of the deviation of the delta-Carbon-14/delta-Carbon-12 ratio of a sample from modern carbon (Stuiver and Polach, 1977). Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: defined in Stuiver and Polach (1977))
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.9647
    Maximum:1.0718
    Units:unitless
    Resolution:0.0001
    Fraction Modern (error)
    Fraction modern (error) is a measurement of the deviation of the delta-Carbon-14/delta-Carbon-12 ratio of a sample from modern carbon (Stuiver and Polach, 1977). Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: defined in Stuiver and Polach (1977))
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.0019
    Maximum:0.0031
    Units:unitless
    Resolution:0.0001
    Conventional Radiocarbon Age
    Conventional Radiocarbon Age calculated using the radiocarbon decay equation (Stuiver and Polach, 1977). >Modern indicates a FM>1 with sample age after 1950 (Stuiver and Polach, 1977). Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: defined in Stuiver and Polach (1977))
    Range of values
    Minimum:35
    Maximum:290
    Units:years
    Resolution:5
    Conventional Radiocarbon Age (error)
    Standard error for Conventional Radiocarbon Age. Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: Producer defined.)
    Range of values
    Minimum:15
    Maximum:20
    Units:years
    Resolution:1
    delta-C-13
    delta-C-13 is a measure of the ratio of stable isotopes Carbon-13:Carbon-12, reported in parts per thousand (per mil). Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: standard reporting value in isotope chemistry)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.40
    Maximum:0.99
    Units:parts per thousand (per mil)
    Resolution:0.01
    Delta-C-14
    The relative difference between the absolute international standard (base year 1950) and sample activity corrected for age and delta-Carbon-13. Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: defined in Stuiver and Polach (1977))
    Range of values
    Minimum:-43.20
    Maximum:63.01
    Units:parts per thousand (per mil)
    Resolution:0.01
    Dissolved Inorganic Carbon
    The sum of inorganic carbon species in a solution (carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, bicarbonate anion, and carbonate. Values of -9999 indicate the parameter was not measured. (Source: standard reporting value in inorganic chemistry)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.70
    Maximum:2.15
    Units:millimole per kilogram
    Resolution:0.01
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    The first line of the comma-delimited text file is a header line.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: U.S. Geological Survey

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Nancy G. Prouty
    • Miranda C. Baker
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    Ken Marchus (University of California, Santa Barbara), John Schiff and Chris Maupin (Texas A&M), Natasha Vokhshoori (University of California, Santa Cruz)
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator
    2885 Mission Street
    Santa Cruz, CA

    831-427-4747 (voice)
    pcmsc_data@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

These samples were collected as part of the Deep Sea Exploration to Advance Research on Coral/Canyon/Cold seep Habitats (DEEP SEARCH) study, a multiyear, multi-agency campaign to characterize the deep-sea ecosystems to better understand the distribution of sensitive seafloor communities to inform potential offshore energy development and other deep-sea management.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    nutrients (source 1 of 4)
    University of California at Santa Barbara, Marine Science Institute, 2019, Seawater nutrient analyses.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: seawater lab samples
    Source_Contribution:
    Flow injection analysis for dissolved nutrient (nitrate+nitrite, ammonium, phosphate, and silicate) concentrations.
    Nitrate delta-N-15 and delta-0-18 (source 2 of 4)
    University of California, Davis Stable Isotope Facility, 2020, nitrate stable nitrogen isotope analysis.

