I. Data Set Descriptors A. Title: Daniela Di Iorio. 2002. March 2002 bin-averaged CTD profiles for the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Inner Marsh transect. Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Data Catalog (data set PHY-GCEM-0212c1; http://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?accession=PHY-GCEM-0212c1) B. Accession Number: PHY-GCEM-0212c1 C. Description 1. Originator(s): Name: Daniela Di Iorio Address: Dept. of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 Country: USA Email: daniela@uga.edu 2. Abstract: One hydrographic survey was performed on March 23, 2002, along the Darien River, North River, and north channel of the Altamaha River (Inner Marsh Transect, GCE-IM). Vertical CTD profiles were collected at various nominal stations along the transect during flood and ebb tidal regimes. Conductivity, temperature, pressure and optical backscatter were measured, and depth, salinity and sigma-t were calculated for each profile. Data values collected on the upcast were deleted, and the remaining data were averaged within 0.5m depth bins and interpolated to produce a smooth profile for contouring. This data set was collected as part of the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER quarterly hydrographic monitoring program. 3. Study Type: Monitoring 4. Study Themes: Physical Oceanography, Hydrography 5. LTER Core Areas: Inorganic Nutrients 6. Georeferences: geographic coordinates as data columns 7. Submission Date: Dec 01, 2002 D. Keywords: conductivity, Cruise CTD Profiling, density, depth, estuaries, hydrography, Inorganic Nutrients, pressure, salinity, temperature, water column II. Research Origin Descriptors A. Overall Project Description 1. Project Title: Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project 2. Principal Investigators: Name: James T. Hollibaugh Address: Dept. of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 Country: USA Email: aquadoc@uga.edu 3. Funding Period: May 01, 2000 to May 01, 2006 4. Objectives: To investigate the linkages between coastal and distant upland areas in central Georgia mediated by surface and ground water delivery to the coastal zone. This will be addressed by examining the relationship between variability in environmental factors driven by river flow, primarily salinity, and ecosystem processes and structure. 5. Abstract: We propose to establish a Long Term Ecological Research site on the central Georgia coast in the vicinity of Sapelo Island. This is a barrier island and marsh complex with the Altamaha River, one of the largest and least developed rivers on the east coast of the US, as the primary source of fresh water. The proposed study would investigate the linkages between local and distant upland areas mediated by water - surface water and ground water - delivery to the coastal zone. We would explicitly examine the relationship between variability in environmental factors driven by river flow, primarily salinity because we can measure it at high frequency, and ecosystem processes and structure. We will accomplish this by comparing estuary/marsh complexes separated from the Altamaha River by one or two lagoonal estuary/marsh complexes that damp and attenuate the river signal. This spatial gradient is analogous to the temporal trend in riverine influence expected as a result of development in the watershed. We will implement a monitoring system that documents physical and biological variables and use the time trends and spatial distributions of these variables and of their variance structure to address questions about the factors controlling distributions, trophic structure, diversity, and biogeochemistry. An existing GIS-based hydrologic model will be modified to incorporate changes in river water resulting from changes in land use patterns that can be expected as the watershed develops. This model will be linked to ecosystem models and will serve as an heuristic and management tool. Another consequence of coastal development is that as river flow decreases, groundwater flow increases and becomes nutrified. We will compare the effects of ground water discharge from the surficial aquifer in relatively pristine (Sapelo Island) versus more urbanized (mainland) sites to assess the relative importance of fresh water versus nutrients to productivity, structure and biomass turnover rate in marshes influenced by groundwater. We will also investigate the effect of marine processes (tides, storm surge) on mixing across the fresh/salt