Arabian Sea Bio-Optical Profiles from 1994-1996 JGOFS Cruises

Bio-optical profile data were collected during the U.S. Joint Global Ocean Flux Study Arabian Sea Process Study. Measurements include downwelling irradiance, upwelling radiance, diffuse attenuation coefficients, beam attenuation, and chlorophyll fluorescence from three research cruises between October 1994 and January 1996. The study was conducted by the U.S. JGOFS program, with data managed by SCIOPS.

Use Cases

• Modeling the diffuse attenuation coefficient (K_d) for downwelling irradiance (E_d) to understand light penetration in the water column.
• Analyzing relationships between stimulated in-situ chlorophyll fluorescence and particulate beam attenuation coefficient at 660nm as proxies for phytoplankton biomass.
• Studying seasonal variability in upwelling radiance (L_u) and sea surface incident irradiance (E_s) across monsoon and inter-monsoon cycles.
• Calibrating satellite ocean color data using in-situ profiles of upwelling irradiance (E_u) and derived optical coefficients.

Strengths

• Data provides seasonal coverage of the annual monsoon cycle over a 16-month period from 1994 to 1996.
• Includes multiple derived optical coefficients (K_d, K_u, K_l) calculated from primary irradiance and radiance measurements.

Limitations

• Bio-optical profiles were only measured on three of the eleven total cruises, limiting spatial and temporal sampling density.
• Dataset is temporally stale, with the last measurements from January 1996.

Provenance

Source

U.S. Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) program, data hosted by WHOI.

Collection Method

In-situ measurements collected from oceanographic instruments during research cruises aboard the R/V Thomas G. Thompson.

Time Range

October 1994 to January 1996

Freshness

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Geography

Arabian Sea, southeast of Oman.