I. Data Set Descriptors A. Title: Daniela Di Iorio. 2004. December 2003 CTD, PAR, oxygen and chlorophyll profiles for the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Altamaha River transect. Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Data Catalog (data set PHY-GCEM-0401a2; http://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?accession=PHY-GCEM-0401a2) B. Accession Number: PHY-GCEM-0401a2 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: Four hydrographic surveys were performed on December 2, 2003, along an east-to-west transect up the Altamaha River in Georgia (Altamaha River Transect, GCE-AL). Vertical CTD profiles were collected at 2km intervals from the -4km to 24km upriver along the transect during low and high tidal regimes. Conductivity, temperature, pressure, optical back scatter, photosynthetically-available radiation, oxygen and chlorophyll a fluorescence were measured, and depth, salinity and sigma-t were calculated for each profile. Data values collected during the upcast were deleted. 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: Jan 14, 2004 D. Keywords: chlorophyll, conductivity, Cruise CTD Profiling, density, depth, estuaries, hydrography, Inorganic Nutrients, oxygen, photosynthetically active radiation, 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-AL -- Altamaha River, Georgia, USA AL+00 -- AL+00 AL+02 -- AL+02 AL+04 -- AL+04 AL+06 -- AL+06 AL+08 -- AL+08 AL+10 -- AL+10 AL+12 -- AL+12 AL+14 -- AL+14 AL+16 -- AL+16 AL+18 -- AL+18 AL+20 -- AL+20 AL+22 -- AL+22 AL+24 -- AL+24 AL-02 -- AL-02 AL-04 -- AL-04 Coordinates: GCE-AL -- NW: 081 34 56.32 W, 31 24 05.05 N NE: 081 14 16.57 W, 31 24 05.05 N SE: 081 14 16.57 W, 31 17 45.72 N SW: 081 34 56.32 W, 31 17 45.72 N AL+00 -- 081 17 09.0 W, 31 19 06.0 N AL+02 -- 081 18 24.0 W, 31 19 15.0 N AL+04 -- 081 19 39.0 W, 31 19 12.0 N AL+06 -- 081 20 48.0 W, 31 18 48.0 N AL+08 -- 081 22 03.0 W, 31 19 12.0 N AL+10 -- 081 23 15.0 W, 31 18 57.0 N AL+12 -- 081 24 03.0 W, 31 18 21.0 N AL+14 -- 081 24 54.0 W, 31 18 24.0 N AL+16 -- 081 25 54.0 W, 31 18 42.0 N AL+18 -- 081 26 06.0 W, 31 19 42.6 N AL+20 -- 081 27 09.0 W, 31 19 36.0 N AL+22 -- 081 27 54.0 W, 31 20 06.0 N AL+24 -- 081 28 30.0 W, 31 20 12.0 N AL-02 -- 081 15 55.2 W, 31 18 50.4 N AL-04 -- 081 14 36.0 W, 31 18 42.0 N b. Physiographic Region: GCE-AL -- Estuary and tidal marsh AL+00 -- Estuary and tidal marsh AL+02 -- Estuary and tidal marsh AL+04 -- Estuary and tidal marsh AL+06 -- Estuary and tidal marsh AL+08 -- Estuary and tidal marsh AL+10 -- Estuary and tidal marsh AL+12 -- Estuary and tidal marsh AL+14 -- Estuary and tidal marsh AL+16 -- Estuary and tidal marsh AL+18 -- Estuary and tidal marsh AL+20 -- Estuary and tidal marsh AL+22 -- Estuary and tidal marsh AL+24 -- Estuary and tidal marsh AL-02 -- Estuary and tidal marsh AL-04 -- Estuary and tidal marsh c. Landform Components: GCE-AL -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks AL+00 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks AL+02 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks AL+04 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks AL+06 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks AL+08 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks AL+10 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks AL+12 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks AL+14 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks AL+16 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks AL+18 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks AL+20 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks AL+22 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks AL+24 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks AL-02 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks AL-04 -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks d. Hydrographic Characteristics: GCE-AL -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. AL+00 -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. AL+02 -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. AL+04 -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. AL+06 -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. AL+08 -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. AL+10 -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. AL+12 -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. AL+14 -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. AL+16 -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. AL+18 -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. AL+20 -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. AL+22 -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. AL+24 -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. AL-02 -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. AL-04 -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. e. Topographic Attributes: GCE-AL -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide AL+00 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide AL+02 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide AL+04 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide AL+06 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide AL+08 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide AL+10 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide AL+12 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide AL+14 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide AL+16 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide AL+18 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide AL+20 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide AL+22 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide AL+24 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide AL-02 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide AL-04 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide f. Geology, Lithology and Soils: GCE-AL -- unspecified AL+00 -- unspecified AL+02 -- unspecified AL+04 -- unspecified AL+06 -- unspecified AL+08 -- unspecified AL+10 -- unspecified AL+12 -- unspecified AL+14 -- unspecified AL+16 -- unspecified AL+18 -- unspecified AL+20 -- unspecified AL+22 -- unspecified AL+24 -- unspecified AL-02 -- unspecified AL-04 -- unspecified g. Vegetation Communities: GCE-AL -- unspecified AL+00 -- unspecified AL+02 -- unspecified AL+04 -- unspecified AL+06 -- unspecified AL+08 -- unspecified AL+10 -- unspecified AL+12 -- unspecified AL+14 -- unspecified AL+16 -- unspecified AL+18 -- unspecified AL+20 -- unspecified AL+22 -- unspecified AL+24 -- unspecified AL-02 -- unspecified AL-04 -- 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 -- Up-river low tide survey of the Altamaha River conducted aboard the R/V Savannah from stations AL-04 (4km offshore) to AL+12 (12km up-river). Study 2: Survey 2 -- Up-river low tide survey of the Altamaha River conducted aboard the R/V Salty Dawg (skiff) from stations AL+14 (14km up-river) to AL+24 (24km up-river). Study 3: Survey 3 -- Up-river high tide survey of the Altamaha River conducted aboard the R/V Savannah from stations AL-04 (4km offshore) to AL+12 (12km up-river). Study 4: Survey 4 -- Up-river high tide survey of the Altamaha River conducted aboard the R/V Salty Dawg (skiff) from stations AL+14 (14km up-river) to AL+24 (24km up-river). b. Permanent Plots: Study 1: none Study 2: none Study 3: none Study 4: 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 2km intervals along the transect. Study 4: CTD profiles were collected at 2km intervals along the transect. Beginning of Observations: Study 1: Dec 02, 2003 Study 2: Dec 02, 2003 Study 3: Dec 02, 2003 Study 4: Dec 02, 2003 End of Observations: Study 1: Dec 02, 2003 Study 2: Dec 02, 2003 Study 3: Dec 02, 2003 Study 4: Dec 02, 2003 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. 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) Fluorometer Manufacturer: WETLabs (Model: WETStar) Last Calibration: Sep 21, 2001 Parameter: chlorophyll-a fluorescence (Range: 0.03-150 µg/L) 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) Oxygen Sensor Manufacturer: Sea-Bird Electronics (Model: SBE 43) Last Calibration: Sep 25, 2001 Parameter: oxygen concentration (Accuracy: 2% of saturation, Range: 0-120% of surface saturation) Protocol: instrument is soaked at the surface for 60 seconds, then lowered by winch for vertical profling SBE 25 Sealogger CTD (#250) PAR Sensor Manufacturer: Li-Cor (Model: LI-193SA) Last Calibration: Sep 26, 2001 Parameter: PAR 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: Jul 24, 2003 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) PAR Sensor Manufacturer: Li-Cor (Model: LI-193SA) Last Calibration: Jul 24, 2003 Parameter: PAR 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: Jul 24, 2003 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: Jul 24, 2003 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 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: Jan 14, 2004, Public: Jan 14, 2005 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-0401a2) 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-0401a2_3_2.CSV 2. Size: 3339 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_alt1203_raw.dat (3339 records) Data processing history: 28-Oct-2004: new GCE Data Structure 1.1 created ('newstruct') 28-Oct-2004: CTD profile data imported from 'ctdprf_alt1203_raw.dat' ('imp_ctdprofile') 28-Oct-2004: column descriptor metadata assigned using template 'CTD_Profile' ('meta_template') 28-Oct-2004: updated 12 metadata fields in the Dataset, Site, Status, Study sections ('imp_ctdprofile') 28-Oct-2004: data structure validated ('gce_valid') 28-Oct-2004: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 28-Oct-2004: documented flagged and missing values as data set anomalies in the metadata ('add_anomalies') 29-Oct-2004: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 29-Oct-2004: updated 67 metadata fields in the Data, Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 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: 277 values in 'Station' were updated with new values ('update_data') 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 13 ('addcol') 25-Aug-2011: added column 'SurveyName' at position 15 ('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. Tide column 13. Transect column 14. Station column 15. SurveyName column 16. Survey column 17. Cast column 18. Pressure column 19. Depth column 20. Temperature column 21. Conductivity column 22. Salinity column 23. Density column 24. Sigma_t column 25. OBS column 26. PAR_Depth column 27. PAR column 28. Oxygen column 29. Oxygen_Sat column 30. ChlorA 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. Nominal