interface in the surficial aquifer. Additional physical studies will relate the morphology of salt marsh - tidal creek channel complexes to tidal current distributions and exchange. These findings will be incorporated into a physical model that will be coupled to an existing ecosystem model. The land/ocean margin ecosystem lies at the interface between two ecosystems in which distinctly different groups of decomposers control organic matter degradation. The terrestrial ecosystem is largely dominated by fungal decomposers, while bacterial decomposers dominate the marine ecosystem. Both groups are important in salt marsh-dominated ecosystems. Specific studies will examine, at the level of individual cells and hyphae, the relationship bacteria and fungi in the consortia that decompose standing dead Spartina and other marsh plants and examine how, or if, this changes along the salinity gradient. 6. Funding Source: NSF OCE 9982133 B. Sub-project Description 1. Site Description a. Geographic Location: GCE-IM -- Inner Marsh, Georgia, USA AL_M -- Altamaha River, Rabbit Island CH -- Champney River DA -- Darien River near Marker 27 GCN -- General's Cut North GCS -- General's Cut South IM7 -- Inner Marsh station 7 IM8 -- Inner Marsh station 8 Coordinates: GCE-IM -- NW: 081 27 43.18 W, 31 25 09.67 N NE: 081 19 15.43 W, 31 25 09.67 N SE: 081 19 15.43 W, 31 19 45.36 N SW: 081 27 43.18 W, 31 19 45.36 N AL_M -- 081 25 00.0 W, 31 19 58.2 N CH -- 081 26 42.5 W, 31 20 19.4 N DA -- 081 25 00.7 W, 31 20 51.7 N GCN -- 081 25 53.6 W, 31 21 44.4 N GCS -- 081 26 24.0 W, 31 21 20.0 N IM7 -- 081 23 06.0 W, 31 21 33.0 N IM8 -- 081 21 33.0 W, 31 22 07.2 N b. Physiographic Region: GCE-IM -- Estuary and tidal marsh AL_M -- Estuary and tidal marsh CH -- Estuary and tidal marsh DA -- Estuary and tidal marsh GCN -- Estuary and tidal marsh GCS -- Estuary and tidal marsh IM7 -- Estuary and tidal marsh IM8 -- Estuary and tidal marsh c. Landform Components: GCE-IM -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks AL_M -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks CH -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks DA -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks GCN -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks GCS -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks IM7 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks IM8 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks d. Hydrographic Characteristics: GCE-IM -- Site includes the north channel of the Altamaha River estuary and various tidal creeks and channels. AL_M -- Site includes the north channel of the Altamaha River estuary and various tidal creeks and channels. CH -- Site includes the north channel of the Altamaha River estuary and various tidal creeks and channels. DA -- Site includes the north channel of the Altamaha River estuary and various tidal creeks and channels. GCN -- Site includes the north channel of the Altamaha River estuary and various tidal creeks and channels. GCS -- Site includes the north channel of the Altamaha River estuary and various tidal creeks and channels. IM7 -- Site includes the north channel of the Altamaha River estuary and various tidal creeks and channels. IM8 -- Site includes the north channel of the Altamaha River estuary and various tidal creeks and channels. e. Topographic Attributes: GCE-IM -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide AL_M -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide CH -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide DA -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide GCN -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide GCS -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide IM7 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide IM8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide f. Geology, Lithology and Soils: GCE-IM -- unspecified AL_M -- unspecified CH -- unspecified DA -- unspecified GCN -- unspecified GCS -- unspecified IM7 -- unspecified IM8 -- unspecified g. Vegetation Communities: GCE-IM -- unspecified AL_M -- unspecified CH -- unspecified DA -- unspecified GCN -- unspecified GCS -- unspecified IM7 -- unspecified IM8 -- unspecified h. History of Land Use and Disturbance: none recorded i. Climate: Climate summary for Sapelo Island, Georgia, based on NWS data from 1980-2010: Daily-aggregated Values: Mean (sample standard deviation) mean air temperature: 20.09°C (7.28°C) minimum air temperature: 15.02°C (7.96°C) maximum air temperature: 