Porcupine Abyssal Plain Observatory Datasets

The Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP) Observatory is a sustained, multidisciplinary observatory. Key time-series datasets include measurements of sea temperature, air temperature, air pressure, waves, wind, CO2, salinity, Megafauna (Species diversity, abundance and biomass), geochemistry, humidity, chlorophyll, nitrate, PAR and currents. The PAP observatory is situated in the Northeast Atlantic away from the continental slope and mid Atlantic ridge (49N,16.5W, depth 4800m). Since 1989, this environmental study site in the Northeast Atlantic has become a major focus for international and interdisciplinary scientific research and monitoring including water column biogeochemistry, physics and benthic biology. Since 2002, a mooring has been in place with sensors taking a diverse set of biogeochemical and physical measurements of the upper 1000m of the water column. Some of these data are transmitted in near real-time via satellite. A diverse range of Essential Climate variables are measured and sampled at the PAP site from the atmosphere and surface ocean to the seafloor. The instruments used include CTD + Backscatter; ADCP (2 way, re-programmable for water profiling as well as burst sampling), Seismometer (2 way, retrieval of selected time period - 1 Minute - in the past e.g. seismic event), Bottom Pressure Sensor, Sediment trap (2 way, re-programmable for change sampling interval), Boxcores, Mega- and Multicores, Optode, Digital Camera and Stand-alone hydrophone. Seafloor sampling includes trawling, coring, towed camera systems from a research ship and time-lapse photography. Since 2002 many of the upper ocean measurements (0-1000m) have been transmitted in near real-time. There is a growing need for ever more accurate climatic models to predict future climate change and the impact this will have on human settlement, the insurance industry, fisheries, agriculture and nature at large. Long term observations at fixed points in the open oceans are essential to provide high quality and high resolution data to increase our knowledge of how our oceans function, how they are changing and how this may impact on the climate. The observatory is coordinated by the National Oceanography Centre. In 2010, a collaboration between NERC and UK Met Office has led to the first atmospheric measurements at the site.

Alternate title: British Oceanographic Data Centre record 1048PAP_OBS

Date (Publication): 2018-05-18

Date (Creation): 2013-01-28

Date (Revision): 2024-11-21

Identifier: http://www.bodc.ac.uk/ / EDMED5912

Owner

National Oceanography Centre (Southampton) - Unknown ( Unknown )

University of Southampton , Waterfront Campus , European Way , Southampton , Hampshire , SO14 3ZH , United Kingdom

http://noc.ac.uk

Originator

National Oceanography Centre (Southampton) - Unknown ( Unknown )

University of Southampton , Waterfront Campus , European Way , Southampton , Hampshire , SO14 3ZH , United Kingdom

http://noc.ac.uk

Custodian

British Oceanographic Data Centre - Director

Joseph Proudman Building , 6 Brownlow Street , Liverpool , Merseyside , L3 5DA , United Kingdom

https://www.bodc.ac.uk/

Distributor

British Oceanographic Data Centre - Director

Joseph Proudman Building , 6 Brownlow Street , Liverpool , Merseyside , L3 5DA , United Kingdom

https://www.bodc.ac.uk/

Maintenance and update frequency: asNeeded As needed

SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary

MEDIN metadata record availability

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages

unknown

Access constraints: otherRestrictions Other restrictions

Other constraints: No limitations apply

Other constraints: Data are freely available

Use constraints: otherRestrictions Other restrictions

Other constraints: No conditions apply

Spatial representation type: Text, table

Metadata language: EnglishEnglish

Topic category

Climatology, meteorology, atmosphere
Biota
Oceans

Geographic identifier

Northeast Atlantic Ocean (40W)

Date (Revision): 2024-12-11

Begin date: 2002-10-07

End date: 2025-03-14 After

Supplemental Information: Publication year: 2010-07-01

Publication title: Deep-sea demersal fish species richness in the Porcupine Seabight, NE Atlantic Ocean: global and regional patterns.

Publication authors: Priede, I.G., Godbold, J.A., King, N.J., et al.

Publication year: 2010-07-01

Publication title: The near-bottom plankton community at the Porcupine Abyssal Plain, NE-Atlantic: Structure and vertical distribution.

Publication authors: Christiansen, B., Buhring, S.I., Pfannkuche, O., et al.

Publication year: 2010-07-01

Publication title: Reproductive patterns of the abyssal asteroid Styracaster elongatus from the NE Atlantic Ocean.01/07/2010

Publication authors: Benitez-Villalobos, F., Diaz-Martinez, J.P.

