Table of Contents

• Coverage
• Dataset Description
  • Methods & Sampling
  • Data Processing Description
  • BCO-DMO Processing Description
• Data Files
• Related Publications
• Parameters
• Instruments
• Deployments
• Project Information
• Funding

R/V Thomas G. Thompson (cruise ID TN376) departed Cape Town, South Africa (SA) on 22 January 2020. The ship transited to the Southern Ocean and returned to Mauritius on 3 March 2020.

Due to the ship breakdown early into the cruise and the need to divert to Durban, SA, for engine repairs, we divided the cruise into five legs, as defined by our revised cruise plan, then pre- and post-diversion engine repairs in Durban, SA. A detailed summary of each of the legs and associated measurements can be found on the BCO-DMO cruise page for TN376: https://www.bco-dmo.org/deployment/904210. (For overall completeness of the sampling timeline, all science activities are included here (not necessarily just those for which this dataset encompasses). This dataset includes the CTD bottle data. Those activities not related to this dataset, but conducted on the cruise are: Video Plankton Recorder (VPR), carboy experiments, barite precipitation experiments, and real-time filter/freeze/transfer preparations for examination of phytoplankton during the cruise.)

Sampling methods:
At sea collections: Water samples were collected using CTD casts from 71 stations encompassing Agulhas, Agulhas Retroflection, Southern Subtropical, and Subantarctic waters in the Indian Sector of the Southern Ocean.

Discrete samples were taken from 10L Niskin bottles for measurements of:​

1. Chlorophyll - Water samples were filtered onto a 25-millimeter (mm) Millipore HA filter (mixed cellulose ester, 0.45-micrometer (µm) pore size). The filters were transferred to test tubes filled with chilled 90% acetone for extraction and vortexed until the filter dissolved. Tubes were stored in the dark in a freezer for 24 hours before analysis. Tubes were then re-vortexed and gently centrifuged (~1300 grams (g)) for 5 minutes before being decanted into a glass cuvette for the fluorometer. We used a Turner Designs 10AU to read Fb of the sample and then add 50 microliters (µl) of 10% HCL and read Fa. The fluorometer was calibrated pre-cruise with a pure chlorophyll extract (Turner Designs part# 10-850) to determine Tau τ=(Fb/Fa pure chl a) and chlorophyll a was then be calculated from: (Fb – Fa) * (τ/ τ-1) * (Vfiltered/Vextracted). Generally, all surface measurements were made in triplicate.

The fluorometers (Turner 10-AUs) were calibrated using the calibration method defined by Turner Designs using standards purchased from Turner Designs. Additionally, for long cruises such as this cruise, a calibration was performed on the ship. References: Trees, et al.

2. Particulate organic carbon (POC) plus particulate organic nitrogen (PON) - Water samples are filtered onto 25mm GF/F filters which have been pre-combusted (450°, 5 hours). Filters were rinsed with filtered seawater (FSW) and then stored in individual petri-plates and dried (60°) for storage. Prior to analysis, the plates were opened and placed overnight in a sealed container like a desiccator with saturated HCL fumes to remove any PIC. These samples were run by the Bigelow Laboratory Analytical Facility. The filters were packed into pre-combusted nickel sleeves and analyzed on a Perkin Elmer 2400 Series II CHNS/O for C, N, and H. The analyzer was calibrated using tin capsules as blanks and acetanilide to calibrate instrument response to carbon and nitrogen. NIST-certified check standards consisting of either low organic content soil or sediment are analyzed to determine accuracy of carbon detection. NIST-certified organic check standards such as corn flour or rice flour were analyzed to determine the accuracy of nitrogen detection. If values varied by more than 4% from stated values, instrument was examined, any problems were addressed and instrument was recalibrated and checked standards rerun until error was within acceptable limits. Duplicate samples were run during each sample run to ensure results were reproducible. If duplicates could not be run on actual samples, as in the case of filter samples, duplicate check standards were analyzed. Duplicate samples typically varied less than 2%. One instrument blank was analyzed for every 12 samples run. One acetanilide standard was analyzed for every 15 samples run. If blank or acetanilide values differed significantly from previous values, a new series of standards and blanks were analyzed to recalibrate the instrument. The actual minimum detection limit (3 times the standard error) determined from the standard error of the instrument blanks is 2 micrograms for carbon and 4 micrograms for nitrogen. References: JGOFS (1994).

