Data Logistics

NRV Alliance: data collected from the Alliance will be available on an ongoing routine daily basis shortly (within a few hours). Data collected overnight will likely be ready by 1030. It is expected that observations from CTDs, the CTD chain and XBTs will be made by the Alliance.

Any hydrographic data collected aboard the RV Gulf Challenger will be transferred to and processed by the Alliance.

RV Neritic: CTD data collected aboard the Neritic will be emailed to leslie@pacific.deas.harvard.edu as soon as possible after the daily cruise is completed. The CTD data must undergo preliminary processing by the data collector to convert the raw data into ".cnv" or equivalent ascii files prior to file transfer.

RV Lucky Lady: CTD data collected aboard the Lucky Lady will be emailed to leslie@pacific.deas.harvard.edu as soon as possible after the daily cruise is completed. The CTD data must undergo preliminary processing by the data collector to convert the raw data into ".cnv" or equivalent ascii files prior to file transfer.

Hydrographic and fluorescence data collected during ASCOT-01 by all vessels will be converted into the standard Harvard "mods" format by Wayne Leslie and made available to Harvard-based forecasters immediately upon completion of data quality control.

Atmospheric forcing: data files from the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) are transferred from UMass.-Dartmouth (SMAST) to Harvard on a daily basis during the night. Those files will be processed by Oleg Logoutov as his initial daily responsibility (by 0900). The resulting processed files will be ftp'd by those aboard the Alliance to use in model simulations.

Sea Surface Temperature (SST): sea surface temperature from NOAA AVHRR is currently gathered in three ways: a) data files from Glenn Strout at UMass-Dartmouth (SMAST); b) images from UMaine via the Web; and, c) images from JHU/APL via the Web. Wayne Leslie will acquire all web-based images as an initial daily responsibility. Pat Haley will utilize Matlab scripts to process these images into gridded observations. The data files from Glenn Strout are generally available on a daily basis after being ftp'd to Harvard. These will be ftp'd to Alliance to incorporate when possible.

Sea Surface Color (SSC): sea surface color (chlorophyll) from SeaWiFS is available on a delayed basis in two ways: a) data files from Glenn Strout at UMass.-Dartmouth (SMAST); and, b) images from UMaine via the Web. Wayne Leslie will acquire all web-based images as an initial daily responsibility. The potential of use of the Maine images has not yet been completely explored. The data files from Glenn Strout are generally available on a daily basis after being ftp'd to Harvard. These will be ftp'd to Alliance to incorporate when possible.

All files generated aboard the Alliance will be made available via the Web or via ftp to Harvard-based researchers.

Forecast Protocol

Model simulations will be carried out both aboard the Alliance and at Harvard. The operational forecasts will generally be performed aboard the Alliance. Product releases will be from the Alliance via the Web. Error Subspace Statistical Estimation (ESSE) forecasts will be completed at Harvard.

The ASCOT-01 simulation and operational system will consist of a set of three two-way nested domains: the Northwest Atlantic (NWA), the Gulf of Maine (GOM) and Massachusetts Bay (MB). The specifics of the individual domains are given in the table and the domains are shown below. In the operational context, there will be two-way nesting between the NWA and GOM (NWA/GOM) domains and the GOM and MB (GOM/MB) domains. The NWA/GOM nested run will provide boundary conditions for the GOM during the GOM/MB nested run.

A two-way nested domain pair consists of a dynamical model defined in two domains, one with coarser resolution containing the other with finer resolution. Information from the finer resolution domain is used to replace information in the coarser resolution domain areas which intersects with the finer resolution domain (up-scale). Information from the coarser resolution domain around the boundaries of the finer resolution domain is interpolated to improve boundary information in the finer resolution domain (down-scale).

Nested modeling domains

(The Gulf of Maine domain has been since expanded southward;

the table below accurately reflects the domain specifications.)

Typical model simulations will last for seven model days. This duration allows for the assimilation of hydrographic and remotely sensed data, a nowcast and short (four day) forecast. Lengthier forecasts are possible but are not considered necessary at this time. Forecasts products may include, but are not limited to, maps of temperature, salinity, sub-tidal velocity, chlorophyll and various forecast predictive skill metrics. Given the current modeling domain configuration, in a triple-nested mode, a single seven-day long simulation requires approximately twelve hours of clock time to complete. Individual domains in stand-alone mode can be forecast in a shorter time period (~2 hours for the Massachusetts Bay domain).