Publication year: 2010-07-01

Publication title: Estimating mixed layer nitrate in the North Atlantic Ocean01/0

Publication authors: Steinhoff, T., Friedrich, T., Hartman, S.E., Oschlies, A., Wallace, D.W.R., Koertzinger, A.

Publication year: 2010-07-01

Publication title: Estimating mixed layer nitrate in the North Atlantic Ocean

Publication authors: Steinhoff, T., Friedrich, T., Hartman, S.E., Oschlies, A., Wallace, D.W.R., and Körtzinger, A.

Unique resource identifier: urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326

Codespace: OGP

Distribution format

OnLine resource: Data management webpages

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/21e9ef8a-7563-4b9e-e053-6c86abc0ccb8
Bett B.J.; Ruhl H. (2015). Time-lapse images of the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory seafloor (4850m water depth), April 2013 to July 2014. British Oceanographic Data Centre - Natural Environment Research Council, UK. doi:10/79s.

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/21e9ef8a-7562-4b9e-e053-6c86abc0ccb8
Bett B.J.; Ruhl H. (2015). Time-lapse images of the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory seafloor (4850m water depth), May 2012 to April 2013. British Oceanographic Data Centre - Natural Environment Research Council, UK. doi:10/79r.

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/21e9ef8a-7561-4b9e-e053-6c86abc0ccb8
Bett B.J.; Ruhl H. (2015). Time-lapse images of the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory seafloor (4850m water depth), August 2011 to May 2012. British Oceanographic Data Centre - Natural Environment Research Council, UK. doi:10/79q.

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/13d58735-4251-109d-e053-6c86abc0bae4
Bett B.J.; Ruhl H. (2015). Time-lapse images of the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory seafloor (4850m water depth), August 2011. British Oceanographic Data Centre - Natural Environment Research Council, UK. doi:10/3ph.

OnLine resource: BODC online data delivery service
National Oceanographic Database data delivery service; pre-filtered for the data collection.

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/7fa8421c-3c5e-2eed-e053-6c86abc0f4ae
Hartman S.E. (2019). Seawater dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity for Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory (PAP-SO) cruise JC165 2018. British Oceanographic Data Centre, National Oceanography Centre, NERC, UK. doi: 10/c2m3

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/8a2c7501-d781-48a6-e053-6c86abc09c7e
Hartman S.E.(2019). Seawater dissolved inorganic nutrients for Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory (PAP-SO) cruise JC165 in 2018. British Oceanographic Data Centre, National Oceanography Centre, NERC, UK. doi:10/c6j7

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/9de9ab74-4b03-094e-e053-6c86abc05a78
Baker C.A.; Estapa M.; Iversen M.H.; Buesseler K.; Lampitt R.S.(2020). PELAGRA particle flux data from the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory (PAP-SO) site on cruise DY077 in April 2017. British Oceanographic Data Centre, National Oceanography Centre, NERC, UK. doi:10/dk8p

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/f7e05069-093d-5bd3-e053-6c86abc056c2
Lampitt R.S., Pebody C.A. (2023). Sediment Trap data at 3000 metres from the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory (PAP-SO) site April 1989 - June 2019. NERC EDS British Oceanographic Data Centre NOC doi: 10.5285/f7e05069-093d-5bd3-e053-6c86abc056c2

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/06bd25d5-fcd3-0f63-e063-6c86abc0481e
Lampitt R.S., Pebody C.A. (2023). Sediment Trap data from the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory (PAP-SO) site on PAP3 mooring at 3000 metres April 1989 - June 2019 Version 2 NERC EDS British Oceanographic Data Centre NOC doi: 10.5285/06bd25d5-fcd3-0f63-e063-6c86abc0481e

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/07e9cff4-a0b7-37da-e063-6c86abc00f7b
Hartman S.E., Hartman M. (2023). Temperature, corrected depth and salinity data from 5 Star Oddi DST sensors, placed at various depths below the PAP-SO (PAP1) buoy at the Porcupine Abyssal Plain. Data from 29/07/2011 to 02/05/2012 at 15 minute resolution, deployed on JC062, recovered on JC071. NERC EDS British Oceanographic Data Centre NOC doi: 10.5285/07e9cff4-a0b7-37da-e063-6c86abc00f7b

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/0f275498-29fb-78af-e063-6c86abc0fbe1
Flohr A., Hartman S.E. (2024). Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and total alkalinity (TA) collected from CTD casts 3 and 10 on cruise JC231, May 2022, to the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory (PAP-SO). NERC EDS British Oceanographic Data Centre NOC doi: 10.5285/0f275498-29fb-78af-e063-6c86abc0fbe1