3. PIC (Particulate Inorganic Carbon): - Water samples were filtered through a 25mm, 0.4 µm pore size polycarbonate filter. The dry filter was rinsed with potassium tetraborate (6.11 g/l K₂B₄O₇ · 4H₂O) buffer while still in the filter tower to remove as much seawater salt and also to maintain a high pH (~8.1) during sample storage and to preserve the CaCO₃ on the filter. Filters were placed into trace metal clean polypropylene centrifuge tubes and dried at approximately 60°. For analysis, the filters were sent to (a) the Sawyer Environmental Chemistry Laboratory at the University of Maine or (b) the Department of Earth Sciences at Boston University. Filters were digested in a 5% nitric acid solution for 12 hours to dissolve all CaCO₃ and the solution was analyzed by ICP-AES (Inductively Couple Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectrometry) for Ca concentration. We ran filter and dissolution blanks as well as QC standards run with each batch of samples. We also used the concentration of dissolved Na in the digestate to correct for any Ca present in sea salts left on the filter. PIC concentrations were calculated using the volumes of water filtered and the volume of the digestions, and assuming all Particulate Inorganic Carbon was in the form of CaCO₃.

4. Biogenic Silicas - To determine reactive silicate, 200 milliliters (mL) of seawater sample is filtered onto a 25 mm, 0.4um pore size polycarbonate filter. Filters were folded and placed in a super clear polypropylene centrifuge tube and dried in a drying oven at 60°C for 24 hours then tightly capped and stored until analysis. On shore, 0.2N NaOH was added and the sample was placed in a 95°C water bath. The digestions were then cooled and neutralized with 1N HCl. After centrifuging, the supernatant was transferred to a new tube and diluted with MilliQ water. Molybdate reagent was added and then a reducing agent was added to reduce silicomolybdate to silicomolybdous acid. The transmission at 810 nanometers (nm) is read on a Hitachi U-3010 spectrophotometer (SN 0947-010). Reactive silicate is calculated using a silicate standard solution standard curve prepared at least every 5 days or whenever new reagents were prepared. Readings were corrected using a reagent blank run at the same time as the standard curve and three tube blanks interspersed in each batch. References: Brzezinski & Nelson (1989); JGOFS (1994); Strickland & Parsons (1977).

