Chlorophyll Fluorescence Time Series from Southern Vancouver Island

A chlorophyll fluorescence time series was collected at various coastal locations around Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada from 2004 to 2014. The dataset includes measurements of chlorophyll concentration and turbidity, recorded by a Wetlabs ECO fluorometer programmed to take groups of 5 measurements every 30 minutes.

Use Cases

• Analyze chlorophyll fluorescence time series patterns to monitor phytoplankton concentrations in coastal waters.
• Correlate turbidity measurements with chlorophyll readings to study water quality and light attenuation.
• Model seasonal phytoplankton dynamics using the 2004-2014 time series from multiple deployment locations.
• Investigate sensor fouling mitigation by analyzing data consistency before and after the copper wiper cleaning cycles.

Strengths

• Time series spans a decade (2004-2014), providing a long-term view of phytoplankton dynamics.
• Data includes two key water quality parameters: chlorophyll fluorescence and turbidity.
• Measurements were taken at a high temporal resolution (groups of 5 readings every 30 minutes).
• Deployments occurred at various locations around the coast of Vancouver Island, offering spatial coverage.

Limitations

• The specific number of data rows, columns, and file sizes are unknown, complicating project planning.
• Deployment schedule was intermittent ('every few months'), leading to potential temporal gaps in the time series.
• Data collection depended on sensor availability, which may introduce inconsistencies in measurement frequency or location.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

A Wetlabs ECO fluorometer was deployed on buoys or docks, programmed to take groups of 5 measurements every 30 minutes. A copper wiper was used to reduce sensor fouling.

Time Range

2004-2014

Freshness

The dataset metadata was last updated in March 2026, but the underlying time series data covers 2004-2014.

Geography

Various coastal locations around Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada (Pacific region).