Oceanic Carbon Dioxide and Halocarbon Measurements from WOCE A05 Cruise

Measurements of oceanic carbon dioxide and halocarbons (CFCs) were collected during the WOCE A05 research cruise in the North Atlantic Ocean. The cruise was conducted by scientists F. Millero, A. Rios, and W. Smethie as part of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment from July 14 to August 15, 1992.

Use Cases

• Analyze the relationship between oceanic carbon dioxide partial pressure and CFC-11/CFC-12 concentrations to study gas exchange.
• Map the spatial distribution of halocarbon tracers across the cruise transect from -80W to -15W longitude to infer water mass ages.
• Correlate measured carbon dioxide parameters with concurrent physical oceanographic data (e.g., temperature, salinity) for carbon system modeling.
• Use the CFC measurements as a tracer to validate or calibrate ocean circulation models for the North Atlantic basin.
• Establish a 1992 baseline for anthropogenic carbon and halogenated compound inventories in the region between +26N and +24N latitude.

Strengths

• Data provides a precise temporal snapshot from a 33-day cruise in July-August 1992.
• Spatial coverage is well-defined across a significant North Atlantic transect from -80W to -15W longitude.

Limitations

• Dataset is a single cruise snapshot from 1992, lacking temporal continuity or seasonal representation.
• Unknown sample size and measurement depth profiles limit analysis of vertical ocean gradients.
• Data availability and specific measurement parameters (e.g., pCO2, CFC concentrations) are not detailed in the metadata.

Provenance

Source

World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) project, collected by scientists F. Millero, A. Rios (carbon dioxide) and W. Smethie (halocarbons).

Collection Method

In-situ measurements taken during the WOCE A05 research cruise.

Time Range

1992-07-14 to 1992-08-15

Freshness

1992-08-15

Geography

North Atlantic Ocean, latitude +26N to +24N, longitude -80W to -15W.