High-Resolution CTD Oceanographic Profiles from the European Shelf, 1996

European Shelf and Iberian Abyssal Plain data collected by CEFAS research vessels using a lowered CTD rosette system. The dataset contains profiles of pressure, temperature, and conductivity, with later cruises potentially including fluorometer and optical backscatter measurements. Data was collected in January 1996 from the RV CiroLana, with water samples taken for calibration.

Use Cases

• Calculate seawater salinity based on conductivity and temperature using UNESCO formulations mentioned in the description
• Analyze vertical oceanographic profiles for research on water mass structure and mixing
• Calibrate remote sensing data using in-situ conductivity-temperature-depth measurements
• Study temporal changes in marine environments by comparing this historical data with newer surveys

Strengths

• Data collected using a standardized lowered CTD rosette system, which suggests methodological consistency
• Includes calibration samples from water bottles fired at specific depths, as described
• Covers a defined geographic area: the European Shelf and Iberian Abyssal Plain

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified

Provenance

Source

CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) research cruises

Collection Method

Lowered CTD rosette system with water sample collection for calibration

Time Range

January 1996

Freshness

Data from a single cruise in January 1996; no information on updates.

Geography

European Shelf and Iberian Abyssal Plain