http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset/1001948
eng; USA
utf8
dataset
Highest level of data collection, from a common set of sensors or instrumentation, usually within the same research project
Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
Unavailable
508-289-2009
WHOI MS#36
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
info@bco-dmo.org
http://www.bco-dmo.org
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
For questions regarding this resource, please contact BCO-DMO via the email address provided.
pointOfContact
2026-06-26
ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data
ISO 19115-2:2009(E)
Processed particulate backscatter data from the global Biogeochemical Argo array from 2010-2025
2026-06-26
publication
2026-06-26
revision
BCO-DMO Linked Data URI
2026-06-26
creation
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset/1001948
David P. Nicholson
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
principalInvestigator
Ellen Park
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
principalInvestigator
Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
Unavailable
508-289-2009
WHOI MS#36
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
info@bco-dmo.org
http://www.bco-dmo.org
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
For questions regarding this resource, please contact BCO-DMO via the email address provided.
publisher
Cite this dataset as: Park, E., Nicholson, D. P. (2026) Processed particulate backscatter data from the global Biogeochemical Argo array from 2010-2025. Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). (Version 1) Version Date 2026-06-26 [if applicable, indicate subset used]. http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset/1001948 [access date]
Global BGC-Argo processed particulate backscatter Dataset Description: Methods and Sampling: <p>Data were collected and made freely available by the Global Ocean Biogeochemistry Array (GO-BGC) Project funded by the National Science Foundation, Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE-1946578), and by the International Argo Program and the national programs that contribute to it. (<a href="http://www.argo.ucsd.edu" target="_blank">http://www.argo.ucsd.edu</a>, <a href="http://ocean-ops.org" target="_blank">http://ocean-ops.org</a>). The Argo Program is part of the Global Ocean Observing System.</p>
<p>Biogeochemical Argo particulate backscatter (BBP700) profiles were downloaded from the Argo Global Data Assembly Center (GDAC) (Argo, 2025). BBP700 profiles are provided by the Argo data management teams directly. Only profiles from global open ocean basins were included in this study. Profiles in marginal seas, like the Mediterranean, were excluded. Data from a total of 1,045 floats yielding 102,666 profiles are included in this dataset.</p>
<p>There are a variety of different BGC-Argo float models and manufacturers. All floats used in this study were equipped with particulate backscatter sensors, but the exact sensor model depends on the float design.</p>
Funding provided by NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) Award Number: OCE-2023080 Award URL: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2023080
Funding provided by NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) Award Number: OCE-2023274 Award URL: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2023274
Funding provided by NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) Award Number: OCE-2147809 Award URL: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2147809
onGoing
David P. Nicholson
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
508-289-3547
266 Woods Hole Rd. MS#25
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
dnicholson@whoi.edu
pointOfContact
Ellen Park
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
ellen.park@dal.ca
pointOfContact
asNeeded
Dataset Version: 1
Unknown
FNAME
LON
LAT
JULD
DEPTH
BBP700
bbl
bbs
bbr
BIOME
TBIN
DBIN
ISO_DateTime_UTC
BGC-Argo float
theme
None, User defined
file_name
longitude
latitude
Date and time
depth
bbp700
light backscattered
site description
time_point
depth nominal
ISO_DateTime_UTC
featureType
BCO-DMO Standard Parameters
drifting subsurface profiling float
instrument
BCO-DMO Standard Instruments
otherRestrictions
otherRestrictions
Access Constraints: none. Use Constraints: Please follow guidelines at: http://www.bco-dmo.org/terms-use Distribution liability: Under no circumstances shall BCO-DMO be liable for any direct, incidental, special, consequential, indirect, or punitive damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the materials in this data submission. If you are dissatisfied with any materials in this data submission your sole and exclusive remedy is to discontinue use.