5. Dissolved Inorganic Carbon and Total Alkalinity Measurements - The analytical method followed standardized protocols (Bates et al., 1996; Bates et al., 2001; Dickson et al., 2007; Knap et al., 1993). Samples for DIC and TA were collected in 250ml borosilicate glass bottles according to standard JGOFS methods. Milli‐Q cleaned bottles were rinsed out 3 times, bottom filled using silicone tubing, allowed to overflow at least 1X the bottle volume, ensuring no bubbles were in the sample and that it was sealed with a small headspace to allow for water expansion. Water samples were collected from all depths the CTD‐rosette sampled on full casts and from eight depths on the ‘trip‐on‐fly’ casts. Two samples were collected from each Niskin bottle on the full casts. The first sample was poisoned with 100μl saturated mercuric chloride solution for analysis ashore. The second sample was not spiked and stored in the dark for no longer than 12 hours (to minimize any biological activity altering the sample) before being run aboard the ship, DIC first then TA. In addition to sampling from the rosette, samples were also collected and analyzed on board from the underway system. Both the underway and carboy samples were unpreserved, stored in the dark, and analyzed on board the ship. Samples were processed at sea using a highly precise (0.02%; 0.4 millimoles per kilogram (mmoles kg-1)) VINDTA system (Bates, 2007; Bates et al., 1996; Bates & Peters, 2007). TA was measured on the VINDTA 3S by titration with a strong acid (HCl). The titration curve shows 2 inflection points, characterizing the protonation of carbonate and bicarbonate respectively, where consumption of acid at the second point is equal to the titration alkalinity. DIC was measured on the AIRICA by the extraction of total dissolved inorganic carbon content from the sample by phosphoric acid addition. The liberated CO2 flowed with a N2 carrier gas into a Li‐Cor non‐dispersive IR gas analyzer where the CO2 levels were measured. For both instruments, within bottle replicates were run consecutively on start up to check the precision, continuing once the instrument precision was ±2μmol kg‐1 or better. These were followed by a combination of Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) produced by the Marine Physical Laboratory at UCSD and low nutrient surface water from the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series (BATS) site, which were run every 20‐24 samples on the VINDTA and every 6 samples on the AIRICA, to determine the accuracy and precision of the measurements and to correct for any discrepancies. The TA system CRM values did not vary more than 2mmol within each batch of HCl acid. The AIRICA was more susceptible to drift and was affected by the lab temperature which is why CRMs were run much more often on the AIRICA, the system did not drift much and the lab temperature did not vary markedly. Both of the DIC and TA methods had a precision and accuracy of ~1 mmol kg-1 (precision estimates were determined from between-bottle and within-bottle replicates, and accuracy assessed using CRMs). The values for DIC and TA were used to calculate other parameters of the carbonate system using the software CO2sys (Lewis and Wallace, 1998). The calculated parameters were: pH, fCO2, pCO2, [HCO3‐], [CO3=], [CO2], alkalinity from borate; hydroxide ion; phosphate and silicate, Revelle Factor, plus the saturation states of calcite and aragonite.

6. Nutrient analyses (phosphate, silicate, nitrate+nitrite, nitrite, and ammonia) - Analyses were performed at sea on a Seal Analytical continuous-flow AutoAnalyzer 3 (AA3). The methods used were described by Gordon et al [Gordon1992] Hager et al. [1972], and Atlas et al. [1971]. Details of modification of analytical methods used in this cruise are also compatible with the methods described in the nutrient section of the GO-SHIP repeat hydrography manual (Hydes et al., 2010).

7. Coccolithophore enumeration - Polarized microscopy was used to determine the concentration of coccolithophores and detached coccoliths in samples collected during cruise TN376. A volume of 200mL was filtered onto 0.4μm-pore size, 25mm diameter polycarbonate filter then processed according to Balch & Utgoff (2009).

8. Enumeration of major algal classes - A shipboard Yokogawa Fluid Imaging Technologies FlowCam imaging cytometer was used to enumerate the major microalgal classes and estimate the particle size distribution function. The instrument was keyed on particle backscattering and fluorescence properties. Samples were first filtered through 100um Nitex mesh to make sure the 100um diameter flow chamber did not clog. The instrument was run with a 10X objective in order to reliably count particles bigger than 4-5um diameter. Samples were processed according to Poulton and Martin (2010). Concentrations (per mL), percent contribution with respect to total particles, and biomass are presented. Carbon biomass was determined based on the method described by Menden-Deuer & Lessard (2000).

9. Primary Production and Calcification Carbon Fixation Rates - Samples were also taken for measuring photosynthesis and calcification rates from 21 morning, full-CTD stations over the course of the trip (here called Productivity Stations). For these measurements, Niskin bottles were tripped at specific light depths throughout the euphotic zone (0.56%, 3.86%, 7.10%, 23.4%, 42.2%, and 73.6%). During casts where there was sufficient light to measure PAR throughout the euphotic zone, these depths were calculated assuming a constant diffuse attenuation coefficient. For samples taken during the nighttime, estimation of those light depths was performed based on the assumption that the fluorescence maximum was located at the 1% light depth (Poulton et al., 2017). Water samples for incubation were transferred from Niskin bottles to incubation bottles, typically inside the ship's enclosed hanger, under subdued light conditions. Water samples were pre-filtered through 120µm nitex mesh to remove large grazers. Incubations were performed in 70 mL polystyrene tissue culture bottles that were previously acid-cleaned, rinsed with ethanol, reverse-osmosis water, then rinsed 5x with each sea water sample prior to filling. Photosynthesis and calcification were measured using the microdiffusion technique (Paasche & Brubak, 1994) with modifications by Balch et al. (2000) (see also Fabry (2010)). 14C bicarbonate (~30 uCi) was added for each water sample. Incubations were performed in triplicate (with an additional 2% buffered formalin sample (final concentration) used as a killed control) in simulated in situ conditions on-deck, corrected for both light quantity (extinction using bags made of neutral-density shade cloth) and quality (spectral narrowing) using blue acetate bag inserts. Bottle transfers between the incubators and radioisotope van were always done in darkened bags to avoid light shock to the phytoplankton. Deck incubators consisted of blue plastic tubs open to sky light, chilled using surface seawater from the ship's flowing sea water system. Calibration of those light levels in the bag were previously made using a Biospherical OSR2100 scalar PAR sensor inserted into each bag relative to a scalar PAR sensor outside the bag. All filtrations were performed using 0.4 mm pore-size polycarbonate filters. Following sample filtration, polycarbonate filters were rinsed three times with filtered seawater, then carefully given a "rim rinse" to make sure that all 14C-HCO3 in interstitial seawater in the filters was rinsed out. Filters and sample "boats" were placed in scintillation vials with 7mL of Ecolume scintillation cocktail. Samples were counted using a high-sensitivity Beckman Tricarb liquid scintillation counter with channel windows set for 14C counting. Counts were performed for sufficient time to reach 1% precision or 25 minutes for samples with lower counts. Blank 14C counts were always run for scintillation cocktail as well as the phenethylamine CO2 absorbent. Standard equations were used for calculating primary production and calcification from the 14C counts with a 5% isotope discrimination factor assumed for the physiological fixation of 14C-HCO3 as opposed to 12C-HCO3. Specific intrinsic growth rates of organic matter were calculated by dividing daily photosynthetic carbon estimates by the concentration of POC. Carbon-specific intrinsic growth rates for PIC were calculated by dividing the calcification rate by the concentration of PIC.

10. Photophysiological variables - PAM fluorimetry is a widely used method for rapid assessment of the physiological state of the photosynthetic machinery in plants. The approach is based on measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence of photosystem II (PSII) as an indicator of the efficiency with which light absorbed by the photosynthetic machinery and converted into useful work in the form of electron transport in the chloroplast thylakoid membrane. The electron transport chains are ultimately responsible for providing the chemical energy for photosynthetic carbon fixation. Experimental measurements were made with a PAM fluorimeter (Water PAM, Walz, Germany) with 3 mL cuvette samples that were dark-adapted for >30 minutes prior to analysis. The following key photosynthetic parameters were calculated from values of Fo, Fm, F'm and F':

- Maximum photosynthetic efficiency/capacity of dark-adapted cells: Fv/Fm = (Fm-Fo)/Fm
- Effective photochemical quantum yield of PSII (photosynthetic efficiency in light conditions): Y(II) = (Fm'-F')/Fm'
- Electron transfer rate (ETR) at a given irradiance value = proportion of photons at a given light intensity that are converted into useful energy. ETR = Y(II) x PAR
- Non-photochemical quenching: NPQ = Fm/Fm'-1
> - Rapid light curves were also carried out to acquire ETR values at different irradiance values, providing information on initial slope (alpha), ETRmax at saturating irradiance and photoinhibition.

11. PAM microscopy - Analysis of single-cell chlorophyll fluorescence was applied using similar PAM protocols to the above PAM fluorimeter measurements. The PAM microscope (PSI, Cz) allows images of Fo, Fm, F'm and F' by using LED arrays to provide measuring pulses, saturating pulses, and actinic light. Under rough weather conditions, it was only possible to obtain Fv/Fm values due to focus drift associated with vertical movements of the ship. The microscope allowed the acquisition of bright field and polarized light images to identify individual phytoplankton cells and calcifying coccolithophores. Cells were allowed to settle in darkness for >1 hour before gentle transfer to the microscope imaging chamber, which comprised a glass-bottomed dish and X20 or X40 Zeiss water immersion objectives. The dish was mounted on a temperature-controlled perfusion cell, which allowed cells to be maintained at the precise collection temperature. All manipulations were carried out in darkness. Bright field images were obtained using far red light, which does not activate the PSII reaction centers.

