RV Endeavour 14/2004 High-Resolution CTD Data from the European Shelf

Data collected from CEFAS research cruises on the European Shelf and Iberian Abyssal Plain. The dataset contains high-resolution profiles of pressure, temperature, and conductivity, with later cruises adding fluorometer and optical backscatter measurements. The data were gathered using a lowered CTD rosette system from stationary vessels.

Use Cases

• Calculate salinity profiles based on conductivity data using UNESCO formulations.
• Analyze vertical water column structure based on pressure and temperature profiles.
• Study phytoplankton biomass distribution based on fluorometer readings mentioned in the description.
• Investigate water clarity or sediment load based on optical backscatter or transmissometer data.

Strengths

• Data includes high-resolution profiles from the surface to near the sea bed.
• Later cruises expanded the parameter set to include fluorometers and optical sensors.
• Data is collected from the European Shelf, a well-studied marine region.

Limitations

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

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Collected using a lowered CTD rosette system from stationary research vessels.

Time Range

2004 (from the cruise identifier 14/2004).

Freshness

Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Geography

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