Scotian Shelf Oceanographic Nutrient and Plankton Conditions for 2024

2024 nutrient and plankton conditions were assessed in the context of physical observations in the Maritimes Region. The dataset includes measurements of nitrate, silicate, phosphate, chlorophyll-a, and abundances of species like Calanus finmarchicus and Pseudocalanus spp. It was produced by Fisheries and Oceans Canada scientists and published in 2025.

Use Cases

• Analyze trends in surface and subsurface nitrate inventories at Prince 5 station over ten consecutive years.
• Compare chlorophyll-a levels measured in situ and from satellite remote sensing across the Scotian Shelf and Gulf of Maine.
• Model the timing and intensity of spring and fall phytoplankton blooms in eastern, central, and western areas.
• Assess anomalies in Calanus finmarchicus and Pseudocalanus spp. abundance at specific stations like Halifax-2 and Prince 5.
• Evaluate record-low inventories of nitrate, silicate, and phosphate at the Cabot Strait section.

Strengths

• 58-page technical report provides detailed contextual analysis of the data.
• Data covers multiple oceanographic variables including nutrients, chlorophyll, and zooplankton across a defined region.
• Includes time-series analysis for specific stations, such as ten consecutive years of nitrate data at Prince 5.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, column names, and sample data are unavailable, limiting direct analytical use.
• The dataset is confined to a single year (2024) for most comparisons, reducing longitudinal analysis scope.
• Geographic coverage is limited to the Scotian Shelf and Eastern Gulf of Maine.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Collection Method

Assessed from in-situ measurements and satellite remote sensing.

Time Range

2024.

Freshness

Data reflects conditions observed in 2024, with the report published in 2025.

Geography

Scotian Shelf and Eastern Gulf of Maine, Maritimes Region.