Discrete water column sample data from predefined locations (stations) of the West Florida Shelf collected in July and August, 2013

During each cruise, a 12-bottle rosette with YSI 6600 conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) sonde was deployed to various depths, at predetermined, specific sample locations (stations). On the downcast, a profile for the water column was recorded and the information was used to determine sample locations on the upcast. Samples were generally taken at the bottom, middle, and top of the station. Occasionally samples were taken at the chlorophyll maximum, as well as depths above and below. Samples were transported to the USGS Carbon Chemistry Laboratory in St. Petersburg, Florida or Dr. Robert Byrne's Laboratory at USF. Total alkalinity samples were analyzed with a custom automatic titration system consisting of either a USB-4000 or USB-2000 fiber optic spectrometer (Ocean Optics, Inc. USA), a 665 Dosimat auto-titrator with stir plate, and a purging system with high-purity N2 gas following the methods of Yao and Byrne (1998). Total carbon was analyzed using a CM5014 CO2 coulometer (UIC, Inc., USA) with Model CM5130 Acidification Modules following the coulometric methods of Dickson and others (2007). Precision for these methods was better than ± 2 micromole per kilogram (mol/kg) for TA and TCO2.

Discrete station sample data from both surveys were entered into a spreadsheet and merged with other data sources including: GPS from the ship, salinity and temperature from the CTD, as well as the lab results of total alkalinity and disolved inorganic carbon from the USGS St. Petersburg Carbon Analytical Laboratory. Processed files were saved in Comma Seperated Values (.csv) and Microsoft Excel Workbook (.xlsx) formats.

Added keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword.