Coastal Microbial and Nutrient Profiles from MECCAS Cruises

Four research cruises collected 12 surface mapping parameters and up to 96 vertical profile parameters, including detailed zooplankton and bacteria data. The data was gathered aboard the R/V Gyre by the Microbial Exchanges and Coupling in Coastal Atlantic Systems project. Measurements were taken from February 1985 to September 1986.

Use Cases

• Model silicate and phosphate concentrations from temperature and salinity data in surface mapping files.
• Analyze correlations between zooplankton biomass data and bacterial cell counts in vertical drogue station profiles.
• Estimate bacterial production rates using nutrient assimilation data and CTD profile measurements.
• Map spatial distributions of ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite from underway surface mapping location data.

Strengths

• Data includes 12 consistent parameters across surface mapping and vertical station profiles for comparison.
• Vertical drogue station profiles contain 96 measured parameters, enabling detailed multivariate analysis.

Limitations

• Data is over 35 years old, limiting its utility for studying current oceanographic conditions.
• Unknown sample size and row count for statistical reliability assessment.
• Data is split across three file types per cruise, requiring integration for a complete analysis.

Provenance

Source

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI Accession 8800324).

Collection Method

In-situ measurements collected during four dedicated oceanographic research cruises aboard the R/V Gyre.

Time Range

February 17, 1985 to September 7, 1986.

Freshness

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Geography

Mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and the northern Atlantic Ocean.