Arabian Sea CTD and Mixed Layer Depth Data from 1994-1996 Monsoon Cycles
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Description
U.S. JGOFS Arabian Sea Process Study collected Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) data and mixed layer depths across eleven research cruises. Measurements were taken from October 1994 to January 1996, providing seasonal coverage of monsoon and inter-monsoon cycles southeast of Oman. The dataset includes temperature, conductivity, salinity, potential temperature, density, and derived mixed layer depths.
Use Cases
Analyze seasonal variation in mixed layer depth, calculated at density changes of 0.03 kg/m^3 and 0.125 kg/m^3, across monsoon cycles.
Model relationships between CTD parameters like temperature, salinity, and density (sigma-t) and optical measurements like beam attenuation and relative fluorescence.
Study the vertical structure of the water column using data points collected at 2 decibar (and 1 decibar for one cruise) pressure intervals.
Investigate carbon cycling dynamics by correlating physical CTD data with the intense monsoon-driven system described in the study.
Strengths
Seasonal coverage across the annual monsoon and inter-monsoon cycles over approximately sixteen months.
Includes multiple derived parameters per cast: temperature, conductivity, salinity, potential temperature, density, and potential density.
Most CTD casts include additional optical data: beam attenuation, backscattered light, and relative fluorescence.
Limitations
Temporal coverage is limited to a specific period from 1994 to 1996, with no recent updates.
Spatial coverage is focused on the area southeast of Oman, limiting geographic generalizability.
Specific sample size (number of casts or rows) and data completeness metrics are not provided in the description.
Provenance
Source
U.S. Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) Arabian Sea Process Study, data hosted by WHOI.
Collection Method
Measured via shipboard CTD casts during eleven cruises aboard the R/V Thomas G. Thompson.
Time Range
October 1994 to January 1996.
Freshness
Data collection ended in January 1996; it is a historical snapshot.
Geography
Arabian Sea, specifically the area southeast of Oman.
Data is in the public domain and was originally retrieved from the U.S. JGOFS website at WHOI; current link persistence is unknown. Mixed layer depths are provided as calculated values using two specific density change criteria.