SR04_ANTIX_2: Polarstern Southern Ocean Hydrographic Profile Data

From November 17 to December 30, 1990, the RV Polarstern collected discrete sample and profile data in the South Atlantic and Southern Oceans south of 60°S. The dataset includes measurements of water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, and noble gases like helium and neon, collected using CTD and bottle instruments. It is part of the International CLIVAR Global Ocean Carbon and Repeat Hydrography Program, which re-occupies WOCE/JGOFS sections to quantify changes in ocean heat, freshwater, and carbon storage.

Use Cases

• Tracing water mass age and circulation using helium, neon, and tritium isotope measurements.
• Analyzing nutrient distributions (nitrate, phosphate, silicate) to study biological productivity and ocean biogeochemistry.
• Calibrating and validating ocean models with high-vertical-resolution CTD profile data for temperature and salinity.
• Investigating ocean ventilation and carbon storage changes as part of repeat hydrography program assessments.

Strengths

• Data collection is part of a systematic, international repeat hydrography program (CLIVAR), suggesting standardized methodology.
• Includes a specific suite of chemical and physical parameters (e.g., DELTA HELIUM-3, nutrients) relevant for advanced oceanographic studies.
• The dataset has a precise temporal (6-week cruise) and spatial (Southern Ocean >60°S) coverage.

Limitations

• Column names and exact data structure are unknown, limiting immediate usability.
• Conflicting author affiliations: one source lists L. Gordon from Columbia University, another from Oregon State University.
• Key metadata like row count, file size, and license are not provided on any platform.

Provenance

Source

Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), with contributors from Oregon State CEOAS/Columbia University and University of Bremen.

Collection Method

Discrete sample and profile observations collected using CTD and bottle instruments during research cruise SR04_ANTIX_2.

Time Range

1990-11-17 to 1990-12-30

Freshness

2026-03-06 00:08:05.661955

Geography

South Atlantic Ocean and Southern Oceans (> 60 degrees South)