OCSv3 Description:
The OCSv3 consists of 4 sensors, 1 pump, 1 submersible data logger, a solar power package, and is linked to the satellite telemetry package of the USF COMPS Buoy C12. The equipment models are: Pro-Oceanus CO2-Pro CV for measurement of carbon dioxide concentration; Sea-Bird SeapHOx sensor for measurement of pH on the total scale; Sea-Bird SBE 37-SMP-ODO MicroCAT C-T-ODO (P) Recorder for measurement of dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature and depth; Sea-Bird/WET Labs ECO-PAR for measurement of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR); Sea-Bird STOR-X data logger, and a Sea-Bird SBE-5P submersible pump. Sensor resolution is as follows: Pro-Oceanus CO2-Pro 0.01 ppm for CO2; 1 mbar for PRESS(IRGA); SeapHOx 0.004 pH; Sea-Bird SBE 37-SMP-ODO MicroCAT C-T-ODO (P) Recorder 0.0001 degrees C for temperature; 0.00001 siemens for conductivity (used by the instrument to calculate salinity) and 0.002% of full scale range; 0.001 mg/L for dissolved oxygen; and ECO-PAR 14-bit digital output resolution.
The sensors were packaged as a single unit in a custom designed platform that was mounted on an oceanographic observation system buoy. The Sea-Bird SBE-5P submersible pump pulls water through a stainless copper mesh strainer and pumps the water to the CO2-Pro CV for CO2 measurement. The sensors not requiring flow are located in close proximity to the pump intake and measure ambient water. The STOR-X and sensors are powered by a 90-watt solar panel and rechargeable battery system.
The STOR-X distributes power to the attached sensors according to a custom schedule. The OCSv3 operates 24 hours per day, with a sampling acquisition period once every hour at the half-hour mark prefaced by a 20-minute warm up period for the CO2-Pro CV. The sampling acquisition period runs for approximately 00:01:10. The CO2 sensor re-zeros every 8 hours and collects approximately 35 CO2 and PRESS(IRGA) measurements during each sampling period. The ECO-PAR sensor collects approximately 51 PAR measurements per sample period. The SeapHOx collects 1 pH measurement per sample period. The SBE 37 collects 1 conductivity, temperature, dissolved oxygen and pressure measurements per sampling period.
Data Storage and Preprocessing:
Data are managed and stored by the STOR-X data logger. Acquired data are saved into sensor-specific .raw files that contain the information for each Julian day. Downloading this data from the site occurs at regular intervals to ensure the sensors’ operational status. Downloading these .raw files from the STOR-X requires the use of STORXCom software to communicate between the STOR-X and a computer. Once the data are downloaded, SatCon version 1.5 Data Conversion program converts the .raw files into .dat files and applies any processing required. Individual sensor Julian day .dat files are then combined into one large multi-day dataset per sensor. These files are opened in Microsoft (MS) Excel and saved in the .xlsx format. The combined multiday files contain headers for each individual day file that are strung together; these must be manually removed in MS Excel leaving only the top header line. Multi-day files are then processed through a custom averaging code written in Pearl, designed by David Zawada (USGS). This code averages the multiple measurements from each sensor per sampling period to generate a single averaged value for each sensor per sampling period, reported at the start time of the sampling period and day. In addition to averaging parameter values, the code also provides the mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum for each sampling period. Averaged data for each sensor parameter are then manually merged into a single .xlsx file for further processing. Data files are deleted from the STOR-X after confirmation of successful download and storage of parameter data. Additionally, processed data are transferred hourly from the STOR-X through a satellite telemetry system and are available online at
http://ocgtds.marine.usf.edu:8080/thredds/catalog/COMPS_C12_Month_USGS/catalog.html.
Advanced Data Processing:
Preliminary QA/QC of sensor data are performed after averaged data are compiled into .xlsx files and after advanced data processing is performed. Parameter data are plotted to examine sensor performance and identify non-trending outliers. Cross validation of sensor parameters is performed to further analyze outliers and identify questionable or bad data points. Further validation of pH and CO2 sensor data is performed by comparing sensor values to values measured in discrete water samples. Discrete pH is measured using spectrophotometric measurements. CO2 is calculated from discrete measurements of pH and dissolved inorganic carbon (performed using carbon coulometry methods), or from discrete measurements of pH and total alkalinity (measured spectrophotometrically). Measurement of sensor data is validated with discrete data approximately every three months.
