Amazon River Plume Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling Study

ANACONDAS research studied the Amazon River plume's effect on carbon and nitrogen cycling in the western tropical North Atlantic. Fieldwork onboard the RV Knorr measured stations along a salinity gradient from 16 to 36 ppt. The dataset is managed by NASA and was last updated in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the relationship between salinity gradients and phytoplankton bloom dynamics.
• Quantifying carbon dioxide drawdown from the atmosphere associated with river plume productivity.
• Studying the fate of primary production and carbon export in the tropical North Atlantic.
• Investigating factors controlling nitrogen fixation by diatom symbioses in plume waters.

Strengths

• Data collection targeted a specific, ecologically significant salinity gradient from 16 to 36 ppt.
• Research is supported by NASA, indicating a structured scientific mission.
• Dataset is present on multiple platforms, suggesting recognized scientific value.

Limitations

• Core dataset facts (row count, column names, file size) are unavailable across all sources.
• License is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' on Data.gov, with no details on NASA Earthdata.
• No author or specific collection dates are provided.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Fieldwork conducted onboard the RV Knorr in the western tropical North Atlantic Ocean.

Time Range

null

Freshness

2026-03-13 18:23:45.338005

Geography

Western tropical North Atlantic Ocean, specifically within and adjacent to the Amazon River plume.