3,391 oceanographic profiles from 61 research cruises cover all continental shelves in North America. This product compiles two decades of discrete measurements for 14 inorganic carbon, oxygen, and nutrient variables, subjected to extensive quality control. It was created by NOAA's Ocean Acidification Program and published in 2021.
Use Cases
- Model coastal ocean acidification impacts based on pH and carbonate ion concentration data
- Analyze nutrient cycling and eutrophication patterns based on silicate, phosphate, and nitrate concentrations
- Study carbon storage and fluxes in coastal waters based on dissolved inorganic carbon and alkalinity measurements
- Assess oxygen levels and potential hypoxia in coastal regions based on dissolved oxygen concentration
- Validate regional biogeochemical models using quality-controlled, internally consistent coastal data
Strengths
- Includes 3,391 profiles from 61 cruises, providing substantial spatial coverage
- Contains data for 14 key ocean chemistry variables, enabling multi-parameter analysis
- Compiles two decades of measurements, offering a temporal perspective
- Data underwent internal consistency checks and outlier detection during quality control
Limitations
- Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
- The dataset lacks deep-water sampling (>1500m), limiting analysis of cross-over patterns
Provenance
- Source
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce
- Collection Method
- Compiled, quality controlled, and synthesized from discrete measurements by laboratories with known quality assurance.
- Time Range
- Covers two decades of measurements (likely 2000-2020).
- Freshness
- Last updated 2026-03-05 23:44:53.247592; freshness should be verified
- Geography
- U.S. coastal oceans, including west coast, east coast, Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska coast.