Line W Hydrography: CTD and Tracer Data from the Northwest Atlantic, 2007

From April 9th to 13th, 2007, 17 full-depth hydrographic casts were collected along Line W in the Northwest Atlantic. The dataset includes calibrated measurements of conductivity, temperature, pressure, dissolved oxygen, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs 11, 12, 113) from shipboard CTD sensors and rosette water samples. It forms part of a series of sections monitoring ocean properties between New England and Bermuda.

Use Cases

• Calibrating ocean circulation models based on direct measurements of temperature, salinity, and pressure profiles.
• Tracing the penetration and age of water masses using measured concentrations of CFCs 11, 12, and 113.
• Validating satellite-derived sea surface salinity data with in-situ bottle sample measurements.
• Studying the variability of the Deep Western Boundary Current using LADCP current profiler data.
• Assessing changes in ocean ventilation and carbon sequestration in the subtropical North Atlantic.

Strengths

• Includes 17 full-depth casts, providing vertical resolution from surface to seafloor.
• Sensor data for conductivity, temperature, and pressure is calibrated with shipboard analyses of salinity and dissolved oxygen from water samples.
• Contains measurements of transient tracers (CFCs), which are valuable for dating water masses.

Limitations

• Column names and specific data structure are not provided in the available metadata.
• Conflicting last-update dates exist between platforms (2007-04-13 vs. 2026-03-05), creating uncertainty about metadata maintenance.
• The dataset is a single, short-duration cruise from 2007, limiting analysis of long-term trends.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Data collected via shipboard CTD casts, LADCP, and rosette water samples from the R/V OCEANUS.

Time Range

2007-04-09 to 2007-04-13

Freshness

2026-03-05 22:26:55.866530

Geography

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