On a typical forecast day (Day 0) aboard the Alliance, the following protocol will be followed:

1. Evaluate and interpret the physical forecast launched the previous day (Day -1) and also interpret the biological forecast received the previous night (Day -1) or the night before (Day -2).

2. Plan adaptive sampling for the subsequent two days and anticipate interesting sampling for the following day.

• confirm operation of coastal vessels and furnish sampling plan for tomorrow

• alert coastal vessels of impending use - determine scientific motivation (UFA) and general area of operations - allow time for coastal vessels to deal with logistical issues

3. Prepare and launch daily forecast

• data management and quality control (2 hours)

• objective analysis of observations and prepare initialization (2 hours)

• launch forecast (approximately 1430)

At Harvard, the coupled physical/biological simulations will be run in a stand-alone Massachusetts Bay domain. In general, with the exception of 7-8 June, the simulations will be performed on an every-other day basis. This will make biological fields available for interpretation on the mornings of 8, 9, 11 June, etc.

ESSE estimates from the coupled physical/biological ESSE will be made for (tentatively) 13-14 June, 20-21 June and 25-26 June in order to be of value and provide guidance to the periods of time available for adaptive sampling.

Initialization Protocol

[to be completed by PJH]

Contact Information

Station Protocol for ASCOT-1 survey aboard the R/V Lucky Lady

Order of events

In the AM contact Battelle to arrange drop off of samples when return time is known.

Arrive on station

Record station id, start(when CTD is lowered to lowest point), time lat, long,(degrees & minutes to 2 decimals) depth (meters)

• Time should be in UTC (DST plus 4).

Lower, retrieve CTD, determine thermocline

6. The CTD is a SeaBird SBE-19 which measures pressure, temperature, conductivity and fluorescence (chlorophyll-alpha) at 2 Hz (2 samples/second). The Seabird software calculates salinity.

7. I'll bring calibration sheets and instrument specs.

8. I'll also loan you a PC to remain on the LL for the duration.

9. It will be necessary to create an operational instruction sheet (from cast to analysis)

10. Obviously, we will have to upload data after every cast. This will take 10 minutes or less to upload and display results.

11. We'll need to determine

1. Rate to lower CTD (1 ft/sec = 10 m/min. 60 samples/min = 6 samples/m)

2. Distance from bottom to stop CTD. Depends on vessel fathometer accuracy and how much near-bottom info is desired.

Determine Secchi depth

Lower retrieve Niskin bottle for 1^st DIN/Chlor sample (1-3 meters below thermocline)

Lower retrieve Niskin bottle for 2^nd DIN sample (3-5 meters above bottom)

Lower retrieve Niskin bottle for 2^nd Chlor sample and 3^rd DIN sample (1-3 meters below surface

HPLC samples? (? w/ JJM)

Record data for each sample (see log)

• The order of these samples will change depending on the particular survey (see attached "STUDY ORDER)

• I suggest we sample all three depths at once. We have three 2.5 l Niskin bottles which we can place on line at specified depths and close all at once.

• We do not have messengers-hopefully the Lucky Lady has some.

• Remember - this depends on how much water you'll need for CHL-A and DIN

• If you don't need to find the exact thermocline positions each time, we can add Niskin bottles during CTD cast (eg - 2 m from cast bottom (right above CTD, at estimated thermocline (this will be a range depending on the current state of theocean) and 2 m below the surface.

Tow zooplankton net

Transfer zooplankton to pretreated specimen bottle, label, log

Record end station lat long depth

• As above - normally it is a safer practice to log positions of each sample (for instance, you will have to accurately reconstruct time in water and distance traveled if you want to determine zooplankton density during the tow).

Filter, label, log, freeze DIN 40ml samples in 60ml bottles (syringe filtered through nucleopore d47mm 0.4 µm-membrane-fiber filter)

Filter 400 ml Chlor samples onto Whatman 42.5mm GF/C MgCO₃ treated glass fiber filters, fold, wrap in aluminium foil, label, log, freeze

Proceed to next station

CTD must be lowered and retrieved first since sampling depths will depend on thermocline

There should be two to three Niskin sampling events (this will probably be the most time consuming procedure while on station.)