24.82°C (6.98°C) total precipitation: 3.26mm (10.3mm) Yearly-aggregated Daily Values: Mean (sample standard deviation) total precipitation (1980-2010): 1124mm (266mm) 2. Experimental or Sampling Design a. Design Characteristics: Mid-flood tide survey aboard the R/V Salty Dawg from the Champney River to the Champney River b. Permanent Plots: none c. Data Collection Duration and Frequency: CTD profiles were collected at various nominal locations along the survey Beginning of Observations: Mar 23, 2002 End of Observations: Mar 23, 2002 3. Research Methods a. Field and Laboratory Methods: Method 1: CTD Profiling (R/V Salty Dawg) -- The CTD instrument package was deployed from the deck of the R/V Salty Dawg (University of Georgia Marine Institute) using a hand winch fitted with Kevlar(R) line. The CTD was lowered to just below the water surface and allowed to equilibrate for 45-60 seconds, then lowered at approximately 0.25-0.5m/s to within 1m of the bottom. Data was stored using an internal data logger, and uploaded to a shipboard computer at the end of each transect. Method 2: CTD Profile Post-processing -- Raw profile data were processed using Sea-Bird Electronics DATACNV program (www.seabird.com) to convert instrument readings to calibrated data and to calculate derived parameters (i.e. depth from pressure; salinity, density and sigma-t from conductivity, temperature and pressure; oxygen saturation from dissolved oxygen). The data then underwent a quality control process, which included removal of the soaking time period, removal of decreasing pressure during the profile due to ship and wave motion, removal of the upcast information (i.e. data after the instrument has hit bottom), removal of spikes in any of the parameters, application of flow-through time delays for the oxygen (0.5 s) and fluormeter (3.75 s) sensors, calculation of PAR depth to account for the physical separation between the PAR and pressure sensors (~0.75m). The quality control operations were performed using custom Matlab programs developed by D. DiIorio and K. Kang. Method 3: CTD Profile Bin-averaging -- After post-processing, a subset of profile parameters (depth, temperature, conductivity, salinity, density, sigma-t, suspended particulates) were averaged over 0.5 m depth bins starting at 0.25m below the surface. The fast sampling of the CTD (8Hz) together with the profile speed (~1m/s) resulted in approximately 5 samples in this average. Linear interpolation was then carried out using custom Matlab programs developed by D. DiIorio and K. Kang to produce estimated values at exact depth increments of 0.5m starting at 1.0m depth below the surface. b. Instrumentation: Method 1: SEACAT SBE 19 CTD (#1234) Conductivity Sensor Manufacturer: Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc. (Model: SBE 19-03) Last Calibration: Apr 07, 1993 Parameter: conductivity (Range: standard seawater) Protocol: instrument is soaked at the surface for 60 seconds, then lowered into the water using a hydrographic winch to perform vertical profiling SEACAT SBE 19 CTD (#1234) Pressure Sensor Manufacturer: Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc. (Model: PAINE 211-75-710-01) Last Calibration: Apr 13, 1993 Parameter: pressure (Accuracy: 0.15%, Range: 0-300 psia) Protocol: instrument is soaked at the surface for 60 seconds, then lowered into the water using a hydrographic winch to perform vertical profiling SEACAT SBE 19 CTD (#1234) Temperature Sensor Manufacturer: Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc. (Model: SBE 19-03) Last Calibration: Apr 07, 1993 Parameter: temperature (Range: -5.0 to +35.0°C) Protocol: instrument is soaked at the surface for 60 seconds, then lowered into the water using a hydrographic winch to perform vertical profiling Method 2: none Method 3: none c. Taxonomy and Systematics: Method 1: not applicable Method 2: not applicable Method 3: not applicable d. Permit History: Method 1: none Method 2: none Method 3: none 4. Project Personnel a. Personnel: 1: Daniela Di Iorio 2: KiRyong Kang b. Affiliations: 1: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 2: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia III. Data Set Status and Accessibility A. Status 1. Latest Update: 19-Feb-2012 2. Latest Archive Date: 18-Nov-2011 3. Latest Metadata Update: 19-Feb-2012 4. Data Verification Status: Reviewed by GCE-LTER IM B. Accessibility 1. Storage Location and Medium: Stored at GCE-LTER Data Management Office Dept. of Marine Sciences