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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Deep ocean CTD data 2011-2013 from the Aloha Cabled Observatory (NCEI Accession 0123115)

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The ALOHA Cabled Observatory (ACO) is a system of hardware and software that extends electric power and the Internet offshore, supporting sustained real-time observations in the deep ocean. The ACO is connected to Oahu, Hawaii by the HAW-4 telecommunications cable transferred to the project by AT&T in 2007. On June 6th, 2011, the ACO was deployed on the ocean bottom (depth ~ 5 kilometers - 3 miles) near Station ALOHA, 100 kilometers (60 nautical miles) north of Oahu, Hawaii. Station ALOHA is the site of the long-term Hawaii Ocean Time-series (HOT) open ocean measurement program, visited by research vessels 10-12 times each year since October 1988.

There are five modules that are connected together on the seafloor. The Junction Box is connected to the HAW-4 cable and to the Observatory module. Together, they supply 1200 watts of power and 100 Megabits per second of Ethernet communications to sensor systems on these two modules, and to the other three modules. The other modules are the Camera tripod, the AMM bottom node, and the TAAM mooring. Sensors provide live video of the ocean bottom around the ACO, sound from local and distant sources, currents, pressure, temperature, and salinity.

This data set contains the rapidly sampled CTD data from a SeaBird SBE-37 Microcat during 2011-2013. The initial sampling rate was 1 minute, and it was changed to 1 second on June 27th, 2011, and to 2 seconds on December 28th, 2011. Salinities were calculated using the UNESCO routines. Currents from ADCP are available separately. The project is ongoing with data from 2014 to become available.
  • Cite as: McCoy, Daniel; UH Mānoa (2014). Deep ocean CTD data 2011-2013 from the Aloha Cabled Observatory (NCEI Accession 0123115). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0123115. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:0123115
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  • Originator data format
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Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
+1-301-713-3277
NCEI.Info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2011-06-13 to 2013-12-31
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -158.0062
East: -158.0062
South: 22.73873
North: 22.73873
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2014-11-14
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Purpose It is difficult to make sustained measurements in the deep ocean. Systems lowered on cables from research ships can use power from the ship, but ships (and people) cannot remain on station without reprovisioning. Systems that are moored in the ocean can make measurements for a longer period of time, but they are limited by the battery power that can be contained in pressure-resistant cases. Moored measurements are typically not available until the mooring is recovered a year or more after deployment. With a surface buoy and special subsurface cabling, moorings can transmit limited amounts of data by satellite to shore with relatively little delay. The ACO provides continuous power and fast two-way communications between shore and a variety of oceanographic instruments, allowing scientific research to be done continually. These capabilities allow scientists to modify sampling as we learn more about the ocean environment surrounding the ACO.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: Public
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: McCoy, Daniel; UH Mānoa (2014). Deep ocean CTD data 2011-2013 from the Aloha Cabled Observatory (NCEI Accession 0123115). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0123115. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Contributors
Resource Providers
Publishers
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords Originator Keywords
  • CTD
  • Conductivity (PSS-1978 in Siemens/m)
  • Salinity (1978 International Practical Salinity Scale).
  • Scale of 1990).
  • Temperature (Degrees Celsius, International Temperature
  • physical oceanographic data
  • seafloor measurements
  • time series data
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords Originator Place Names
  • Aloha Cabled Observatory
  • Hawaii
  • Hawaii Ocean Time Series (HOT)
  • Pacific
  • Station Aloha
  • central north Pacific
Project keywords NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: McCoy, Daniel; UH Mānoa (2014). Deep ocean CTD data 2011-2013 from the Aloha Cabled Observatory (NCEI Accession 0123115). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0123115. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • 2014-11-14T18:03:50Z - NCEI Accession 0123115 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • CTD - moored CTD
Last Modified: 2021-10-16T21:37:37Z
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