Collaborative Research: Multi-Platform Approach to Evaluate Spring Bloom Timing and Carbon Export Processes in the North Atlantic Ocean
https://osprey.bco-dmo.org/project/990664
Collaborative Research: Multi-Platform Approach to Evaluate Spring Bloom Timing and Carbon Export Processes in the North Atlantic Ocean
<p><em>NSF Award Abstract:</em><br />
Approximately one quarter of carbon emissions each year is taken up by the worlds’ oceans, which play a critical role in the global carbon cycle. As the oceans continue to respond to climate change, it is important to understand the carbon cycle and how it will change as well. In the surface waters of the ocean, phytoplankton take up carbon through photosynthesis, and a small fraction of this material then sinks to the deeper ocean in a process referred to as the “biological pump.” Current estimates of the global biological pump are similar in size to the amount of global carbon emissions, but uncertainties in these estimates are very large. This project will focus on understanding the role that marine phytoplankton in the North Atlantic Ocean play in the carbon cycle. The project will employ coordinated use of state-of-the-art, remote observational tools, namely biogeochemical profiling floats and ocean color observations from satellites. New techniques will be developed to maximize the information that can be glean from these observations and constrain biological carbon fluxes out of the sunlit upper ocean and through its deeper interior layers over basin-wide, seasonal, and annual scales. Finally, the performance of existing, satellite-based models of these biological fluxes will be evaluated in comparison with analogous estimates made from biogeochemical profiling float data, which can help to fill in satellite observing gaps below the surface and during periods of heavy cloud cover. The proposed effort will provide training and mentorship to a graduate student and a postdoctoral researcher. Outreach will be conducted through the 2021 Education And Research: Testing Hypotheses (EARTH) Workshop: A successful, ~15-year collaborative effort between MBARI and the Monterey Bay Aquarium to assist educators with incorporating ocean science information and real-time data into the classroom. To enhance diversity and inclusion in ocean science, a first-generation college student will be selected to participate in the 2021 MBARI Summer Intern Program.</p>
<p>Persistent and spatially-distributed in situ observations are needed to develop, and continuously train, more accurate models and remote-sensing algorithms to reduce the uncertainty (currently >100%) in estimates of the biological pump magnitude. The goals of the proposed effort are to develop, implement, and compare robust methods for quantifying biological carbon sequestration by leveraging the complementary information provided by bio-optical and chemical sensors on profiling floats deployed in the North Atlantic Ocean. This project will dovetail with several larger observational programs (EXPORTS, PACE, and pending Global Biogeochemical Argo) and leverage committed NOAA and NASA funding to deploy four biogeochemical profiling floats. Results from the analysis of float data will also be compared with estimates derived from satellite observations to assess the influences of 1) subpolar spring bloom timing and magnitude; and 2) more efficient subtropical carbon export processes, on the amount of carbon annually sequestered by the biological pump. Evaluating carbon production, recycling, and export from different perspectives (e.g., chemical, optical, and remote sensing), will capitalize on the strengths of different sensors and platforms using a combination of standard and novel methods. Quality-control of the data from ~300 existing and four newly deployed profiling floats in the North Atlantic will result in a valuable resource for other investigators. Data handling and processing tools developed during this project will be made publicly available to reduce barriers to entry for other scientists and students interested in analyzing large volumes of BGC float and ocean color data.</p>
<p>This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.</p>
Argo Bio-Carbon
largerWorkCitation
project
eng; USA
oceans
-179.9974
179.9995
-75.647
78.855395
2010-05-30
2025-08-28
North Atlantic and Global
0
BCO-DMO catalogue of parameters from Processed particulate backscatter data from the global Biogeochemical Argo array from 2010-2025
Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
Unavailable
508-289-2009
WHOI MS#36
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
info@bco-dmo.org
http://www.bco-dmo.org
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
For questions regarding this resource, please contact BCO-DMO via the email address provided.
pointOfContact
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/1002564.rdf
Name: FNAME
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Biogeochemical Argo B-profile file name. This includes data-processing status, float WMO number, and profile number</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/1002565.rdf
Name: LON
Units: degrees E
Description: <p>longitude</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/1002567.rdf
Name: LAT
Units: degrees N
Description: <p>latitude</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/1002569.rdf
Name: JULD
Units: unitless
Description: <p>date</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/1002570.rdf
Name: DEPTH
Units: meters (m)
Description: <p>depth</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/1002572.rdf
Name: BBP700
Units: 1/m
Description: <p>particulate backscatter signal at 700nm</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/1002573.rdf
Name: bbl
Units: 1/m
Description: <p>large particle backscatter signal</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/1002574.rdf
Name: bbs
Units: 1/m
Description: <p>small particle backscatter signal</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/1002575.rdf
Name: bbr
Units: 1/m
Description: <p>refractory particle backscatter signal</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/1002576.rdf
Name: BIOME
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Fay and McKinley biome number</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/1002577.rdf
Name: TBIN
Units: unitless
Description: <p>time bin</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/1002578.rdf
Name: DBIN
Units: unitless
Description: <p>depth bin</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/1002579.rdf
Name: ISO_DateTime_UTC
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Date and time (UTC) converted to ISO 8601 format</p>
GB/NERC/BODC > British Oceanographic Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, United Kingdom
Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
Unavailable
508-289-2009
WHOI MS#36
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
info@bco-dmo.org
http://www.bco-dmo.org
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
For questions regarding this resource, please contact BCO-DMO via the email address provided.
