Sarasota Bay Nutrient and Water Quality Measurements (1981-1987)

Nutrient and water quality data were collected by Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota Bay, Florida, from August 1981 to July 1987. The dataset was submitted by Dr. Kellie L. Dixon and contains measurements across five distinct file groups. These groups include parameters like temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, ammonium, nitrate, phosphorus, turbidity, chlorophyll, and metals.

Use Cases

• Analyze correlations between nutrient levels (ammonium, nitrate, phosphorus) and biological indicators (chlorophyll a, b, c) to study algal bloom dynamics.
• Model dissolved oxygen levels as a function of temperature, salinity, and tide current observations to assess hypoxic conditions.
• Investigate the relationship between physical parameters (wave height, wind velocity) and water clarity metrics (turbidity, suspended solids).
• Examine spatial and temporal trends in metal concentrations (hg, cu, zn, pb, al) in sediment relative to sediment size and coprostanol levels.

Strengths

• Data collection spans nearly 6 years (August 1981 to July 1987), providing a multi-year time series.
• Contains a wide variety of measured parameters across chemical, physical, and biological domains, organized into five logical file groups.
• Data originates from a recognized marine research institution (Mote Marine Laboratory) and a principal investigator.

Limitations

• The total number of rows, samples, and measurement frequency are unknown, limiting reproducibility of statistical analyses.
• Data is stored in an obsolete DBASE III+ format that cannot be opened with default modern programs, creating a technical access barrier.
• No information is provided on sampling methodology, detection limits, or quality control procedures for the measurements.

Provenance

Source

Mote Marine Laboratory, submitted by Dr. Kellie L. Dixon to NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).

Collection Method

Field measurements and laboratory analysis of water and sediment samples.

Time Range

1981-08-21 to 1987-07-25

Freshness

null

Geography

Sarasota Bay, Florida, USA.