tide stage based on predicted tidal harmonics and shipboard observation column 13. GCE cruise transect column 14. GCE-LTER sampling station column 15. Cruise survey title column 16. Nominal survey column 17. CTD cast number column 18. Water pressure column 19. Water depth at pressure sensor column 20. Water temperature column 21. Conductivity column 22. Salinity column 23. Water density column 24. Sigma-t (i.e. (Water Density-1)*1000) column 25. Optical back-scatter column 26. Water depth at PAR sensor column 27. Photosynthetically available radiation column 28. Oxygen concentration column 29. Percent oxygen saturation in water column 30. Uncalibrated Chlorophyll a concentration based on whole-water fluorometric analysis 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. none column 18. dbar column 19. m column 20. °C column 21. S/m column 22. PSU column 23. kg/m^3 column 24. kg/m^3 column 25. none column 26. m column 27. µEinsteins/m^2 column 28. ml/L column 29. % column 30. v 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. alphanumeric column 16. integer column 17. integer column 18. floating-point column 19. floating-point column 20. floating-point column 21. floating-point column 22. floating-point column 23. floating-point column 24. floating-point column 25. floating-point column 26. floating-point column 27. floating-point column 28. floating-point column 29. floating-point column 30. floating-point b. Variable Codes: CTD: 250 = DiIorio SBE25 CTD, 1234 = UGA Marine Sciences SBE19 CTD Tide: LW = low water, HW = high water, EBB = ebbing tide, FLD = flooding tide, NR = not recorded c. Numeric Range: column 1. (none) column 2. 2003 to 2003 column 3. 12 to 12 column 4. 2 to 2 column 5. 13.6453 to 20.9769 column 6. -81.4745 to -81.2524 column 7. 31.3051 to 31.3368 column 8. 3.079 to 8.838 column 9. 0 to 0 column 10. (none) column 11. 250 to 1234 column 12. (none) column 13. (none) column 14. (none) column 15. (none) column 16. 1 to 4 column 17. 1 to 30 column 18. 0.758 to 8.593 column 19. 0.752 to 8.533 column 20. 12.2941 to 16.1211 column 21. 0.0123 to 4.0259 column 22. 0.0773 to 31.6725 column 23. 999.4127 to 1023.1898 column 24. -0.5911 to 23.1633 column 25. 11.2332 to 98.6569 column 26. 0.01 to 7.733 column 27. 0.0031 to 665.2 column 28. 4.9447 to 7.0626 column 29. 83.3431 to 111.2875 column 30. 2.7803 to 15.3494 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. text column 16. numerical column 17. numerical column 18. numerical column 19. numerical column 20. numerical column 21. numerical column 22. numerical column 23. numerical column 24. numerical column 25. numerical column 26. numerical column 27. numerical column 28. numerical column 29. numerical column 30. numerical b. Number of Columns: 30 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. 0 column 18. 3 column 19. 3 column 20. 3 column 21. 3 column 22. 3 column 23. 3 column 24. 3 column 25. 2 column 26. 3 column 27. 3 column 28. 2 column 29. 2 column 30. 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. coded value (none) column 13. nominal (none) column 14. nominal (none) column 15. nominal (none) column 16. nominal (discrete) column 17. nominal (discrete) column 18. data (continuous) column 19. data (continuous) column 20. data (continuous) column 21. data (continuous) column 22. calculation (continuous) column 23. calculation (continuous) column 24. calculation (continuous) column 25. data (continuous) column 26. calculation (continuous) column 27. data (continuous) column 28. data (continuous) column 29. calculation (continuous) column 30. data (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<-180="I", x>180="I", x<-82="Q", x>-80="Q" column 7. x<-90="I", x>90="I", x<31="Q", x>32="Q" column 8. x<0="I", x>50="Q" column 9. x<0="I", x>1="I" column 10. none column 11. none column 12. flag_notinlist(x,{"LW","HW","EBB","FLD","NR"}) column 13. none column 14. none column 15. none column 16. none column 17. x<0="I" column 18. x<0="I", x>50="Q" column 19. x<0="I", x>50="Q" column 20. x<2="Q", x>35="Q", col_Depth<0="I" column 21. col_Depth<0="I" column 22. x<0="I", x>36="Q", col_Depth<0="I" column 23. col_Depth<0="I" column 24. x<-5="Q", x>28="Q", col_Depth<0="I" column 25. col_Depth<0="I" column 26. x<0="I", x>50="Q" column 27. x<0="I", col_PAR_Depth<0="I", x>2000="Q" column 28. x<0="I", x<2="Q", x>16="Q", flag_o2saturation(x,col_Temperature,col_Salinity,125,60,"ml/L")="Q", col_Depth<0="I" column 29. x<0="I", x<60="Q", x>125="Q", col_Depth<0="I" column 30. col_Depth<0="I" C. Data Anomalies: Values of 20 records in Conductivity are missing for date 12/02/2003. Values of 20 records in Salinity are missing for date 12/02/2003. Values of 20 records in Density are missing for date 12/02/2003. Values of 20 records in Sigma_t are missing for date 12/02/2003. Values of 535 records in OBS are missing for date 12/02/2003. Values of 30 records in PAR_Depth are missing for date 12/02/2003. Values of 34 records in PAR are missing for date 12/02/2003. Values of 535 records in Oxygen are missing for date 12/02/2003. Values of 535 records in Oxygen_Sat are missing for date 12/02/2003. Values of 818 records in ChlorA are missing for date 12/02/2003. 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 6.5 (Release 13sp1) 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