RV CIRLANA 01/2001 High Resolution CTD Data from the European Shelf

The European Shelf and Iberian Abyssal Plain are covered by this oceanographic data collection. Data were gathered from CEFAS research vessel cruises using a lowered CTD rosette system while the vessel was stationary, creating profiles from the surface to near the seabed. The dataset likely contains core parameters like pressure, temperature, and conductivity, with additional sensors for fluorometry and light measurement added in later years.

Use Cases

• Calculate seawater salinity based on conductivity data using UNESCO formulations.
• Analyze vertical water column profiles for temperature and pressure structure.
• Study phytoplankton biomass distribution using fluorometer-derived chlorophyll data.
• Investigate water clarity or sediment load using optical backscatter or transmissometer readings.

Strengths

• Data collection follows a standardized methodology using a lowered CTD rosette system.
• The description indicates coverage of a specific geographic region: the European Shelf.
• Profile data is intended to be clean from the surface to near the sea bed on the down cast.

Limitations

• Row count and file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The exact sensor configuration and available parameters vary between cruises.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Collected using a lowered CTD rosette system with water samples taken for calibration.

Time Range

Cruise from January 2001 is specified, but the full temporal coverage of the archive is unknown.

Freshness

Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Geography

Broadly covers the European Shelf with some data from the Iberian Abyssal Plain.