Prince William Sound in the Gulf of Alaska is the source for concentration profiles of phosphate, silicate, nitrate, and ammonia. Data were collected from bottle casts aboard the ACONA vessel from July to December 1979. The University of Alaska Fairbanks Institute of Marine Science gathered this data in support of the Exxon Valdez Restoration Study.
Use Cases
- Analyze seasonal trends in phosphate, silicate, nitrate, and ammonia concentrations over the 5-month sampling period.
- Model nutrient gradients and ratios (e.g., N:P:Si) in the Prince William Sound water column using the concentration profiles.
- Establish a pre-spill environmental baseline for the Gulf of Alaska by examining nutrient data collected prior to the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
Strengths
- Data covers a specific 5-month period from July 13 to December 12, 1979.
- Includes multiple key nutrient parameters: phosphate, silicate, nitrate, and ammonia.
Limitations
- The sample size and spatial resolution of bottle casts are unknown.
- Data is over 40 years old, limiting its relevance for current oceanographic conditions without contemporary comparisons.
Provenance
- Source
- University of Alaska - Fairbanks; Institute of Marine Science (UAK/IMS), archived by NOAA NCEI.
- Collection Method
- Collected from bottle casts aboard the ACONA vessel.
- Time Range
- 1979-07-13 to 1979-12-12
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Prince William Sound, Gulf of Alaska.