Northwest Atlantic Hydrographic Section with Chlorofluorocarbon Measurements

Fifty-four full-depth hydrographic casts were collected along Line W from the New England shelf toward Bermuda. The dataset includes calibrated CTD measurements of pressure, temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen, plus water sample analyses for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs 11, 12, 113). Data was gathered by NOAA during a 2004 research cruise on the R/V OCEANUS.

Use Cases

• Calibrating ocean circulation models using direct measurements of temperature, salinity, and pressure profiles.
• Tracking the penetration of anthropogenic chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs 11, 12, 113) into the deep ocean as climate tracers.
• Analyzing the relationship between dissolved oxygen levels and water mass age or biological activity.
• Studying the physical properties of water masses along a transect from the continental shelf to the open ocean (Line W).

Strengths

• Dataset includes 54 full-depth casts, providing detailed vertical profiles.
• CTD sensor data for conductivity, temperature, and pressure is calibrated with shipboard salinity and dissolved oxygen analyses from water samples.
• Contains measurements of transient tracers (CFCs), which are valuable for dating water masses and studying ocean ventilation.

Limitations

• Column names and exact row counts are not provided by any source, limiting immediate analysis.
• Sources conflict on the 'last updated' date: datagov lists 2026-03-05, while nasa_earthdata lists 2004-05 05.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Ship-based CTD casts, LADCP profiles, and rosette water sample collection and analysis.

Time Range

2004-04-30 to 2004-05-05

Freshness

2026-03-05 23:31:58.132179

Geography

Northwest Atlantic, along Line W from the continental shelf south of New England toward Bermuda.