I. Data Set Descriptors A. Title: Daniela Di Iorio. 2002. March 2002 bin-averaged CTD profiles for the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Sapelo River transect. Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Data Catalog (data set PHY-GCEM-0212d1; http://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?accession=PHY-GCEM-0212d1) B. Accession Number: PHY-GCEM-0212d1 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: Three hydrographic surveys were performed on March 23, 2002, along a transect from Sapelo Sound up the Sapelo River to Eulonia, Georgia (Sapelo River Transect, GCE-SP). Vertical CTD profiles were collected at approximately 2km intervals from 0km to 36km during various 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-SP -- Sapelo River, Georgia, USA SP+00 -- SP+00 SP+03 -- SP+03 SP+06 -- SP+06 SP+09 -- SP+09 SP+12 -- SP+12 SP+15 -- SP+15 SP+18 -- SP+18 SP+21 -- SP+21 SP+25 -- SP+25 SP+28 -- SP+28 SP+32 -- SP+32 SP+36 -- SP+36 Coordinates: GCE-SP -- NW: 081 25 55.13 W, 31 33 34.66 N NE: 081 09 14.84 W, 31 33 34.66 N SE: 081 09 14.84 W, 31 30 59.89 N SW: 081 25 55.13 W, 31 30 59.89 N SP+00 -- 081 10 36.7 W, 31 32 16.0 N SP+03 -- 081 12 28.3 W, 31 32 33.5 N SP+06 -- 081 14 22.2 W, 31 32 33.5 N SP+09 -- 081 16 09.3 W, 31 32 08.0 N SP+12 -- 081 17 57.6 W, 31 32 03.8 N SP+15 -- 081 19 35.0 W, 31 32 50.9 N SP+18 -- 081 20 50.5 W, 31 32 03.0 N SP+21 -- 081 21 37.8 W, 31 32 49.8 N SP+25 -- 081 22 34.7 W, 31 31 47.6 N SP+28 -- 081 23 10.9 W, 31 31 28.7 N SP+32 -- 081 24 18.5 W, 31 32 22.1 N SP+36 -- 081 25 24.6 W, 31 32 12.9 N b. Physiographic Region: GCE-SP -- Estuary and tidal marsh SP+00 -- Estuary and tidal marsh SP+03 -- Estuary and tidal marsh SP+06 -- Estuary and tidal marsh SP+09 -- Estuary and tidal marsh SP+12 -- Estuary and tidal marsh SP+15 -- Estuary and tidal marsh SP+18 -- Estuary and tidal marsh SP+21 -- Estuary and tidal marsh SP+25 -- Estuary and tidal marsh SP+28 -- Estuary and tidal marsh SP+32 -- Estuary and tidal marsh SP+36 -- Estuary and tidal marsh c. Landform Components: GCE-SP -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks SP+00 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks SP+03 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks SP+06 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks SP+09 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks SP+12 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks SP+15 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks SP+18 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks SP+21 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks SP+25 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks SP+28 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks SP+32 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks SP+36 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks d. Hydrographic Characteristics: GCE-SP -- Site includes the Sapelo River and Sapelo Sound, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. Sapelo Sound is a lagunal estuary system, with minimal freshwater stream or river input. SP+00 -- Site includes the Sapelo River and Sapelo Sound, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. Sapelo Sound is a lagunal estuary system, with minimal freshwater stream or river input. SP+03 -- Site includes the Sapelo River and Sapelo Sound, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. Sapelo Sound is a lagunal estuary system, with minimal freshwater stream or river input. SP+06 -- Site includes the Sapelo River and Sapelo Sound, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. Sapelo Sound is a lagunal estuary system, with minimal freshwater stream or river input. SP+09 -- Site includes the Sapelo River and Sapelo Sound, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. Sapelo Sound is a lagunal estuary system, with minimal freshwater stream or river input. SP+12 -- Site includes the Sapelo River and Sapelo Sound, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. Sapelo Sound is a lagunal estuary system, with minimal freshwater stream or river input. SP+15 -- Site includes the Sapelo River and Sapelo Sound, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. Sapelo Sound is a lagunal estuary system, with minimal freshwater stream or river input. SP+18 -- Site includes the Sapelo River and Sapelo Sound, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. Sapelo Sound is a lagunal estuary system, with minimal freshwater stream or river input. SP+21 -- Site includes the Sapelo River and Sapelo Sound, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. Sapelo Sound is a lagunal estuary system, with minimal freshwater stream or river input. SP+25 -- Site includes the Sapelo River and Sapelo Sound, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. Sapelo Sound is a lagunal estuary system, with minimal freshwater stream or river input. SP+28 -- Site includes the Sapelo River and Sapelo Sound, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. Sapelo Sound is a lagunal estuary system, with minimal freshwater stream or river input. SP+32 -- Site includes the Sapelo River and Sapelo Sound, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. Sapelo Sound is a lagunal estuary system, with minimal freshwater stream or river input. SP+36 -- Site includes the Sapelo River and Sapelo Sound, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. Sapelo Sound is a lagunal estuary system, with minimal freshwater stream or river input. e. Topographic Attributes: GCE-SP -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide SP+00 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide