Dataset: Digitized Nutrient profiles from the Warm Core Ring Program
Deployment: AII-110

"SUMMARY OF PROJECT RESULTS" excerpt from technical report 86-3 (Fox et al., 1986):

Shipboard measurements of nutrients, dissolved oxygen, and water column CTD-Oxygen characteristics were analyzed and processed in the Warm Core Rings program. Data were obtained from Ring 81-D in September-October 1981, from Ring 82-B in April, May, June and August, for Ring 82-E in August and for Ring 82-H in October. In addition to the planned extensive field experiments, two ship of opportunity samplings provided nutrient samples for analysis onshore to provide an excellent time-series of nutrients variations in warm core rings.

The nutrient studies consisted of three types of water column sampling. One was the full water column characterization at each major sampling location; the second was a set of diel productivity series of samples in the upper 100 m; the third was a set of mid-depth samples to examine nutrient regeneration. Each cruise provided more than 60 sets of samples with 12 to 24 samples per set. These have been analyzed for nitrate, nitrite, phosphate and silicate.

The nutrient data were processed to determine nutrient distributions in warm core rings, the source water (Sargasso Sea and Gulf Stream) and the surrounding Slope Water. Final data reports have been distributed to other Warm Core Rings investigators for the nutrient results for Ring 81-D, the time series observation for Ring 82-B in April, June and August, the results for Ring 82-E in August, and for ring 82-H in October. The in-situ CTD and oxygen data from cruises AT-110, KN093 and KN095 have been used on the URI Prime computer for plotting data for analysis with the nutrient data. CTD-Oxygen data reports for the time-series observation in Ring 82-B in April and June have been distributed. Two interpretive manuscripts of nutrient distributions in rings have been submitted for publication. The initial results of this study have been presented at several national meetings.