Arabian Sea Calcite and Photosynthesis Measurements from 1994-1996 Cruises

Eleven research cruises aboard the R/V Thomas G. Thompson measured suspended calcite concentration, calcification, and photosynthesis rates in the Arabian Sea over sixteen months. The U.S. Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) collected this data to understand ocean carbon cycling during monsoon cycles. Measurements were taken from water samples at various depths on cruises TTN-049 and TTN-053 using carbon-14 incubation techniques.

Use Cases

• Model calcite production rates using measured calcification and suspended calcite concentration data.
• Analyze the relationship between photosynthesis rate and calcification rate from carbon-14 fixation measurements.
• Study seasonal variability in carbon cycling by correlating measurement data with monsoon and inter-monsoon cruise timing.
• Investigate vertical profiles of calcite concentration using data from samples collected at various depths.

Strengths

• Data provides seasonal coverage of the annual monsoon and inter-monsoon cycles over sixteen months.
• Measurements include three key biogeochemical variables: calcite concentration, calcification rate, and photosynthesis rate.

Limitations

• Sample size is limited to two specific cruises (TTN-049 and TTN 053) out of the eleven conducted.
• Data is temporally stale, with the last update in January 1996, limiting analysis of recent trends.

Provenance

Source

U.S. Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) website at WHOI.

Collection Method

Water samples collected at various depths, incubated with carbon-14, filtered, and radioactivity measured to determine fixation rates.

Time Range

October 1994 to January 1996.

Freshness

null

Geography

Arabian Sea, southeast of Oman.