SP+03 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide SP+06 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide SP+09 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide SP+12 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide SP+15 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide SP+18 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide SP+21 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide SP+25 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide SP+28 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide SP+32 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide SP+36 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide f. Geology, Lithology and Soils: GCE-SP -- unspecified SP+00 -- unspecified SP+03 -- unspecified SP+06 -- unspecified SP+09 -- unspecified SP+12 -- unspecified SP+15 -- unspecified SP+18 -- unspecified SP+21 -- unspecified SP+25 -- unspecified SP+28 -- unspecified SP+32 -- unspecified SP+36 -- unspecified g. Vegetation Communities: GCE-SP -- unspecified SP+00 -- unspecified SP+03 -- unspecified SP+06 -- unspecified SP+09 -- unspecified SP+12 -- unspecified SP+15 -- unspecified SP+18 -- unspecified SP+21 -- unspecified SP+25 -- unspecified SP+28 -- unspecified SP+32 -- unspecified SP+36 -- 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: Study 1: Survey 1 -- Upriver low tide survey (moderate ebb to weak flood) aboard the R/V Savannah from SP+00 to SP+12 Study 2: Survey 2 -- Upriver high tide survey aboard the R/V Savannah from SP+00 to SP+12 Study 3: Survey 3 -- Upriver low tide survey aboard the R/V Salty Dawg from SP+15 to SP+36 b. Permanent Plots: Study 1: none Study 2: none Study 3: none c. Data Collection Duration and Frequency: Study 1: CTD profiles were collected at 2km intervals along the transect. Study 2: CTD profiles were collected at 2km intervals along the transect. Study 3: CTD profiles were collected at 2-3km intervals along the transect. Beginning of Observations: Study 1: Mar 22, 2002 Study 2: Mar 22, 2002 Study 3: Mar 22, 2002 End of Observations: Study 1: Mar 22, 2002 Study 2: Mar 22, 2002 Study 3: Mar 22, 2002 3. Research Methods a. Field and Laboratory Methods: Method 1: CTD Profiling (R/V Savannah) -- The CTD instrument package was mounted inside an open stainless steel frame and deployed from the deck of the R/V Savannah (UNOLS vessel, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography) using a hydrographic 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 1 m/s until the frame touched bottom. Data was collected via telemetry cables in real time at 2-4 Hz and logged to a shipboard computer. Data was also logged to the internal CTD datalogger at 8 Hz and periodically downloaded to a shipboard computer. Method 2: 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 3: 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 4: 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: SBE 25 Sealogger CTD (#250) Conductivity Sensor Manufacturer: Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc. (Model: 4C 6800m) Last Calibration: Sep 11, 2001 Parameter: conductivity (Accuracy: 0.0003 S/m, Readability: 0.00004 S/m, Range: 0 to 7 S/m) Protocol: instrument is soaked at the surface for 60 seconds, then lowered by winch for vertical profling SBE 25 Sealogger CTD (#250) Optical Back Scatter Sensor Manufacturer: D&A Instruments (Model: OBS-3) Parameter: optical backscatter (turbidity) (Range: 1-3000 mg/L sediment, 1-1500 NTU) Protocol: instrument is soaked at the surface for 60 seconds, then lowered by winch for vertical profling SBE 25 Sealogger CTD (#250) Pressure Sensor Manufacturer: Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc. (Model: SBE 29 (PAINE 211-75-710-03)) Last Calibration: Sep 07, 2001 Parameter: pressure (Accuracy: 0.25%, Range: 0-1000 psia) Protocol: instrument is soaked at the surface for 60 seconds, then lowered by winch for vertical profling SBE 25 Sealogger CTD (#250) Temperature Sensor Manufacturer: Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc. (Model: 3F 6800m) Last Calibration: Sep 08, 2001 Parameter: temperature (Accuracy: +/-0.001°C, Range: -5.0°C to +35°C) Protocol: instrument is soaked at the surface for 60 seconds, then lowered by winch for vertical profling Method 2: 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 3: none Method 4: none c. Taxonomy and Systematics: Method 1: not applicable Method 2: not applicable Method 3: not applicable Method 4: not applicable d. Permit History: Method 1: none Method 2: none Method 3: none Method 4: 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-0212d1) 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-0212d1_2_2.CSV 2. Size: 228 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_sap0302_bip.dat (459 records) Data processing history: 18-Feb-2003: new GCE Data Structure 1.1 created ('newstruct') 18-Feb-2003: CTD profile data imported from 'ctdprf_sap0302_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 231 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' 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. 22 to 22 column 5. 13.0119 to 20.6067 column 6. -81.4237 to -81.177 column 7. 31.525 to 31.5475 column 8. 1.788 to 13.605 column 9. 0 to 0 column 10. (none) column 11. 250 to 1234 column 12. (none) column 13. (none) column 14. (none) column 15. 1 to 3 column 16. 1 to 17 column 17. 1 to 12.5 column 18. 18.5883 to 21.4404 column 19. 2.6838 to 4.4558 column 20. 17.8855 to 33.3414 column 21. 1011.4651 to 1023.9059 column 22. 11.4601 to 23.8572 column 23. 0 to 29.9813 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