EX1208 Readme


Class of Data:  Surface ocean carbon dioxide concentrations

Dataset Identifier:  EX1208

EXPOCODE: 33KF20120319

Statement of how to cite dataset:

     Explorer website: http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/ocd/gcc/explorer_cruisetracks.php

     For more information on dataset citation please see Master Readme File.

Measurement platform identifier:  EX1208/Explorer

Data quality issues:

     For the first ten days of the cruise, the GPS signal was not logged by the
     CO2 instrument.  The positions were obtained from ship data files.  The 
     seawater flow was more variable during 28 March, likely due to sea state.

     STD1 analyses were not used in the calibration due to infrequent use.

     Standard Gases and Reference Gas:  The three standard gases come from ESRL
     in Boulder and are directly traceable to the WMO scale.  The zero gas
     is a non-calibrated gas from a commercial company.  Any value outside the
     range of the standards should be considered approximate (5 ppm).
     While individual data points above 590 or below 300 may less accurate,
     the general trends should be indicative of the seawater chemistry.  
     The standards used on the cruise are:

     STANDARD        TANK #     CONCENTRATION     VENDOR
     STD1                            0.00       Commercial
     STD2            CA02040       319.82          ESRL  
     STD3            CA02030       377.14          ESRL        
     STD4            CA05988       593.64          ESRL

     Units:  All xCO2 values are reported in parts per million (ppm) and fCO2
     values are reported in microatmospheres (uatm) assuming 100% humidity at the
     equilibrator temperature.


Contact person for this dataset:  

     Kevin Sullivan
     (305)361-4382
     Kevin.Sullivan@noaa.gov

Timestamp for dataset reduction:  5/17/2012

Timestamp for most recent update of dataset:  5/17/2012

Matlab version used for reduction: 1.10

Time period the dataset refers to:  3/19/2012 - 3/30/2012

Geographic area the dataset refers to:

   Day 1  - Bayonne, New Jersey (40.7 N / 74.1 W)
   Day 4  - Labadee, Haiti (19.8 N / 72.2 W)
   Day 5 - San Juan, Puerto Rico (18.5 N / 66.1 W)
   Day 6  - Philipsburg, St.Maarten (18 N / 63 W)
   Day 7  - St.Johns, Antigua (17.1 N / 61.8 W)
   Day 8  - Basseterre, St.Kitts (17.3 N / 62.7 W)
   Day 12 - Bayonne, New Jersey (40.7 N / 74.1 W)