Univ. of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-3636 USA on media: electronic data download (WWW) or compact disk 2. Contact Person: Name: Wade M. Sheldon, Jr. Address: Dept. of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 Country: USA Email: sheldon@uga.edu 3. Copyright Restrictions: not copyrighted 4. Restrictions: All publications based on this data set must cite the contributor and Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER project, and two copies of the manuscript must be submitted to the GCE-LTER Information Management Office. a. Release Date: GCE LTER Affiliates: Dec 01, 2002, Public: Dec 01, 2003 b. Citation: Data provided by the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research Project, supported by funds from NSF OCE 9982133 (data set PHY-GCEM-0212c1) c. Disclaimer: The user assumes all responsibility for errors in judgement based on interpretation of data and analyses presented in this data set. 5. Costs: free electronic data download via WWW, distribution on CD may be subject to nominal processing and handling fee IV. Data Structural Descriptors A. Data Set File 1. File Name: PHY-GCEM-0212c1_3_2.CSV 2. Size: 108 records 3. File Format: ASCII text (comma-separated value format) 3a. Delimiters: single comma 4. Header Information: 5 lines of ASCII text 5. Alphanumeric Attributes: upper case 6. Quality Control Flag Codes: I = invalid value (out of range), Q = questionable value 7. Authentication Procedures: not specified 8. Calculations: 9. Processing History: Software version: GCE Data Toolbox Version 3.30 (09-Feb-2012) Data structure version: GCE Data Structure 1.1 (29-Mar-2001) Original data file processed: ctdprf_imr0302_bip.dat (204 records) Data processing history: 18-Feb-2003: new GCE Data Structure 1.1 created ('newstruct') 18-Feb-2003: CTD profile data imported from 'ctdprf_imr0302_bip.dat' ('imp_ctdprofile') 18-Feb-2003: column descriptor metadata assigned using template 'CTD_Profile' ('meta_template') 18-Feb-2003: updated 12 metadata fields in the Dataset, Site, Status, Study sections ('imp_ctdprofile') 18-Feb-2003: data structure validated ('gce_valid') 18-Feb-2003: removed 96 rows with empty values in columns Temperature, Conductivity, Salinity, Density, Sigma_t and OBS ('compactrows') 18-Feb-2003: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 18-Feb-2003: imported Data, Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 18-Feb-2003: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 30-Oct-2003: imported Data, Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 30-Oct-2003: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 02-Nov-2003: imported Data, Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 02-Nov-2003: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 03-Nov-2003: imported Data, Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 03-Nov-2003: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 25-Oct-2004: added column 'Cruise' at position 0 ('addcol') 08-Nov-2005: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 08-Nov-2005: updated 66 metadata fields in the Data, Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 17-Apr-2006: standardized case of date component column units to prevent unit conversion issues ('batch_update_datetime'): updated units for column Year from 'yyyy' to 'YYYY'; updated units for column Month from 'mm' to 'MM'; updated units for column Day from 'dd' to 'DD' 26-Mar-2008: 37 values in 'Station' were updated with new values ('update_data'): changed record 1 from 'CN' to 'CH', changed record 2 from 'CN' to 'CH', changed record 3 from 'CN' to 'CH', changed record 4 from 'CN' to 'CH', changed record 5 from 'CN' to 'CH', changed record 6 from 'CN' to 'CH', changed record 7 from 'CN' to 'CH', changed record 8 from 'CN' to 'CH', changed record 9 from 'CN' to 'CH', changed record 24 from 'GCN' to 'GCH', changed record 25 from 'GCN' to 'GCH', changed record 26 from 'GCN' to 'GCH', changed record 27 from 'GCN' to 'GCH', changed record 28 from 'GCN' to 'GCH', changed record 29 from 'GCN' to 'GCH', changed record 30 from 'GCN' to 'GCH', changed record 31 from 'GCN' to 'GCH', changed record 72 from 'GCN' to 'GCH', changed record 73 from 'GCN' to 'GCH', changed record 74 from 'GCN' to 'GCH', changed record 75 from 'GCN' to 'GCH', changed record 76 from 'GCN' to 'GCH', changed record 77 from 'GCN' to 'GCH', changed record 78 from 'GCN' to 'GCH', changed record 79 from 'GCN' to 'GCH', changed record 80 from 'GCN' to 'GCH', changed record 87 from 'ALT_M' to 