CARINA: Atlantic Ocean Biogeochemical Cruise Data

NODC Accession 0115686 contains discrete sample and profile data from the CARINA/35LU19950909 cruise of the R/V Le Noroît in the Atlantic Ocean. The dataset includes measurements of dissolved inorganic carbon, carbon dioxide partial pressure, chlorofluorocarbons (CFC-11, CFC-12), nutrients, chlorophyll, and physical oceanographic variables collected using CTD and bottle instruments from September to October 1995. These data were synthesized as part of the international CARINA project to create an internally consistent dataset for biogeochemical and carbon system investigations across the Atlantic, Arctic, and Southern Oceans.

Use Cases

• Modeling ocean carbon uptake based on dissolved inorganic carbon and pCO2 measurements.
• Tracing water mass age and circulation using chlorofluorocarbon (CFC-11, CFC-12) concentrations.
• Assessing marine primary productivity from chlorophyll a and nutrient (nitrate, phosphate, silicate) profiles.
• Calibrating biogeochemical models with internally consistent, quality-controlled data from the CARINA synthesis.

Strengths

• Data originates from a coordinated international synthesis project (CARINA) aimed at internal consistency.
• Includes a multi-variable suite of 16+ biological, chemical, and physical measurements from a single cruise.
• Cross-platform presence on NASA Earthdata and Data.gov signals established curation and importance.

Limitations

• Column names and exact row counts are unspecified across all sources, limiting immediate usability.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates (1995-10-11 vs. 2026-03-06) create uncertainty about provenance tracking.
• License and author details are not provided, restricting clarity on reuse permissions.

Provenance

Source

Yves Gouriou of Centre ORSTOM, collected during cruise CARINA/35LU19950909.

Collection Method

Discrete sample and profile observations using CTD and bottle instruments.

Time Range

1995-09-09 to 1995-10-11

Freshness

2026-03-06 00:14:00.513024

Geography

North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean