I. Data Set Descriptors A. Title: Jackson O. Blanton. 2015. Continuous salinity, temperature and depth measurements from moored hydrographic data loggers deployed at GCE1_Hydro (Sapelo River near Eulonia, Georgia) from 01-Jan-2006 through 31-Dec-2006. Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Data Catalog (data set PHY-GCEM-0701a; http://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?accession=PHY-GCEM-0701a) B. Accession Number: PHY-GCEM-0701a C. Description 1. Originator(s): Name: Jackson O. Blanton Address: 10 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah, Georgia Postal Code: 31411 Country: USA Email: jack.blanton@skio.usg.edu 2. Abstract: Conductivity, temperature and pressure were measured continuously at Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER sampling location GCE1_Hydro (Sapelo River near Eulonia, Georgia) from 01-Jan-2006 through 31-Dec-2006. Observations were logged at 30 minute intervals by moored Sea-Bird Electronics MicroCAT 37-SM data loggers and downloaded approximately semi-monthly. Salinity, depth and sigma-t (density anomaly) were calculated from the measured parameters using standard UNESCO algorithms. This data set was collected as part of the GCE-LTER Project continuous salinity, temperature and water level monitoring program. 3. Study Type: Monitoring 4. Study Themes: Physical Oceanography 5. LTER Core Areas: Inorganic Fluxes 6. Georeferences: geographic coordinates as data set columns 7. Submission Date: not submitted D. Keywords: conductivity, density, depth, Hydrographic Moorings, hydrography, monitoring, mooring, pressure, salinity, sonde, temperature, water column, water quality 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 Postal Code: 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 GCE1_Hydro -- Eulonia hydrographic datalogger deployment Coordinates: GCE-SP -- NW: 81 25 55.1 W, 31 33 34.7 N NE: 81 09 14.8 W, 31 33 34.7 N SE: 81 09 14.8 W, 31 30 59.9 N SW: 81 25 55.1 W, 31 30 59.9 N GCE1_Hydro -- 81 25 26.3 W, 31 32 14.9 N b. Physiographic Region: GCE-SP -- Estuary and tidal marsh GCE1_Hydro -- Estuary and tidal marsh c. Landform Components: GCE-SP -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks GCE1_Hydro -- 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. GCE1_Hydro -- 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 GCE1_Hydro -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide f. Geology, Lithology and Soils: GCE-SP -- unspecified GCE1_Hydro -- unspecified g. Vegetation Communities: GCE-SP -- unspecified GCE1_Hydro -- unspecified h. History of Land Use and Disturbance: i. Climate: Climate summary for Sapelo Island, Georgia, based on NWS data from 1980-2001: Daily-aggregated Values: Mean (sample standard deviation) mean air temperature: 19.78°C (6.98°C) minimum air temperature: 14.64°C (7.54°C) maximum air temperature: 24.62°C (6.78°C) total precipitation: 3.58mm (11.35mm) Yearly-aggregated Values: Mean (sample standard deviation) total precipitation (1981-2000): 1302mm (250mm) 2. Experimental or Sampling Design a. Design Characteristics: Conductivity, temperature and pressure were continuously monitored using an autonomous data-logging sensor package (sonde) that was moored to a piling and submerged 1-1.5m below mean low water. b. Permanent Plots: none c. Data Collection Duration and Frequency: The MicroCAT was programmed to autonomously measure and log conductivity, temperature and pressure at a sampling rate of 30 minutes (based on its internal chronometer). Upon retrieval the data was downloaded from the instrument via RS-232 serial communications and processed using custom Matlab(r) procedures to calculate depth (i.e. from pressure and latitude), salinity and sigma-t (i.e. from conductivity and temperature), and date and time components from sample time stamps. Beginning of Observations: 01-Jan-2006 End of Observations: 31-Dec-2006 3. Research Methods a. Field and Laboratory Methods: Deployment -- The MicroCAT was mounted inside a protective PVC pipe enclosure and attached to a wooden piling (~12 inch diameter) that was driven firmly into the substrate. The enclosure was constructed from a 10-foot length of 6-inch (internal diameter) PVC pipe that was perforated all over by drilling 1.5-inch holes (at approximately 4-inch spacing); this permits proper water circulation within the enclosure. The bottom of the PVC pipe was submerged about 5 feet below the water surface at low tide and bolted (vertically) to the piling. The MicroCAT was deployed by lowering it into the enclosure on a 0.375-inch stainless steel cable, and bolting the cable to the piling, so that the bottom of the data logger was ~3 inches above the bottom of the PVC pipe. A weighted surveyor's tape was then used to measure the distance from the substrate to the pressure sensor on the MicroCAT for calculation of total water column depth from pressure readings. The mooring was inspected every 1-3 weeks, and any visible fouling of the enclosure or MicroCAT was removed with a brush or scaper. Retrieval and Calibration -- At the end of each measurement period (approximately 2 months), the MicroCAT was unshackled from the cable and returned to the laboratory. The stored data was uploaded to a computer using a RS-232 serial cable and Sea-Bird Electronics SEATERM software. The MicroCAT was then cleaned to remove encrusting material and calibrated with a reference instrument at 4 to 5 salinity levels, generally ranging from 30 to 5 PSU. Data Processing -- Data were processed after each retrieval using custom programs in the GCE Data Toolbox for MATLAB (parse_37sm and imp_gcesonde). Depth was calculated from recorded pressure and latitude values, and salinity and sigma-t were calculated from recorded conductivity and temperature values using standard UNESCO algorithms (reference: Unesco. 1983. Algorithms for computation of fundamental properties of seawater, 1983. Unesco Technical Papers in Marine Science No. 44, 53 pp.). Data were then plotted and visually inspected for evidence of biofouling of the conductivity sensor (i.e. prolonged periods of damped tidal oscillation in conductivity signal with no corresponding changes in temperature signal and no wind or rainfall events recorded at nearby monitoring stations, or periods of damped oscillation immediately followed by normal oscillation after instrument maintenance or replacement). Conductivity values recorded during periods of suspected biofouling were flagged as I (invalid) if visible fouling was noted in maintenance logs, and Q (questionable) if no visible fouling was noted. b. Instrumentation: Moored CTD datalogger (Sea-Bird Electronics Inc., model MicroCAT 37-SM S/N 1791, last factory calibration 17-Aug-2005) Moored CTD datalogger (Sea-Bird Electronics Inc., model MicroCAT 37-SM S/N 2413, last factory calibration 02-May-2002) Moored CTD datalogger (Sea-Bird Electronics Inc., model MicroCAT 37-SM S/N 1794, last factory calibration 19-Apr-2006) Moored CTD datalogger (Sea-Bird Electronics Inc., model MicroCAT 37-SM S/N 4961, last factory calibration 11-Jul-2006) c. Taxonomy and Systematics: not applicable d. Speclies List: e. Permit History: 4. Project Personnel a. Personnel: 1: Jackson O. Blanton 2: Julie Amft 3: Kenneth Helm 4: Wade M. Sheldon b. Affiliations: 1: Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Savannah, Georgia 2: Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Savannah, Georgia 3: University of Georgia Marine Institute, Sapelo Island, Georgia 4: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia III. Data Set Status and Accessibility A. Status 1. Latest Update: 03-Jun-2015 2. Latest Archive Date: 3. Latest Metadata Update: 03-Jun-2015 4. Data Verification Status: new submission 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. Position: GCE-LTER Information Manager Address: Dept. of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia Postal Code: 30602-3636 Country: USA Email: gcelter@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: Affiliates: Mar 17, 2003, Public: May 01, 2003 b. Citation: Data provided by the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research Project, supported by funds from National Science Foundation Grants OCE-9982133, OCE-0620959 and OCE-1237140 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-0701a_1_0.CSV 2. Size: 17520 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: none 6. Quality Control Flag Codes: Q = questionable value, I = invalid value (out of range), S = spike/noise, X = excise row flag 7. Authentication