1996 cruise data from the RV Polarstern includes 14 variables such as dissolved inorganic carbon, alkalinity, pH, nutrients, and chlorofluorocarbons. The data were collected by researchers from Gothenburg University and others using CTD and bottle instruments. Measurements cover the Arctic Ocean from July to September 1996 as part of the CARINA synthesis project.
Use Cases
- Calculate ocean acidification metrics like aragonite saturation state using pH, alkalinity, dissolved inorganic carbon, temperature, and salinity columns.
- Model Arctic water mass ventilation and age by analyzing Chlorofluorocarbon-11 (CFC-11) and Chlorofluorocarbon-12 (CFC-12) tracer concentrations.
- Investigate nutrient limitations for primary production by correlating nitrate, phosphate, and silicate measurements with other biogeochemical variables.
- Calibrate regional ocean carbon models using profile data for dissolved inorganic carbon, potential temperature (theta), and hydrostatic pressure.
Strengths
- Includes 14 key chemical and physical variables per observation for carbon system analysis.
- Data is part of the CARINA merged, internally consistent dataset for biogeochemical investigations.
Limitations
- Single cruise temporal coverage limited to a 2-month period in 1996, lacking long-term trends.
- Geographic scope is restricted to specific Arctic Ocean tracks from one research vessel.
- Sample size and row count are unknown, potentially limiting statistical power.
Provenance
- Source
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) via NASA Earthdata.
- Collection Method
- Discrete sample and profile observations collected using CTD and bottle instruments.
- Time Range
- 1996-07-12 to 1996-09-06
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Arctic Ocean, from cruise 06ARKXII and AQN12 of the RV Polarstern.