Coastal Ocean Acidification Measurements in the North Atlantic, 2018

The North Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and Mid-Atlantic Bight were sampled from 2018-11-02 to 2018-11-12 during the R/V Hugh R. Sharp cruise S11802. This dataset contains dissolved inorganic carbon, total alkalinity, pH, and nutrient variables measured from water samples collected at three depths (surface, mid-depth, and near bottom) at select stations. Data were collected in support of NOAA's Ocean Acidification Program and analyzed by the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory and the University of Maine.

Use Cases

• Monitor short- and long-term coastal ocean acidification trends based on inorganic carbon and pH measurements.
• Study the effects of changing carbon chemistry on calcifying organisms like corals and shellfish based on hydrographic parameters.
• Analyze seasonal or spatial variability in nutrient concentrations and carbonate system parameters in the northeastern Atlantic shelf.
• Model the relationship between atmospheric carbon dioxide and ocean pH reduction in coastal ecosystems.

Strengths

• Data collected over a specific 10-day cruise from 2018-11-02 to 2018-11-12, providing a temporal snapshot.
• Samples were analyzed by authoritative laboratories (AOML and University of Maine) for key inorganic carbon variables.
• Profile data includes measurements from three distinct water column depths (surface, mid-depth, and near bottom).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale modeling.
• Data coverage is limited to a specific cruise and region, which may not be representative of broader trends.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Profile and discrete sample observations using CTD, Niskin bottle and other instruments from a research vessel.

Time Range

2018-11-02 to 2018-11-12

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03 05 23:24:33.653330; freshness should be verified.

Geography

North Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, Mid-Atlantic Bight