'AL_M', changed record 88 from 'ALT_M' to 'AL_M', changed record 89 from 'ALT_M' to 'AL_M', changed record 90 from 'ALT_M' to 'AL_M', changed record 91 from 'ALT_M' to 'AL_M', changed record 92 from 'ALT_M' to 'AL_M', changed record 93 from 'ALT_M' to 'AL_M', changed record 94 from 'ALT_M' to 'AL_M', changed record 95 from 'ALT_M' to 'AL_M', changed record 96 from 'ALT_M' to 'AL_M', changed record 97 from 'ALT_M' to 'AL_M' 26-Mar-2008: Q/C flagging criteria applied for column(s) Station, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 26-Mar-2008: 17 values in 'Station' were updated with new values ('update_data'): changed record 24 from 'GCH' to 'GCN', changed record 25 from 'GCH' to 'GCN', changed record 26 from 'GCH' to 'GCN', changed record 27 from 'GCH' to 'GCN', changed record 28 from 'GCH' to 'GCN', changed record 29 from 'GCH' to 'GCN', changed record 30 from 'GCH' to 'GCN', changed record 31 from 'GCH' to 'GCN', changed record 72 from 'GCH' to 'GCN', changed record 73 from 'GCH' to 'GCN', changed record 74 from 'GCH' to 'GCN', changed record 75 from 'GCH' to 'GCN', changed record 76 from 'GCH' to 'GCN', changed record 77 from 'GCH' to 'GCN', changed record 78 from 'GCH' to 'GCN', changed record 79 from 'GCH' to 'GCN', changed record 80 from 'GCH' to 'GCN' 26-Mar-2008: Q/C flagging criteria applied for column(s) Station, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 25-Aug-2011: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 25-Aug-2011: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 25-Aug-2011: matched geographic location names in column Station to registered locations in 'geo_locations.mat' to generate column Transect containing corresponding sites/transects ('add_sitenames') 25-Aug-2011: added column 'Transect' at position 12 ('addcol') 25-Aug-2011: added column 'SurveyName' at position 14 ('addcol') 25-Aug-2011: added geographic metadata based on matching values in columns Transect and Station to site and transect names registered in 'geo_polygons.mat' and location and station names registered in 'geo_locations.mat' ('add_sitemetadata') 25-Aug-2011: updated 9 metadata fields in the Site, Status sections ('add_sitemetadata') 15-Nov-2011: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 15-Nov-2011: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 18-Nov-2011: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 18-Nov-2011: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 19-Feb-2012: updated 7 metadata fields in the Data, Status sections ('exp_ascii') 19-Feb-2012: updated 15 metadata fields in the Status, Data sections to reflect attribute metadata ('updatecols') 19-Feb-2012: parsed and formatted metadata ('listmeta') B. Variable Information 1. Variable Name: column 1. Cruise column 2. Year column 3. Month column 4. Day column 5. Hour column 6. Longitude column 7. Latitude column 8. Depth_Total column 9. RealTime column 10. Filename column 11. CTD column 12. Transect column 13. Station column 14. SurveyName column 15. Survey column 16. Cast column 17. Depth column 18. Temperature column 19. Conductivity column 20. Salinity column 21. Density column 22. Sigma_t column 23. OBS 2. Variable Definition: column 1. GCE-LTER research cruise identifier (LTER[MM][YY]) column 2. Calendar year column 3. Calendar month column 4. Calendar day column 5. Fractional hours GMT column 6. Geographic longitude column 7. Geographic latitude column 8. Water column depth measured by shipboard SONAR column 9. Real-time profile data flag (low frequency data collection rate) column 10. CTD cast filename column 11. ID number of CTD instrument used for the cast column 12. GCE cruise transect column 13. GCE-LTER sampling station column 14. Cruise survey title column 15. Nominal survey column 16. CTD cast number column 17. Water depth at pressure sensor column 18. Water temperature column 19. Conductivity column 20. Salinity column 21. Water density column 22. Sigma-t (i.e. (Water Density-1)*1000) column 23. Optical back-scatter 3. Units of Measurement: column 1. none column 2. YYYY column 3. MM column 4. DD column 5. hours column 6. degrees column 7. degrees column 8. m column 9. none column 10. none column 11. none column 12. none column 13. none column 14. none column 15. none column 16. none column 17. m column 18. °C column 19. S/m column 20. PSU column 21. kg/m^3 column 22. kg/m^3 column 23. unspecified 4. Data Type a. Storage Type: column 1. alphanumeric column 2. integer column 3. integer column 4. integer column 5. floating-point column 6. floating-point column 7. floating-point column 8. floating-point column 9. integer column 10. alphanumeric column 11. integer column 12. alphanumeric column 13. alphanumeric column 14. alphanumeric column 15. integer column 16. integer column 17. floating-point column 18. floating-point column 19. floating-point column 20. floating-point column 21. floating-point column 22. floating-point column 23. floating-point b. Variable Codes: CTD: 250 = DiIorio SBE25 CTD, 1234 = UGA Marine Sciences SBE19 CTD c. Numeric Range: column 1. (none) column 2. 