PAM fluorometry data were processed with with Walz (Germany) WinControl-3 software. (https://www.walz.com/products/chl_p700/water-pam/downloads.html). Imaging PAM data were processed with Photon Systems Instruments Fluorcam 7 software (https://psi.cz/imaging-sensors/fluorescence-imaging/).

- Imported original file "TN376 MergedMasterBottleFile_06072022_CTD_DatawBalchBatesBrownleeFinal for BCO-DMO V4 corrected.xlsx" into the BCO-DMO system.
- Flagged "-999" as a missing data value (missing data are empty/blank in the final CSV file).
- Re-named fields to comply with BCO-DMO naming conventions.
- Changed the year from 2021 to 2020 for Station 51.
- Converted the date/time field to ISO 8601 format.
- Saved the final file as "914901_v1_tn376_bottle_data.csv".

NSF Award Abstract:
Cold surface water in the southern Indian Ocean sinks to about 500 meters and travels in the dark for thousands of miles before it resurfaces some 40 years later near the equator in the other ocean basins. This major water mass is named the Sub-Antarctic Mode Water (SAMW). Nutrients it contains when it warms and rises into the sunlit subtropical and tropical waters are estimated to fuel up to 75% of the microscopic plant growth there. Before it sinks, the chemical properties of the SAMW are modified by the growth and distinct physiology of two common phytoplankton; diatoms with shells made of silica, and coccolithophores with carbonate shells. Local physical dynamics influence where and how fast these two phytoplankton classes grow. Consequently, differing nutrient and trace chemical fingerprints are established at the point of SAMW formation. This project is an exceptionally detailed field and modeling effort that will document and quantify the remarkable, interconnected processes that chemically connect two important oceanic ecosystems half a world apart. The scientists leading the project will study the complexity of the biological and chemical conditioning of the SAMW and thus provide critical data about the large-scale oceanic controls of the biological carbon pump that removes atmospheric carbon dioxide to the deep ocean over millennial timescales. Scientific impact from this project will stem from significant peer-reviewed publications and improved predictive models. Societal benefits will develop from training of a range of scholars, including high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, as well as technical and post-doctoral participants. A high school teacher and science communication specialist will go to sea with the project and share experiences from the ship with students on shore via social media and scheduled web interactions.

To examine how SAMW formation and subduction controls the productivity of global waters well to the north, two January expeditions to the SE Indian Ocean will identify, track, and study the unique mesoscale eddies that serve as discrete water parcels supporting rich populations of either coccolithophores or diatoms plus their associated microbial communities. The eddies will be tracked with Lagrangian Argo drifters and observations will be made of exactly how SAMW is chemically conditioned (i.e. Si, N, P, Fe, and carbonate chemistry) over time scales of months. Using data obtained on the feedback between ecological processes and nutrient, trace metal, and carbonate chemistry in these eddies and on related transect cruises, the project will have three main goals: (1) determine the rates at which SAMW coccolithophores and diatoms condition the carbonate chemistry plus nutrient and trace metal concentrations, as well as assess taxonomic and physiological diversity in the study area with traditional methods plus next-generation sequence DNA/RNA profiling, (2) explore growth limitations by iron, silicate and/or nitrate in controlling algal assemblages and genetic diversity, and (3) combine these findings with the Ekman- and eddy-driven subduction of SAMW to examine biogeochemical impact on a basin scale, using both observations and global numerical models. A meridional survey from 30 to 60 degrees south latitude will be used to characterize the larger-scale variability of carbonate chemistry, nutrient distributions, productivity, genetics and biomass of various plankton groups as SAMW is subducted and proceeds northward.