North Sea Organosulfur and Halocarbon Measurements from Challenger 57 Cruise

July 24 to August 5, 1989, saw the Challenger 57 research cruise collect 41 to 65 measurements each for 12 oceanic organosulfur compounds, halocarbons, and ammonium across the North Sea. Researchers Sue Turner and David Hydes conducted these measurements as part of the North Sea Project. The data includes concentrations of dimethylsulphide (DMS), dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP), and various halocarbons like iodomethane and chloroform.

Use Cases

• Modeling the spatial distribution of dimethylsulphide (DMS) concentration to estimate its role in cloud formation over the North Sea.
• Analyzing correlations between concentrations of dibromochloromethane, dibromomethane, and tribromomethane to understand brominated halocarbon sources.
• Investigating the relationship between dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) in particulate and dissolved phases to study phytoplankton physiology.
• Mapping the concentration of iodomethane (methyl iodide) against latitude and longitude to identify coastal emission hotspots.
• Comparing tetrachloroethene and tetrachloromethane (carbon tetrachloride) levels to assess anthropogenic contamination in the water column.

Strengths

• Specific measurement counts for 12 chemical species, ranging from 41 to 65 data points each.
• Precise temporal coverage from July 24 to August 5, 1989, and spatial bounds from +51N to +56N and +2W to +8E.
• Detailed methodological descriptions for each compound, including filtration, purging, and gas chromatography techniques.

Limitations

• Small sample size for some compounds, with only 3 measurements for DMS+DMSP combined.
• Data is from a single, brief cruise in 1989, limiting temporal and seasonal analysis.
• No information on sample depth or vertical profile in the water column is provided in the description.

Provenance

Source

SCIOPS organization, via the NASA Earthdata platform.

Collection Method

Measurements made from water samples collected during the Challenger 57 research cruise, analyzed using filtration, purging, cryogenic trapping, and gas chromatography.

Time Range

1989-07-24 to 1989-08-05

Freshness

Data collection ended on August 5, 1989; it is a historical snapshot.

Geography

North Sea, bounded by +51N to +56N latitude and +2W to +8E longitude.