Procedures: not specified 8. Calculations: Depth(m) = sw_dpth(Pressure(dbar),Latitude(deg)) -- sw_dpth (salt water depth from pressure) Matlab function, Revision: 1.3, Date: 10-Oct-1994 (C)1992 CSIRO, Phil Morgan (morgan@ml.csiro.au) [Salinity(psu),Sigma_t] = salsig2(Depth(m),Temperature(C),Conductivity(mmho/cm)) -- salsig2 (salinity and sigma-t from conductivity, temperature and depth) Matlab function Revision 06-May-1992 by V. Holliday, as modified by Tom Gross and Julie Amft (julie@skio.peachnet.edu) 9. Processing History: Software version: GCE Data Toolbox Version 3.9.3 (06-Apr-2015) Data structure version: GCE Data Structure 1.1 (29-Mar-2001) Original data files processed: 01060391.asc (4788 records) 01060513.asc (3970 records) 01060994.asc (5325 records) 01070161.asc (5418 records) Data processing history: 13-Mar-2006: data uploaded from SBE 37-SM MicroCAT using SEATERM software version 1.50 21-Mar-2006: new GCE Data Structure 1.1 created ('newstruct') 21-Mar-2006: data imported from processed SBE SM-37 sonde data file '01060391.asc' (4788 records) ('imp_gcesonde') 21-Mar-2006: deleted columns Year, Month, Day, Hour, Minute, Temperature, Conductivity, Pressure, Depth, TotalDepth, Salinity and Sigma_t from the structure ('deletecols') 21-Mar-2006: calculated serial date from individual date component columns, added 'Date' column at position 1 ('add_datecol') 21-Mar-2006: added column 'Instrument' at position 1 ('addcol') 21-Mar-2006: added column 'Pump' at position 2 ('addcol') 21-Mar-2006: Q/C flagging criteria applied for column(s) Pump, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 21-Mar-2006: added column 'Latitude' at position 1 ('addcol') 21-Mar-2006: Q/C flagging criteria applied for column(s) Latitude, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 21-Mar-2006: added column 'Longitude' at position 1 ('addcol') 21-Mar-2006: Q/C flagging criteria applied for column(s) Longitude, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 21-Mar-2006: added column 'Site' at position 1 ('addcol') 21-Mar-2006: added column 'Calibration' at position 19 ('addcol') 21-Mar-2006: Q/C flagging criteria applied for column(s) Calibration, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 21-Mar-2006: updated 23 metadata fields in the Data, Dataset, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('addmeta') 21-Mar-2006: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 21-Mar-2006: edited structure data ('ui_datagrid'): deleted record(s) 4751, 4752, 4753, 4754, 4755, 4756, 4757, 4758, 4759, 4760, 4761, 4762, 4763, 4764, 4765, 4766, 4767, 4768, 4769, 4770, 4771, 4772, 4773, 4774, 4775, 4776, 4777, 4778, 4779, 4780, 4781, 4782, 4783, 4784, 4785, 4786, 4787 and 4788 21-Mar-2006: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 23-Mar-2006: documented flagged and missing values in columns Temperature, Conductivity, Pressure, Depth, TotalDepth, Salinity and Sigma_t as data set anomalies in the metadata ('add_anomalies') 07-Jun-2006: 3932 rows added at the bottom of the data set ('datamerge') 07-Jun-2006: updated 14 metadata fields in the Data, Dataset, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('addmeta') 07-Jun-2006: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 07-Jun-2006: manually edited data set metadata ('ui_editmetadata') 07-Jun-2006: edited data set title in structure and metadata ('ui_editor') 07-Jun-2006: inserted 2 new records with date/time values and NaN/null data values (replicating common values in the non-data columns Site, Longitude, Latitude, Instrument, Pump and Calibration) to fill in date/time interval gaps in the data series ('fill_date_gaps') 07-Jun-2006: sorted by column Date(ascending) ('sortdata') 07-Jun-2006: deleted existing datetime columns Year, Month, Day, Hour and Minute; updated Year, Month, Day, Hour and Minute datetime columns added after column Date ('add_datepartcols') 07-Jun-2006: documented flagged and missing values in columns Temperature, Conductivity, Pressure, Depth, TotalDepth, Salinity and Sigma_t as data set anomalies in the metadata ('add_anomalies') 20-Oct-2006: 5321 rows added at the bottom of the data set ('datamerge') 20-Oct-2006: updated 14 metadata fields in the Data, Dataset, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('addmeta') 