    Type_of_Source_Media: seawater lab samples
    Source_Contribution:
    The denitrifier method of Sigman and others (2001) was used, and isotope values were measured using a Thermo Finnigan MAT 252 coupled with a GasBench II interface. Isotope values are presented in per mil with respect to AIR for delta-N-15 and VSMO for delta-O-18.
    radiocarbon (source 3 of 4)
    National Ocean Sciences Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (NOSAMS) facility, 2019, Seawater radiocarbon analysis.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: seawater lab samples
    Source_Contribution:
    An accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) was used to measure inorganic radiocarbon
    Oxygen (delta-O-18) and Hydrogen (delta-D) analysis of water (source 4 of 4)
    Texas A&M University at College Station Stable Isotope Geosciences Facility, 2020, Seawater isotope analysis.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: seawater lab samples
    Source_Contribution:
    A Picarro Isotopic Water Analyzer was used to measure stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen in water.
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 2020 (process 1 of 4)
    Water samples were collected using a Niskin bottle rosette apparatus at different depths throughout the water column. Simultaneous conductivity, salinity, and depth (CTD) data were collected with a SeaBird SBE-9 CTD profiler at each Niskin bottle sample depth. The CTD data were collected with a SeaBird SBE-9 CTD Profile. Data collected when instruments were out of the water were removed during post-processing. Data from depths at which Niskin bottles were tripped was copied from individual cruise datafiles into a collated datafile. Conductivity measurements from ENG615 cruise were converted from siemens per meter to millisiemens per centimeter. Oxygen concentrations from ENG615 were converted from millimolar per liter to milligram per liter using the molar mass of oxygen gas. Oxygen concentrations from the AT41 and RB1903 cruises were converted from micromolar per kilogram to milligram per liter using the molar mass of oxygen gas and the density of seawater measured by the CTD. PC1704 pressure values were converted from pressure square inch to decibars.
    Date: 2020 (process 2 of 4)
    Seawater samples were analyzed by several different labs (see Sources) for different variables. Data from all seawater lab analyses were combined into a single document. Empty cells are designated by -9999 indicating no analysis was performed. Data sources used in this process:
    • nutrients
    • radiocarbon
    • Nitrate delta-N-15 and delta-0-18
    • Oxygen (delta-O-18) and Hydrogen (delta-D)
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • lab data
    Date: 2020 (process 3 of 4)
    CTD data and water column variables were combined based on depths into a single document (DEEPSEARCH_CTD_BTLDATA_v2.0.csv). Data sources used in this process:
    • lab data
    • CTD data
    Date: Jun-2022 (process 4 of 4)
    Correction was made to version 1.0 data to correct the attribute column header from “Ammonia” to “Ammonium.” No data values were changed. Versioning details are documented in the accompanying VersionHistory_P9K2GOAL.txt file.
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Stuiver, M., and Polach, H.A., 1977, Discussion reporting of 14C data.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Stuiver, M., and Polach, H.A., 1977, Discussion reporting of 14C data: Radiocarbon, v. 19, pp. 355-363.
    Sigman, D.M., Casciotti, K.L., Andreani, M., Barford, C., Galanter, M., and Bohlke, J.K., 2001, A bacterial method for the nitrogen isotopic analysis of nitrate in seawater and freshwater.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Sigman, D.M., Casciotti, K.L., Andreani, M., Barford, C., Galanter, M., Bohlke, J.K., 2001, A bacterial method for the nitrogen isotopic analysis of nitrate in seawater and freshwater: Analytical Chemistry, v. 73, 4145-4153.

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    All geochemistry data were calibrated against known standards. The CTD was calibrated according to the Sea-Bird user manual.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    A formal accuracy assessment of the horizontal positional information in the data set has not been conducted. The horizontal accuracy was determined with the ships’ GPS navigation, with a stated accuracy of less than 5 m.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    A formal accuracy assessment of the vertical positional information in the data set has not been conducted. Depth was determined using a SeaBird SBE-4 CTD digiquartz pressure sensor with a stated accuracy of 0.015 percent.
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Dataset is considered complete for the information presented, as described in the abstract. Users are advised to read the metadata for each part of this data release carefully for additional details. Dataset is considered complete for the information presented, as described in the abstract. Users are advised to read the metadata for each part of this data release carefully for additional details.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    No formal logical accuracy tests were conducted.

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 USGS-authored or produced data and information are in the public domain from the U.S. Government and are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize and acknowledge the U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as the originators of the dataset and in products derived from these data.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase
    Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302
    Denver, CO

    1-888-275-8747 (voice)
    sciencebase@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? These data are available in a .csv file (DEEPSEARCH_CTD_BTLDATA_v2.0.csv) which contains seawater chemical analysis and CTD data for all collected water samples.
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display 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.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    These data can be viewed with any text editor software.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 13-Jul-2022
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator
2885 Mission Street
Santa Cruz, CA

831-427-4747 (voice)
pcmsc_data@usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

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