R/V Ryofu Maru III Surface Underway Carbon Dioxide and Ocean Data

Surface underway data from the R/V Ryofu Maru III includes measurements of barometric pressure, partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and water, sea surface salinity, and sea surface temperature. The data were collected in the Pacific Ocean, East China Sea, and Sea of Japan across two years, from 2016-01-07 to 2017-12-22, using carbon dioxide gas analyzers and shower head chamber equilibrators. These observations form part of the Shipboard Oceanographic Observation Program (SOOP) time series for monitoring ocean-atmosphere carbon exchange.

Use Cases

• Calculating air-sea CO2 flux based on partial pressure measurements
• Analyzing correlations between sea surface temperature and pCO2 in water
• Validating regional carbon cycle models with in-situ underway data
• Studying seasonal variability of surface ocean carbon parameters across the North Pacific

Strengths

• Data collection spans two full calendar years (2016 and 2017), providing seasonal coverage
• Specific instruments used are documented: carbon dioxide (CO2) gas analyzer and shower head chamber equilibrator
• Dataset is hosted by authoritative organizations (NOAA NCEI, NASA Earthdata), indicating curation

Limitations

• Column names and exact data structure are unknown, limiting immediate usability
• Conflicting 'last updated' metadata exists between platforms (2016/2017 vs. 2026)
• No license information is provided, creating uncertainty for reuse

Provenance

Source

Keizo Sakurai of the Marine Division, Global Environment and Marine Department, Japan Meteorological Agency

Collection Method

Collected via surface underway instruments aboard the R/V Ryofu Maru III as part of the Shipboard Oceanographic Observation Program (SOOP)

Time Range

2016-01-07 to 2017-12-22

Freshness

2026-03-05 23:12:14.605585

Geography

North Pacific Ocean, East China Sea, Sea of Japan