20-Oct-2006: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 20-Oct-2006: manually edited data set metadata ('ui_editmetadata') 20-Oct-2006: edited data set title in structure and metadata ('ui_editor') 20-Oct-2006: inserted 4 new records with date/time values and NaN/null data values (replicating common values in the non-data columns Site, Longitude, Latitude, Instrument, Pump and Calibration) to fill in date/time interval gaps in the data series ('fill_date_gaps') 20-Oct-2006: sorted by column Date(ascending) ('sortdata') 20-Oct-2006: deleted existing datetime columns Year, Month, Day, Hour and Minute; updated Year, Month, Day, Hour and Minute datetime columns added after column Date ('add_datepartcols') 20-Oct-2006: manually edited data set metadata ('ui_editmetadata') 20-Oct-2006: converted values in column(s) Temperature, Conductivity, Pressure, Depth, TotalDepth, Salinity and Sigma_t assigned QA/QC flag(s) I (invalid value (out of range)) or X (excise row flag) to NaN/empty: Temperature record(s) 2636, 6621 and 11466, Conductivity record(s) 2636, 6621 and 11466, Pressure record(s) 2636 and 6621, Depth record(s) 2636 and 6621, TotalDepth record(s) 2636, 6621 and 11466, Salinity record(s) 2636, 6621 and 11466, Sigma_t record(s) 2636, 6621 and 11466 ('nullflags') 20-Oct-2006: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 20-Oct-2006: documented flagged and missing values in columns Temperature, Conductivity, Pressure, Depth, TotalDepth, Salinity and Sigma_t as data set anomalies in the metadata ('add_anomalies') 12-Jan-2007: Q/C flagging criteria of column Conductivity edited ('ui_editor') 12-Jan-2007: Q/C flagging criteria applied for column(s) Conductivity, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 12-Jan-2007: 5416 rows added at the bottom of the data set ('datamerge') 12-Jan-2007: updated 15 metadata fields in the Data, Dataset, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('addmeta') 12-Jan-2007: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 12-Jan-2007: manually edited data set metadata ('ui_editmetadata') 12-Jan-2007: edited data set title in structure and metadata ('ui_editor') 12-Jan-2007: documented flagged and missing values in columns Temperature, Conductivity, Pressure, Depth, TotalDepth, Salinity and Sigma_t as data set anomalies in the metadata ('add_anomalies') 12-Jan-2007: inserted 7 new records with date/time values and NaN/null data values (replicating common values in the non-data columns Site, Longitude, Latitude, Instrument, Pump and Calibration) to fill in date/time interval gaps in the data series ('fill_date_gaps') 12-Jan-2007: sorted by column Date(ascending) ('sortdata') 12-Jan-2007: deleted existing datetime columns Year, Month, Day, Hour and Minute; updated Year, Month, Day, Hour and Minute datetime columns added after column Date ('add_datepartcols') 12-Jan-2007: manually edited data set metadata ('ui_editmetadata') 12-Jan-2007: documented flagged and missing values in columns Temperature, Conductivity, Pressure, Depth, TotalDepth, Salinity and Sigma_t as data set anomalies in the metadata ('add_anomalies') 26-Sep-2008: manually edited data set metadata ('ui_editmetadata') 26-Sep-2008: edited data set title in structure and metadata ('ui_editor') 26-Sep-2008: query 'Year = 2006' run, returned 17520 of 19432 data rows ('querydata') 26-Sep-2008: automatically assigned study date metadata descriptors based on the range of date values in date/time columns (add_studydates) 26-Sep-2008: updated title ('newtitle') 26-Sep-2008: updated 2 metadata fields in the Dataset, Status sections ('newtitle') 26-Sep-2008: updated 3 metadata fields in the Status sections ('addmeta') 22-Apr-2011: updated 3 metadata fields in the Status sections ('addmeta') 22-Apr-2011: updated 3 metadata fields in the Status sections ('addmeta') 16-Nov-2011: matched 17520 out of 17520 geographic coordinates in columns Latitude and Longitude to coordinates for registered locations in the file 'geo_locations.mat' within a distance tolerance of 0.5km (add_locations) 16-Nov-2011: added column 'Station' at position 2 ('addcol') 16-Nov-2011: Q/C flagging criteria applied for column(s) Station, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 16-Nov-2011: added geographic metadata