pointOfContact
https://osprey.bco-dmo.org/dataset/1001948/data/download
download
onLine
dataset
<p>Data were collected and made freely available by the Global Ocean Biogeochemistry Array (GO-BGC) Project funded by the National Science Foundation, Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE-1946578), and by the International Argo Program and the national programs that contribute to it. (<a href="http://www.argo.ucsd.edu" target="_blank">http://www.argo.ucsd.edu</a>, <a href="http://ocean-ops.org" target="_blank">http://ocean-ops.org</a>). The Argo Program is part of the Global Ocean Observing System.</p>
<p>Biogeochemical Argo particulate backscatter (BBP700) profiles were downloaded from the Argo Global Data Assembly Center (GDAC) (Argo, 2025). BBP700 profiles are provided by the Argo data management teams directly. Only profiles from global open ocean basins were included in this study. Profiles in marginal seas, like the Mediterranean, were excluded. Data from a total of 1,045 floats yielding 102,666 profiles are included in this dataset.</p>
<p>There are a variety of different BGC-Argo float models and manufacturers. All floats used in this study were equipped with particulate backscatter sensors, but the exact sensor model depends on the float design.</p>
Specified by the Principal Investigator(s)
<p>At the time of data processing, the real-time quality control (RTQC) protocols for BGC-Argo backscatter were limited (Dall'Olmo et al., 2023). As a result, all profiles were quality controlled following the methods of Dall'Olmo et al., 2023 using the EuroArgo RTQC toolbox, which is available on GitHub (<a href="https://github.com/euroargodev/BBP_RTQC" target="_blank">https://github.com/euroargodev/BBP_RTQC</a>; DOI: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7934400" target="_blank">10.5281/zenodo.7934400</a>). This toolbox processes and assigns QC flags to B-profiles. Only profiles with QC flags of 1 ("Good data") or 2 ("Probably good data") were used in this study.</p>
<p>After data QC, every profile backscatter (b<sub>bp</sub>) profile was decomposed into its large (b<sub>bl</sub>) and small particle (b<sub>bs</sub>) backscatter components following a modified version of Briggs et al., 2020. This decomposition was done on a per-profile basis, and each profile was decomposed into 4 components--a large (b<sub>bl</sub>), small (b<sub>bs</sub>), refractory (b<sub>br</sub>), and instrument noise component (b<sub>noise</sub>):</p>
<p>b<sub>bp</sub> = b<sub>bl</sub> + b<sub>bs</sub> + b<sub>br</sub> + b<sub>noise</sub></p>
<p>Code to decompose backscatter profile is available on GitHub (<a href="https://github.com/ellenrpark/spike_decomp" target="_blank">https://github.com/ellenrpark/spike_decomp</a>; doi: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19486817" target="_blank">10.5281/zenodo.19486817</a>).</p>
<p>Profiles were then assigned to a Fay and McKinley biome based on year (Fay and McKinley, 2014). The biomes recreated from 2010-2024 (<a href="https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14989532" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14989532</a>) were used for this study. Profiles were assigned a biome based on year and using nearest-neighbor to the closest grid point.</p>
Specified by the Principal Investigator(s)
- Loaded original file "processed_backscatter.csv" into the BCO-DMO system.
- Converted JULD column (format "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S", UTC) to new ISO_DateTime_UTC column in ISO 8601 datetime format ("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ", UTC).
- Saved the final file as "1001948_v1_global_bgc-argo_bbp.csv".
Specified by BCO-DMO Data Managers
asNeeded
7.x-1.1
Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
Unavailable
508-289-2009
WHOI MS#36
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
info@bco-dmo.org
http://www.bco-dmo.org
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
For questions regarding this resource, please contact BCO-DMO via the email address provided.
pointOfContact
BGC-Argo float
BGC-Argo float
PI Supplied Instrument Name: BGC-Argo float PI Supplied Instrument Description:There are a variety of different BGC-Argo float models and manufacturers. All floats used in this study were equipped with particulate backscatter sensors, but the exact sensor model depends on the float design. Instrument Name: drifting subsurface profiling float Instrument Short Name: Instrument Description: An unmanned instrumented platform drifting freely in the water column that periodically makes vertical traverses through the water column (e.g. Argo float).