EX0503W Readme

Class of Data:  Surface ocean carbon dioxide concentrations

Dataset Identifer:  EX0503W

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:  EX0503W/Explorer

Data quality issues:

     Due to a leak in the system data was removed on 1/17/05 from 20:42 to
     22:47 and on 1/22/05 from 20:47 to 22:59.

     Due to the slow response time of the system, removed the first 15 minutes
     of data for each hour of the entire cruise.
  
     Standard Gases and Reference Gas:  The three standard gases come from CMDL
     in Boulder and are directly traceable to the WMO scale.  The reference gas
     is a non-calibrated gas from a commercial company.  Any value outside the
     range of the standards (300 ppm, 360 ppm, and 420 ppm) should be considered
     approximate (5 ppm).  While individual data points above 420 or below 300 may
     not be accurate, the general trends should be indicative of the seawater
     chemistry.  The standards used on the cruise are:

           STANDARD          TANK #       CONCENTRATION       VENDOR
           STD1              CA4563           192.34          CMDL
           STD2              CA3253           426.96          CMDL                                               
           STD3              CC3758           514.24          CMDL
           Reference Gas                      500             Commercial                                               
                                             
     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.

     The first hour of data after leaving port is removed.

     Converted the wind speeds (true and relative) to meters per second.

     An oxygen field and a cruise identifier field have been added to the
     datafile.

Project Information:

     RSMAS Explorer website:  http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/rccl/obs/ex-rt-obs.pl

Contact person for this dataset:  

     Betty Huss
     (305)361-4395
     Betty.Huss@noaa.gov

Timestamp for dataset reduction:  1/29/05

Timestamp for most recent update of dataset:  7/25/05

Time period the dataset refers to:  1/16/2005 - 1/23/2005

Geographic area the dataset refers to:

     Day 1 - Miami, Florida (25.8 N/80.7 W)
     Day 3 - Belize City, Belize (17.8 N/88.3 W)
     Day 4 - Costa Maya, Mexico (18.7 N/87.7 W)
     Day 5 - Cozumel, Mexico (20.5 N/87.0 W)
     Day 6 - George Town,Grand Cayman (19.3 N/81.4 W)
     Day 8 - Miami, Florida (25.8 N/80.7 W)