based on matching values in column Station to location and station names registered in 'geo_locations.mat' ('add_sitemetadata') 16-Nov-2011: updated 9 metadata fields in the Site, Status sections ('add_sitemetadata') 03-Jun-2015: query 'Year=2006' run, returned 17520 of 17520 data rows ('querydata') 03-Jun-2015: copied QA/QC flags from column(s) Conductivity and Temperature to column(s) Salinity and Sigma_t, merging copied flags with any existing flags, and set QA/QC criteria for destination column(s) to 'manual' ('copyflags') 03-Jun-2015: imported all documentation metadata from the template 'GCE_Sonde_GCE1', retaining existing attribute descriptors for all columns ('meta_template') 03-Jun-2015: updated 44 metadata fields in the Data, Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('addmeta') 03-Jun-2015: updated title ('newtitle') 03-Jun-2015: added geographic metadata based on matching values in column Station to location and station names registered in 'geo_locations.mat' ('add_sitemetadata') 03-Jun-2015: updated 8 metadata fields in the Site sections ('addmeta') 03-Jun-2015: updated title ('newtitle') 03-Jun-2015: updated 1 metadata fields in the Dataset sections ('addmeta') 03-Jun-2015: deleted columns TotalDepth, Calibration and Pump from the structure ('deletecols') 03-Jun-2015: converted values in all columns assigned QA/QC flag(s) I (invalid value (out of range)) to NaN/empty: Temperature record(s) 9970, 13186 and 13855, Conductivity record(s) 9970, Salinity record(s) 9970, 13186 and 13855, Sigma_t record(s) 9970, 13186 and 13855 ('nullflags') 03-Jun-2015: converted dates in column(s) Date to format yyyy-mm-dd HH:MM:SS 03-Jun-2015: flags for columns Temperature, Conductivity, Pressure, Depth, Salinity and Sigma_t converted to data columns, flag codes updated in metadata ('flags2cols') 03-Jun-2015: updated 6 metadata fields in the Data sections ('addmeta') 03-Jun-2015: updated 15 metadata fields in the Status, Data sections to reflect attribute metadata ('updatecols') 03-Jun-2015: parsed and formatted metadata ('listmeta') B. Variable Information 1. Variable Name: column 1. Site column 2. Station column 3. Longitude column 4. Latitude column 5. Instrument column 6. Date column 7. Year column 8. Month column 9. Day column 10. Hour column 11. Minute column 12. Temperature column 13. Flag_Temperature column 14. Conductivity column 15. Flag_Conductivity column 16. Pressure column 17. Flag_Pressure column 18. Depth column 19. Flag_Depth column 20. Salinity column 21. Flag_Salinity column 22. Sigma_t column 23. Flag_Sigma_t 2. Variable Definition: column 1. Nearest nominal GCE-LTER sampling site column 2. Station determined by geographic lookup of coordinates in reference file 'geo_locations.mat' using a distance tolerance of 0.5km column 3. Geographic longitude in decimal degrees column 4. Geographic latitude in decimal degrees column 5. Serial number of the SBE 37-SM MicroCAT instrument used for the observations column 6. Calendar date and time of observation column 7. Calendar year column 8. Calendar month column 9. Calendar day column 10. Hours - GMT column 11. Minutes column 12. Water temperature column 13. QA/QC flags for Water temperature (flagging criteria, where "x" is Temperature: x<0="Q", x>35="Q", Depth<0.15="I", flag_valuechange(x,2,2,1,3)="Q", manual) column 14. Conductivity column 15. QA/QC flags for Conductivity (flagging criteria, where "x" is Conductivity: x<0="I", Depth<0.15="I", flag_valuechange(x,1,1,1,3)="Q", manual) column 16. Water pressure at sensor (approximately equivalent to water depth within 3% error) column 17. QA/QC flags for Water pressure at sensor (approximately equivalent to water depth within 3% error) (flagging criteria, where "x" is Pressure: x<0="I", x<0.05="X", x>10="Q") column 18. Water depth to the pressure sensor of the moored sonde column 19. QA/QC flags for Water depth to the pressure sensor of the moored sonde (flagging criteria, where "x" is Depth: x<0="I", x<0.05="X", x>10="Q") column 20. Salinity column 21. QA/QC flags for Salinity (flagging criteria, where "x" is Salinity: x<0="I", x>36="Q", Depth<0.15="I", flag_valuechange(x,5,5,1,3)="Q", manual) column 22. Sigma-t (i.e. Density-1) column 23. QA/QC flags for Sigma-t (i.e. Density-1) (flagging criteria, where "x" is Sigma_t: x<-5="Q", x>28="Q", Depth<0.15="I", flag_valuechange(x,5,5,1,3)="Q", manual) 3. Units of Measurement: column 1. none column 2. none column 3. degrees column 4. degrees column 5. none column 6. yyyy-mm-dd HH:MM:SS - GMT column 7. YYYY column 8. MM column 9. DD column 10. hr column 11. min column 12. °C column 13. none column 14. S/m column 15. none column 16. dbar column 17. none column 18. m column 19. none column 20. PSU column 21. none column 22. kg/m^3 column 23. none 4. Data Type a. Storage Type: column 1. integer column 2. string column 3. floating-point column 4. floating-point column 5. integer column 6. string column 7. integer column 8. integer column 9. integer column 10. integer column 11. integer column 12. floating-point column 13. string column 14. floating-point column 15. string column 16. floating-point column 17. string column 18. floating-point column 19. string column 20. floating-point column 21. string column 22. floating-point column 23. string b. Variable Codes: Flag_Temperature: Q = questionable value Flag_Conductivity: Q = questionable value Flag_Salinity: Q = questionable value Flag_Sigma_t: Q = questionable value c. Numeric Range: column 1. 1 to 1 column 2. (none) column 3. -81.424 to -81.424 column 4. 31.5375 to 31.5375 column 5. 1791 to 4961 column 6. (none) column 7. 2006 to 2006 column 8. 1 to 12 column 9. 1 to 31 column 10. 0 to 23 column 11. 0 to 30 column 12. 6.0971 to 33.8195 column 13. (none) column 14. 0.00828 to 5.2233 column 15. (none) column 16. 0.057 to 3.738 column 17. (none) column 18. 0.056605 to 3.7121 column 19. (none) column 20. 0.051177 to 31.7301 column 21. (none) column 22. -1.9183 to 23.4731 column 23. (none) d. Missing Value Code: 5. Data Format a. Column Type: column 1. numerical column 2. text column 3. numerical column 4. numerical column 5. numerical column 6. text column 7. numerical column 8. numerical column 9. numerical column 10. numerical column 11. numerical column 12. numerical column 13. text column 14. numerical column 15. text column 16. numerical column 17. text column 18. numerical column 19. text column 20. numerical column 21. text column 22. numerical column 23. text b. Number of Columns: 23 c. Decimal Places: column 1. 0 column 2. 0 column 3. 6 column 4. 6 column 5. 0 column 6. 0 column 7. 0 column 8. 0 column 9. 0 column 10. 0 column 11. 0 column 12. 3 column 13. 0 column 14. 3 column 15. 0 column 16. 3 column 17. 0 column 18. 3 column 19. 0 column 20. 3 column 21. 0 column 22. 3 column 23. 0 6. Logical Variable Type: column 1. nominal (discrete) column 2. nominal (none) column 3. geographic coordinate (continuous) column 4. geographic coordinate (continuous) column 5. nominal (discrete) column 6. datetime (none) column 7. datetime (discrete) column 8. datetime (discrete) column 9. datetime (discrete) column 10. datetime (discrete) column 11. datetime (discrete) column 12. data (continuous) column 13. coded value (none) column 14. data (continuous) column 15. coded value (none) column 16. data (continuous) column 17. coded value (none) column 18. calculation (continuous) column 19. coded value (none) column 20. calculation (continuous) column 21. coded value (none) column 22. calculation (continuous) column 23. coded value (none) 7. Flagging Criteria: column 1. none column 2. flag_locationcoords(x,col_Longitude,col_Latitude,0.25,"sensitive","geo_locations.mat")=" Q" column 3. x<-180="Q";x>180="Q" column 4. x<-90="Q";x>90="Q" column 5. none column 6. none column 7. none column 8. x<1="I";x>12="I" column 9. x<1="I";x>31="I" column 10. x<0="I";x>24="I" column 11. x<0="I";x>60="I" column 12. x<0="Q";x>35="Q";col_Depth<0.15="I";flag_valuechange(x,2,2,1,3)="Q";manually-assigned flags column 13. none column 14. x<0="I";col_Depth<0.15="I";flag_valuechange(x,1,1,1,3)="Q";manually-assigned flags column 15. none column 16. x<0="I";x<0.05="X";x>10="Q" column 17. none column 18. x<0="I";x<0.05="X";x>10="Q" column 19. none column 20. x<0="I";x>36="Q";col_Depth<0.15="I";flag_valuechange(x,5,5,1,3)="Q";manually-assigned flags column 21. none column 22. x<-5="Q";x>28="Q";col_Depth<0.15="I";flag_valuechange(x,5,5,1,3)="Q";manually-assigned flags column 23. none C. Data Anomalies: Note that the instrument became untethered and rested on the