West Coast Ocean Acidification Cruise Data for Carbon and Biogeochemical Parameters, 2012

Discrete water sample and profile data from the second dedicated West Coast Ocean Acidification cruise (WCOA2012). The dataset includes dissolved inorganic carbon, total alkalinity, temperature, salinity, and other variables collected from 77 stations along the U.S. West Coast from September 4 to 17, 2012. This effort was conducted by the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program to obtain a synoptic snapshot of key parameters in the California Current System.

Use Cases

• Modeling coastal ocean acidification dynamics based on synoptic carbon and physical parameter data
• Analyzing spatial gradients of carbonate chemistry based on transect lines from Washington to California
• Studying temporal changes by comparing data with earlier 2007 and 2011 West Coast Carbon cruises
• Investigating biogeochemical relationships based on measured variables like chlorophyll, nutrients, and oxygen

Strengths

• Data collected from 77 discrete stations providing spatial coverage from northern Washington to southern California
• Designed as a synoptic snapshot for ocean acidification research, aligning with NOAA OAP objectives
• Includes time-series context by occupying some of the same transect lines as 2007 and 2011 cruises

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

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Data collected from discrete sample and profile observations using CTD, Niskin bottle, and other instruments aboard NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada.

Time Range

2012-09-04 to 2012-09-17

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-05 23:14:39.395595; freshness should be verified

Geography

U.S. West Coast California Current System