PACIFICA: Ocean Interior Carbon and Hydrographic Profile Data from the North Pacific

PACIFICA project data from the OSHORO MARU cruise OS135-KNOT provides chemical and physical oceanographic measurements from the North Pacific Ocean. The dataset includes discrete sample and profile observations for dissolved inorganic carbon, alkalinity, pH, nutrients, and standard hydrographic variables collected between May 10 and 23, 2003. These data were collected by Nobuo Tsurushima of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) as part of an international synthesis effort on Pacific Ocean interior carbon.

Use Cases

• Modeling ocean carbon uptake and acidification based on dissolved inorganic carbon and alkalinity measurements.
• Studying nutrient limitation and biogeochemical cycles using nitrate, phosphate, silicate, and ammonium data.
• Calibrating satellite-derived sea surface data with in-situ salinity and water temperature profiles.
• Analyzing vertical ocean structure and water mass properties from CTD-derived hydrostatic pressure, temperature, and salinity profiles.

Strengths

• Includes a specific suite of 12 key carbon cycle and hydrographic variables explicitly listed across all sources.
• Data is associated with a defined international collaborative project (PACIFICA) supported by PICES.
• Collection methodology is documented, specifying the use of CTD, Coulometer, and bottle instruments.
• Has a precise temporal coverage of a 14-day research cruise in May 2003.

Limitations

• Critical metadata is missing or conflicting: row count, file size, column names, and license are unknown.
• Update dates conflict between platforms (2003-05-23 vs. 2026-03-05), suggesting potential metadata staleness or inconsistency.
• The dataset's scale (number of stations or profiles) is not provided, limiting assessment of its scope.

Provenance

Source

Nobuo Tsurushima of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST); data archived under NCEI Accession 0112274.

Collection Method

Discrete sample and profile observations collected using CTD, Coulometer for DIC measurement, and bottle instruments during a research cruise.

Time Range

2003-05-10 to 2003-05-23

Freshness

2026-03-05 22:59:35.831891

Geography

North Pacific Ocean