substrate from 12/9/2006 to 12/14/2006, so observations were manually flagged as questionable during this period. Converted values in column(s) Temperature, Conductivity, Pressure, Depth, TotalDepth, Salinity and Sigma_t assigned QA/QC flag(s) I (invalid value (out of range)) or X (excise row flag) to NaN/empty: Temperature record(s) 754, 1966, 2778, 3400 and 4315, Conductivity record(s) 754, 1966, 2778, 3400 and 4315, Pressure record(s) 754, 1966, 3400 and 4315, Depth record(s) 754, 1966, 3400 and 4315, TotalDepth record(s) 754, 1966, 2778, 3400 and 4315, Salinity record(s) 754, 1966, 2778, 3400 and 4315, Sigma_t record(s) 754, 1966, 2778, 3400 and 4315. Converted values in column(s) Temperature, Conductivity, Pressure, Depth, TotalDepth, Salinity and Sigma_t assigned QA/QC flag(s) I (invalid value (out of range)) or X (excise row flag) to NaN/empty: Temperature record(s) 2636, 6621 and 11466, Conductivity record(s) 2636, 6621 and 11466, Pressure record(s) 2636 and 6621, Depth record(s) 2636 and 6621, TotalDepth record(s) 2636, 6621 and 11466, Salinity record(s) 2636, 6621 and 11466, Sigma_t record(s) 2636, 6621 and 11466. Values of 3 records in Temperature were flagged as I (invalid value (out of range)) for dates: 07/27/2006, 10/02/2006, 10/16/2006. Values of 271 records in Temperature were flagged as Q (questionable value) for dates: 12/08/2006-12/14/2006. Values of 23 records in Temperature are missing for dates: 01/24/2006, 03/09/2006, 04/17/2006, 05/30/2006, 06/15/2006, 07/10/2006, 07/27/2006, 08/09/2006, 08/28/2006, 09/18/2006, 10/02/2006, 10/16/2006, 10/31/2006. The value of one record in Conductivity was flagged as I (invalid value (out of range)) for date 07/27/2006. Values of 276 records in Conductivity were flagged as Q (questionable value) for dates: 09/12/2006, 12/08/2006-12/14/2006. Values of 31 records in Conductivity are missing for dates: 01/24/2006, 03/09/2006, 04/17/2006, 05/30/2006, 06/15/2006, 07/10/2006, 07/27/2006, 08/09/2006, 08/28/2006, 09/18/2006, 09/19/2006, 10/02/2006, 10/16/2006, 10/31/2006. Values of 20 records in Pressure are missing for dates: 01/24/2006, 03/09/2006, 04/17/2006, 05/30/2006, 06/15/2006, 07/10/2006, 08/09/2006, 08/28/2006, 09/18/2006, 10/31/2006. Values of 20 records in Depth are missing for dates: 01/24/2006, 03/09/2006, 04/17/2006, 05/30/2006, 06/15/2006, 07/10/2006, 08/09/2006, 08/28/2006, 09/18/2006, 10/31/2006. Values of 3 records in TotalDepth were flagged as I (invalid value (out of range)) for dates: 07/27/2006, 10/02/2006, 10/16/2006. Values of 5436 records in TotalDepth are missing for dates: 01/24/2006, 03/09/2006, 04/17/2006, 05/30/2006, 06/15/2006, 07/10/2006, 07/27/2006, 08/09/2006, 08/28/2006, 09/18/2006-01/09/2007. Values of 3 records in Salinity were flagged as I (invalid value (out of range)) for dates: 07/27/2006, 10/02/2006, 10/16/2006. Values of 278 records in Salinity were flagged as Q (questionable value) for dates: 09/12/2006, 09/15/2006, 12/08/2006-12/14/2006. Values of 29 records in Salinity are missing for dates: 01/24/2006, 03/09/2006, 04/17/2006, 05/30/2006, 06/15/2006, 07/10/2006, 07/27/2006, 08/09/2006, 08/28/2006, 09/18/2006, 09/19/2006, 10/02/2006, 10/16/2006, 10/31/2006. Values of 3 records in Sigma_t were flagged as I (invalid value (out of range)) for dates: 07/27/2006, 10/02/2006, 10/16/2006. Values of 277 records in Sigma_t were flagged as Q (questionable value) for dates: 09/12/2006, 12/08/2006-12/14/2006. Values of 25 records in Sigma_t are missing for dates: 01/24/2006, 03/09/2006, 04/17/2006, 05/30/2006, 06/15/2006, 07/10/2006, 07/27/2006, 08/09/2006, 08/28/2006, 09/18/2006, 10/02/2006, 10/16/2006, 10/31/2006. 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: Data format is validated during download by Sea-Bird Electronics Sea-Soft version 4.246, and also by custom data import programs in the GCE Data Toolbox for Matlab. B. