National Reference Stations Biogeochemical Operations Manual. Version 4.

Abstract

This manual outlines best-practice techniques in biogeochemical and blue-water oceanography for ensuring the output of reliable, quality data to the end-user community. The aim is for sampling, analytical, and reporting standards to be at least equivalent to: the WOCE (World Ocean Circulation Experiment) and JGOFS (Joint Global Ocean Flux Study) studies. Procedures for sampling, analyses and data handling are outlined here for the Australian IMOS National Reference Station (NRS) project. Use of these procedures will ensure consistency in sampling and analysis, leading to high quality data gathering. Monthly collection of biogeochemical data from most NRS sites gathers information on seasonal, annual and long-term variability in Australian marine ecosystems. Moorings are deployed at the NRSs, with instrument arrays at 2 depths, some with a third surface meteorological surface buoy. These record a suite of time series data. The moored instruments are Sea-BirdTM instruments, measuring conductivity, temperature and pressure at two depths. Up until 2017 WetLabsTM Water Quality Meters (WQM’s) were used which included sensors measuring dissolved oxygen, fluorescence and turbidity. Biogeochemical results are used to monitor and assess the performance of the moored WQM’s as well as creating an independent suite of data obtained from a number of depths that cannot be sensor determined.