Airborne Microorganism Samples from Antarctic Peninsula, 2023

MICROAIRPOLAR 2 contains microorganisms collected from air and precipitation on Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, Antarctica. The data was gathered in 2023 by the MICROAIRPOLAR research group using specialized collectors designed for polar conditions. The dataset is hosted by NASA's Earthdata platform and originates from the SCIOPS organization.

Use Cases

• Analyze the diversity of airborne microorganisms from precipitation samples collected in Antarctica.
• Compare microbial communities from air samples filtered by the specialized MICROAIRPOLAR collector versus a cyclone collector.
• Map the spatial distribution of collected bioaerosols across the Byers Peninsula geography.
• Study the relationship between polar atmospheric conditions and the types of microorganisms present in air samples.

Strengths

• Data was collected in 2023, providing recent observations from a polar region.
• Samples were obtained using a new collector specifically designed for polar atmospheric conditions.
• Collection occurred at Byers Peninsula, a designated Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA 126).

Limitations

• The total number of samples, rows, and specific data columns are unknown.
• Geographic coverage is limited to a single peninsula in Antarctica.
• The absence of sample data prevents assessment of data completeness or potential measurement noise.

Provenance

Source

SCIOPS organization, via NASA Earthdata.

Collection Method

Microorganisms collected from air and precipitation using a custom-designed collector and a cyclone-type collector.

Time Range

2023

Freshness

Last updated in February 2023.

Geography

Byers Peninsula (ASPA 126), Livingston Island, Antarctica.