Dataset: Two decibar-averaged CTD profiles from the Hawaii Ocean Time-Series cruises from 1988-2024 (HOT project)

The majority of our sampling effort, approximately 60-72 h per standard HOT cruise, is spent at Station ALOHA. High vertical resolution environmental data are collected with a Sea-Bird CTD having external temperature (T), conductivity (C), dissolved oxygen (DO) and fluorescence (F) sensors and an internal pressure (P) sensor. A Sea-Bird 24-place carousel and an aluminum rosette that is capable of supporting 24 12-L PVC bottles are used to obtain water samples from desired depths. The CTD and rosette are deployed on a 3-conductor cable allowing for real-time display of data and for tripping the bottles at specific depths of interest. The CTD system takes 24 samples s-1 and the raw data are stored both on the computer and, for redundancy, on VHS-format video tapes (prior to HOT-322) and as an audio signal on a laptop PC (HOT-322 - present).

In February 2006, before cruise 178, we replaced our 24 aging 12-L PVC rosette bottles with new 12-L bottles fabricated at the University of Hawaii Engineering Support Facility, using plans and specifications from John Bullister (Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory).

Continuous measurements of temperature, salinity, oxygen, and fluorescence are made with a Sea-Bird SBE-9/11Plus CTD package with dual temperature, salinity, oxygen sensors, and fluorometer described in Tupas et al. (1995). 

Details of the CTD processing for each year can be found in HOT Data Reports #1-35 (HOT: Yearly Data Reports). CTD data are written to files using formats specified by the WOCE Hydrographic Programme Office. These formats are based on NODC formats, and are detailed in the WHP Office Report WHPO 90-1. 

Since November 2001 CTD fluorescence data have been regularly calibrated against Chlorophyll bottle data and reported in the CTD files as Chloropigments (CHLPIG) in microgram/liter (uG/L). Bottle Fluorometric Chlorophyll-a plus Pheopigments above 175 dbar are matched against the upcast CTD Fluorometry to calibrate the downcast Fluorescence reported in the CTD files. All CTD files for prior cruises were calibrated and updated to reflect this change.

Starting HOT-173 (2005) and ending HOT-302 (2018), the Transmissometer (XMISS) data that used to be included in the CTD files have been replaced by continuous Nitrate measured using Satlantic's InSitu Underwater Spectrometer (ISUS V2). Satlantic's ISUS V2 is a chemical free sensor that uses UV absorption technology to provide accurate nitrate concentration measurements in real-time. After cruise HOT-324 the Transmissometer (XMISS) data have again been included in the CTD files.

Temperature is reported in the ITS-90 scale. Salinity and all derived units were calculated using the UNESCO (1981) routines; salinity is reported in the practical salinity scale (PSS-78). Oxygen is reported in µmol kg-1. Chloropigment (Fluorescence) is reported in µg/l.