Aurora Australis Surface Carbon Dioxide and Oceanic Measurements

NCEI Accession 0157255 captures a 42-day voyage of the AURORA AUSTRALIS across the Southern Ocean and adjacent seas. The dataset includes direct measurements of air-sea carbon dioxide exchange, salinity, and wind conditions, collected using specialized gas analyzers and pressure sensors. These observations form part of the SOCCOM project, targeting the carbon cycle in remote, high-latitude waters.

Use Cases

• Modeling air-sea CO2 flux based on partial pressure measurements in water and atmosphere.
• Analyzing correlations between sea surface temperature, salinity, and carbon dioxide concentrations.
• Studying Southern Ocean meteorological conditions using wind speed, direction, and barometric pressure data.

Strengths

• Provides direct, instrument-based measurements of carbon dioxide fugacity from a dedicated research vessel.
• Covers a specific, six-week time range (2016-01-11 to 2016-02-21) with clear temporal boundaries.
• Targets a geographically distinct and critical region for climate studies: the Southern Ocean (>60°S).

Limitations

• Column names and the total row count are not specified in any source, limiting understanding of data structure.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates (2026-03-05 vs. 2016-02-21) create uncertainty about metadata maintenance.
• License information is absent, restricting clarity on permissible reuse.

Provenance

Source

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) researchers Bronte Tilbrook, John Akl, and Craig Neill.

Collection Method

Surface underway observations collected from the R/V AURORA AUSTRALIS using a Barometric pressure sensor and Carbon dioxide (CO2) gas analyzer.

Time Range

2016-01-11 to 2016-02-21

Freshness

2026-03-05 22:38:34.135717

Geography

Indian Ocean, South Pacific Ocean, Southern Oceans (> 60 degrees South), Tasman Sea