Sample treatment can be done while towing plankton net, and on the way to the next station

A paper log, including COC forms, will be kept in a binder for all stations and samples.

JF and Patricia will transport samples to Battelle in the evening

STUDY ORDER (for samples)

INITIALIZATION SURVEY (6 AND 7 JUNE)

R/V Neritic - DIN samples

8 stations @ 4/day (? w/ Wayne Leslie for station location)

3 samples/station (middle of mixed layer, 3-5 m below thermocline, 3-5 m above bottom

8 x 3 = 24 DIN samples

R/V Lucky Lady - DIN samples

8 stations @ 4/day (? w/ Wayne Leslie for station location)

3 samples/station (middle of mixed layer, 3-5 m below thermocline, 3-5 m above bottom

8 x 3 = 24 DIN samples (DIN Total 48)

R/V Lucky Lady - Chlor. Samples

8 stations @ 4/day (same as DIN stations)

2 samples/station (middle of mixed layer, 3-5 m below thermocline)

8 x 2 = 16 Chlor samples

R/ Lucky Lady - Zooplankton samples

8 stations @ 4/day (same as DIN stations

1 fifteen minute tow (Verify procedure w/ Ray Rock)

8 Zoo. samples

UFA - INFLOW EXPERIMENT (date to be determined)

R/V Lucky Lady - DIN samples

10 stations @ 5/day (locations TBD)

2 samples/station (3-5 m below thermocline, 3-5 m above bottom)

10 x 2 = 20 DIN samples (DIN Total 68)

R/V Lucky Lady - Chlor Samples

10 stations @ 5/day (same as DIN stations))

2 samples/station (middle of mixed layer, 3-5 m below thermocline)

8 x 2 = 16 Chlor samples (Chlor Total 32)

R/ Lucky Lady - Zooplankton samples

10 stations @ 5/day (same as DIN stations

1 fifteen minute tow (Verify procedure w/ Ray Rock)

10 Zoo. Samples (Zoo Total 18)

UFA - UPWELLING EXPERIMENT (X 2) (dates to be determined)

R/V Lucky Lady - DIN samples

12 stations (locations TBD)

2 samples/station (3-5 m below thermocline, 3-5 m above bottom)

6 stations (locations TBD)

3 samples/station (middle of mixed layer, 3-5 m below themocline, 3-5 m above bottom)

(12 x 2) + (6 x 3) =42 times 2 = 84 (DIN Total 152)

R/V Lucky Lady - Chlor samples

9 stations/day

12 stations (same as DIN stations)

2 samples/station (middle of mixed layer, 3-5 m below thermocline)

6 stations (locations TBD)

3 samples/station (two samples distributed in mixed layer, one sample 3 -5 m below thermocline)

(12 x 2) + (6 x 3) =42 times 2 = 84 (Chlor Total 116)

R/ Lucky Lady - Zooplankton samples

18 stations @ 9/day (same as DIN stations

1 fifteen minute tow (Verify procedure w/ Ray Rock)

18 Zoo. Times 2 = 36 (ZooTotal 54)

VERIFICATION SURVEY (24 AND 25 JUNE)

R/V Neritic - DIN samples

8 stations @ 4/day (? w/ Wayne Leslie for station location)

3 samples/station (middle of mixed layer, 3-5 m below thermocline, 3-5 m above bottom

8 x 3 = 24 DIN samples (DIN Total 176)

R/V Lucky Lady - DIN samples

8 stations @ 4/day (? w/ Wayne Leslie for station location)

3 samples/station (middle of mixed layer, 3-5 m below thermocline, 3-5 m above bottom

8 x 3 = 24 DIN samples (DIN Total 200)

R/V Lucky Lady - Chlor. Samples

8 stations @ 4/day (same as DIN stations)

2 samples/station (middle of mixed layer, 3-5 m below thermocline)

8 x 2 = 16 Chlor samples (Chlor Total 132)

R/ Lucky Lady - Zooplankton samples

8 stations @ 4/day (same as DIN stations

1 fifteen minute tow (Verify procedure w/ Ray Rock)

8 Zoo. Samples (Zoo Total 62)