2002 to 2002 column 3. 3 to 3 column 4. 23 to 23 column 5. 17.0353 to 20.0961 column 6. -81.5517 to -81.3595 column 7. 31.333 to 31.3683 column 8. 2.979 to 9.235 column 9. 0 to 0 column 10. (none) column 11. 1234 to 1234 column 12. (none) column 13. (none) column 14. (none) column 15. 1 to 1 column 16. 1 to 12 column 17. 1 to 9 column 18. 19.3885 to 20.2205 column 19. 0.0143 to 1.6084 column 20. 0.0783 to 10.6264 column 21. 998.2288 to 1006.3691 column 22. -1.776 to 6.3531 column 23. (none) d. Missing Value Code: 5. Data Format a. Column Type: column 1. text column 2. numerical column 3. numerical column 4. numerical column 5. numerical column 6. numerical column 7. numerical column 8. numerical column 9. numerical column 10. text column 11. numerical column 12. text column 13. text column 14. text column 15. numerical column 16. numerical column 17. numerical column 18. numerical column 19. numerical column 20. numerical column 21. numerical column 22. numerical column 23. numerical b. Number of Columns: 23 c. Decimal Places: column 1. 0 column 2. 0 column 3. 0 column 4. 0 column 5. 3 column 6. 5 column 7. 5 column 8. 2 column 9. 0 column 10. 0 column 11. 0 column 12. 0 column 13. 0 column 14. 0 column 15. 0 column 16. 0 column 17. 3 column 18. 3 column 19. 3 column 20. 3 column 21. 3 column 22. 3 column 23. 2 6. Logical Variable Type: column 1. nominal (none) column 2. datetime (discrete) column 3. datetime (discrete) column 4. datetime (discrete) column 5. datetime (continuous) column 6. geographic coordinate (continuous) column 7. geographic coordinate (continuous) column 8. data (continuous) column 9. logical (discrete) column 10. nominal (none) column 11. coded value (discrete) column 12. nominal (none) column 13. nominal (none) column 14. nominal (none) column 15. nominal (discrete) column 16. nominal (discrete) column 17. calculation (continuous) column 18. calculation (continuous) column 19. calculation (continuous) column 20. calculation (continuous) column 21. calculation (continuous) column 22. calculation (continuous) column 23. calculation (continuous) 7. Flagging Criteria: column 1. none column 2. x<2000="Q", x>2006="Q" column 3. x<1="I", x>12="I" column 4. x<1="I", x>366="I" column 5. x<0="I", x>24="I" column 6. x<-82="Q", x>-80="Q" column 7. x<31="Q", x>32="Q" column 8. x<0="I", x>25="Q" column 9. x<0="I", x>1="I" column 10. none column 11. none column 12. none column 13. none column 14. none column 15. none column 16. x<0="I" column 17. x<0="I", x>25="Q" column 18. x<2="Q", x>35="Q" column 19. x<0="I" column 20. x<0="I", x>36="Q" column 21. x<0="I" column 22. x<-5="Q", x>28="Q" column 23. none C. Data Anomalies: None noted V. Supplemental Descriptors A. Data Acquisition 1. Data Forms: Copies of CTD cast logs and raw data are maintained at the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Information Management Office 2. Form Location: GCE-LTER Information Management Office, Dept. of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 3. Data Entry Validation: not specified B. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: QA/QC flags are generated automatically according to domain criteria specified for each data column. A flag column is generated and appended to the data table if any flags are assigned to any value, listing the flags for each column on each row. C. Supplemental Materials: not applicable D. Computer Programs: Sea-Bird Electronics Sea-Soft version 4.246, Matlab version 6.1 E. Archival Practices: Data sets and documentation are stored in structured binary (Matlab 5.x files) and delimited ASCII text formats, and archived on magnetic tape and CD at the GCE LTER Information Management Office at the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA F. Publications: not specified G. History of Data Set Usage 1. Data Request History: not specified 2. Data Set Update History: none 3. Review History: none 4. Questions and Comments from Users: none