Ocean Station P: Zooplankton Depth Profiles, 1971

June to July 1971 data from the SUBARCTIC-A cruise of the R/V YAQUINA details the vertical distribution of zooplankton at Ocean Station 'P' in the Subarctic Pacific. The analog report contains tabular estimates of zooplankton displacement volumes and numerical densities for many species or categories at different depths. This archival dataset provides a snapshot of pelagic community structure from a historically significant oceanographic station.

Use Cases

• Analyzing depth-stratified zooplankton biomass based on displacement volume estimates.
• Studying species-specific numerical density profiles for historical community composition.
• Establishing a 1971 baseline for long-term ecological change studies at Ocean Station P.
• Calibrating or validating models of zooplankton vertical distribution in subarctic waters.

Strengths

• Provides a temporally precise snapshot from a specific, well-known oceanographic cruise in June-July 1971.
• Contains two distinct data types: zooplankton displacement volumes and numerical density estimates by species/category.
• Archived on multiple platforms (NASA Earthdata and Data.gov), indicating recognized scientific value.

Limitations

• Data exists only in an analog document format (plots and tables), requiring digitization for computational analysis.
• Source metadata conflicts on the 'last updated' date (1971 vs. 2026), creating uncertainty about curation activity.
• Column names and precise row counts are unknown, limiting immediate understanding of data structure.

Provenance

Source

Oregon State University School of Oceanography, collected on the R/V YAQUINA SUBARCTIC-A cruise.

Collection Method

Oceanographic sampling at Ocean Station 'P', with data presented as variable vs. depth plots and tabular numeric data.

Time Range

1971-06 to 1971-07

Freshness

2026-03-05 22:56:57.327970

Geography

Ocean Station 'P' (Subarctic Pacific Ocean)