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: QA/QC flags are generated automatically according to domain criteria specified for each data column, then subsequently reviewed and revised as appropriate. Coded flag columns are generated for each data column, listing qualifier flags assigned to the data value on the corresponding row. C. Supplemental Materials: not applicable D. Computer Programs: Sea-Bird Electronics Sea-Soft version 4.246, MATLAB version 2013B 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: unspecified G. History of Data Set Usage 1. Data Request History: unspecified 2. Data Set Update History: not updated 3. Review History: Instrument deployment, maintenance and retrieval observations: S/N 1791 Site# 1 Set up by K. Helm Date 11/30/05 Time on 2000GMT Date 11/30/05 Time into water 1914 Date 3/9/06 Time out of water 1852 Date 3/10/06 Time off 1425 Sample interval 1800 Deployment information Date 11/30/05 Time 1914 ysi sal 2.9 ysi temp 17.5 water depth n/a sensor height above bottom n/a Retrieval information Date 3/9/06 Time 1852 ysi sal 1.2 ysi temp 17.8 water depth n/a Instrument condition sensor tube very clean Upload filename 01060391 Maintenance record Date 12/19/05 Time 1750 Sal 2.3 Temp 10.7 Depth n/a Condition - sensor tube very clean Date 1/10/06 Time 1533 Sal 0.2 Temp 11.0 Depth n/a Condition- sensor tube- very clean Date 1/24/06 Time 1727 Sal 0.7 Temp 18.3 Depth n/a Condition- sensor tube very clean Date 2/10/06 Time 1616 Sal 0.5 Temp 9.4 Depth n/a Condition- sensor tube very clean Date Time Sal Temp Depth Condition Instrument deployment, maintenance and retrieval observations: S/N 2413 Site# 1 Set up by K. Helm Date 3/9/06 Time on 2000GMT Date 3/9/06 Time into water 1852 Date 5/30/06 Time out of water 1736 Date 5/31/06 Time off 1310 Sample interval 1800 Deployment information Date 3/9/06 Time 1852 ysi sal 1.2 ysi temp 17.8 water depth n/a sensor height above bottom n/a Retrieval information Date 5/30/06 Time 1736 ysi sal 28.7 ysi temp 27.9 water depth n/a Instrument condition sensor tube very clean Upload filename 01060513 Maintenance record Date 3/21/06 Time 1608 Sal 9.2 Temp 17.5 Depth n/a Condition - sensor tube very clean Date 4/3/06 Time 1700 Sal 18.5 Temp 23.4 Depth n/a Condition- sensor tube- clog- hose/ clean Date 4/17/06 Time 1748 Sal 20.0 Temp 23.8 Depth n/a Condition- sensor tube- clog/hose/ clean Date 5/1/06 Time 1629 Sal 24.8 Temp 21.0 Depth n/a Condition- sensor tube very clean Date 5/16/06 Time 1700 Sal 24.5 Temp 22.3 Depth n/a Condition sensor tube clean Instrument deployment, maintenance and retrieval observations: S/N 1794 Site# 1 Set up by K. Helm Date 5/30/06 Time on 2000GMT Date 5/30/06 Time into water 1736 Date 9/18/06 Time out of water 1608 Date 9/18/06 Time off 1834 Sample interval 1800 Deployment information Date 5/30/06 Time 1736 ysi sal 28.7 ysi temp 27.9 water depth -n/a sensor height above bottom n/a Retrieval information Date 9/18/06 Time 1608 ysi sal 13.0 ysi temp 27.2 water depth n/a Instrument condition sensor tube clogged/hose clean Upload filename 01060994 Maintenance record Date 6/15/06 Time 1224 Sal 10.3 Temp 26.0 Depth n/a Condition - sensor tube clean Date 6/29/06 Time 1800 Sal 27.9 Temp 29.9 Depth n/a Condition- sensor tube- clean Date 7/10/06 Time 1829 Sal 25.8 Temp 28.8 Depth n/a Condition- sensor tube clean Date 7/27/06 Time 1618 Sal 27.7 Temp 30.2 Depth n/a Condition- sensor tube clean Date 8/9/06 Time 1510 Sal 24.8 Temp 30.6 Depth n/a Condition- sensor tube clog/hose clean Date 8/28/06 Time 1645 Sal 25.1 Temp 31.5 Depth n/a Condition- sensor tube clog/hose clean Instrument deployment, maintenance and retrieval observations: S/N 4961 Site# 1 Set up by K. Helm Date 9/18/06 Time on 2000GMT Date 9/18/06 Time into water 1608 Date 1/9/07 Time out of water 1434 Date 1/9/07 Time off 1725 Sample interval 1800 Deployment information Date 9/18/06 Time 1608 ysi sal 13.0 ysi temp 27.2 water depth - n/a sensor height above bottom n/a Retrieval information Date 1/9/07 Time 1434 ysi sal 22.1 ysi temp 15.7 water depth n/a Instrument condition sensor tube -very clean Upload filename 01070161 Maintenance record Date 10/2/06 Time 1625 Sal 20.6 Temp 26.3 Depth n/a Condition - sensor tube very clean Date 10/16/06 Time 1453 Sal 20.2 Temp 18.2 Depth n/a Condition- sensor tube very clean Date 10/31/06 Time 1654 Sal 22.5 Temp 20.5 Depth n/a Condition- sensor tube very clean Date 11/13/06 Time 1822 Sal 29.8 Temp 17.1 Depth n/a Condition- sensor tube very clean Date 12/14/06 Time 1405 Sal 20.4 Temp 15.6 Depth n/a Condition- sonde discovered lost to bottom and retrieved and re-deployed Date Time Sal Temp Depth Condition- 4. Questions and Comments from Users: none