Coral Reef CO2 Buoy Data: Surface Water Carbon Chemistry in Hawaii, 2016-2024

Discrete bottle samples for dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity collected approximately every two weeks from four coral reef buoys in Hawaii. The dataset covers the period from January 2016 through December 2024, with more data available from the CRIMP-2, Ala Wai, and Kilo Nalu buoys than from Kaneohe due to challenging weather conditions. Data were collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Use Cases

• Monitor ocean acidification trends based on dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity measurements.
• Model coastal carbon cycling based on multi-year, multi-site surface water chemistry data.
• Assess spatial variability in carbonate chemistry across different reef sites in Hawaii.
• Validate and calibrate continuous sensor data from buoys using discrete bottle sample measurements.

Strengths

• Multi-year temporal coverage from 2016 through 2024.
• Spatial coverage from four distinct buoy locations in Hawaii.
• Data collection protocol described: samples taken approximately every two weeks from 20 cm below the sea surface.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data availability is uneven, with fewer samples from the Kaneohe station due to weather and sea state conditions.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Discrete bottle samples collected from buoys using coulometer, alkalinity titrator, and other instruments.

Time Range

2016-01-08 to 2024-12-04

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-05 23:26:34.386081; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Coral reef buoys at Ala Wai, CRIMP-2, Kaneohe, and Kilo Nalu in Hawaii, North Pacific Ocean.