CLIVAR Ross Sea Cruise: CTD and CFC Measurements from USCGC Polar Sea, 1994

Stanley S. Jacobs and William M. Smethie Jr. of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory collected this discrete sample and profile data during a 1994 cruise of the USCGC POLAR SEA. The dataset captures seven days of hydrographic measurements, including chlorofluorocarbons (CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113), dissolved oxygen, salinity, and temperature in the Ross Sea region of the Southern Ocean. It serves as a baseline for the International CLIVAR Global Ocean Carbon and Repeat Hydrography Program's mission to quantify changes in ocean heat, freshwater, and carbon storage.

Use Cases

• Calibrating ocean circulation models using CFC-11 and CFC-12 concentrations as tracers of water mass age and pathways.
• Analyzing changes in ocean carbon storage by comparing this 1994 baseline with modern repeat hydrography sections.
• Studying Southern Ocean water mass properties and formation rates based on concurrent CTD measurements of salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen.
• Investigating deep ocean ventilation processes in the Ross Sea region using hydrostatic pressure and profile data.

Strengths

• Data originates from a recognized scientific program (CLIVAR) and a major research institution (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory).
• Provides a precise seven-day temporal snapshot (1994-02-04 to 1994-02-10) from a specific research vessel (USCGC POLAR SEA) and cruise (PS94).
• Includes multiple related chemical and physical variables (CFCs, oxygen, salinity, temperature) measured concurrently.

Limitations

• Column names and dataset size (row count) are not provided by any source, hindering structural assessment.
• Conflicting 'last updated' metadata between platforms (1994 vs. 2026) creates uncertainty about data currency or versioning.
• License information is absent, which may restrict certain types of reuse.

Provenance

Source

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University; collected by Stanley S. Jacobs and William M. Smethie Jr.

Collection Method

Discrete sample and profile observations collected using CTD and bottle instruments from a research vessel.

Time Range

1994-02-04 to 1994-02-10

Freshness

2026-03-05 23:30:16.828184

Geography

South Pacific Ocean and Southern Oceans (> 60 degrees South), specifically the Ross Sea region.