Monthly oceanographic cruises in the Western Gulf of Maine have collected data since April 2002. The dataset includes zooplankton samples from nets like MOCNESS, ring nets, and bongo nets, alongside profiles of temperature, salinity, chlorophyll fluorescence, and water chemistry. Data collection is managed by the Gulf of Maine Coastal Ocean Observing Center and is ongoing.
Use Cases
- Analyze zooplankton abundance and distribution trends over time from MOCNESS, ring net, and bongo net samples.
- Correlate zooplankton data with concurrent environmental variables like temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll fluorescence profiles.
- Model nutrient cycles (nitrate, phosphate, silicate) and carbon system parameters (pH, total alkalinity, DOC) against biological observations.
- Study spatial ecological gradients across established transects like the Coastal Transect and Wilkinson Transect.
- Investigate phytoplankton community composition via HPLC pigment analysis from collected water samples.
Strengths
- Long-term time-series data collection ongoing since April 2002.
- Multi-faceted data combining biological samples with physical, chemical, and optical measurements.
- Spatially structured sampling across two established transects with multiple station types.
Limitations
- Specific sample counts, row numbers, and file sizes are unknown.
- Potential for spatial bias as sampling is concentrated in the Western Gulf of Maine.
- Unknown data completeness and consistency across the full time range.
Provenance
- Source
- Gulf of Maine Coastal Ocean Observing Center, organization SCIOPS.
- Collection Method
- Data acquired from monthly research cruises using MOCNESS, ring nets, bongo nets, and oceanographic sensors.
- Time Range
- April 2002 to present.
- Freshness
- Data collection is described as ongoing up to the present.
- Geography
- Western Gulf of Maine, specifically the Coastal Transect and Wilkinson Transect.