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/10f309b9-6179-4fe4-e063-6c86abc0a694
Hartman S.E., Campbell J.M. (2024). Ocean Colour Radiometer (OCR) data measured at 7 wavelengths at 30 minute intervals at a height of 4m on the PAP1 mooring at the Porcupine Abyssal Plain -Sustained Observatory (PAP-SO) from 12 May 2023 to 31st August 2023. NERC EDS British Oceanographic Data Centre NOC doi: 10.5285/10f309b9-6179-4fe4-e063-6c86abc0a694

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/10f38334-66af-3216-e063-6c86abc06cbe
Hartman S.E., Campbell J.M., Gates A.R. (2024). Dissolved oxygen concentration at 1m on the PAP1 mooring measured with an Aanderraa optode sensor from the Porcupine Abyssal Plain - Sustained Observatory (PAP-SO) (~49N, 16.5W) deployed on JC247 12 May 2023 to 31st August 2023. NERC EDS British Oceanographic Data Centre NOC doi: 10.5285/10f38334-66af-3216-e063-6c86abc06cbe

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/180466dc-ebde-7d3b-e063-7086abc076f6
Hartman S.E., Salaun J. (2024). High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) data May 2023, from JC247 around the PAP-SO (Porcupine Abyssal Plain - Sustained Observatory) site. NERC EDS British Oceanographic Data Centre NOC doi: 10.5285/180466dc-ebde-7d3b-e063-7086abc076f6

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/21c419bf-1222-0f45-e063-7086abc00bcf
Hartman S.E., Flohr A., Campbell J.M. (2024). 30m carbon dioxide data from Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory (PAP-SO) collected over 3-months collected from 3rd April (deployed on DY130) to 13th June 2021 (recovered on JC231), at 8-hourly resolution using a ProOceanus CV sensor (NDIR detection). NERC EDS British Oceanographic Data Centre NOC doi: 10.5285/21c419bf-1222-0f45-e063-7086abc00bcf

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/2743a1e5-44f9-3dd9-e063-7086abc09120
Hartman S.E. (2024). Dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity data from the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory: 14th April to 1st May 2017, on DY077. NERC EDS British Oceanographic Data Centre NOC doi: 10.5285/2743a1e5-44f9-3dd9-e063-7086abc09120

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/2b4221ba-69e6-474e-e063-7086abc08568
Flohr A., Lucio A.J., MacDonald E., Gates A.R. (2025). Bottle oxygen collected from CTD casts on cruise JC263 to the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory (PAP-SO) in May/June 2024 NERC EDS British Oceanographic Data Centre NOC doi: 10.5285/2b4221ba-69e6-474e-e063-7086abc08568

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/15e5cd9a-58ab-2925-e063-6c86abc02192
Pebody C.A., Feltham C., Picard T. (2025). Particulate Organic Carbon (POC) concentrations from CTD Niskin bottle samples collected at the Porcupine Abyssal Plain - Sustained Observatory (PAP-SO) site during RRS James Cook cruise JC247 in May 2023 NERC EDS British Oceanographic Data Centre NOC doi: 10.5285/15e5cd9a-58ab-2925-e063-6c86abc02192

OnLine resource: Published dataset - doi:10.5285/2f81ae9b-f5e9-c6b0-e063-7086abc01672
Flohr A., Hartman S.E., Gates A.R. (2025). Bottle oxygen collected from CTD casts on cruise DY116 to the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory (PAP-SO) in November 2020 NERC EDS British Oceanographic Data Centre NOC doi: 10.5285/2f81ae9b-f5e9-c6b0-e063-7086abc01672

Hierarchy level: dataset Dataset

Conformance result

Date (Publication): 2010-12-08

Explanation: BODC protocols are based on the Open Archival Information System (OAIS) model enabling BODC to iterate towards compliance with the on-going evolution and development of community requirements including FAIR (Findable,Accessible,Interoperable,Reusable), TRUST (Transparency, Responsibility, User community, Sustainability, Technology) and CARE (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics). Data managers quality assure submissions and assemble the metadata necessary for curation. Submissions (as received) are placed in a long-term accession and stored in triplicate across multiple sites. Appropriate data are transferred into a standard internal format with source variable names mapped to controlled vocabularies, documentation assembled, and metadata loaded into BODC databases. Access to these data is through direct request, the BODC website and through partner repositories such as SeaDataNet. Access control is attained by assigning a data policy to each set of data and this policy is used to administer access when data are requested. Discovery metadata is aligned with EU INSPIRE (through MEDIN) and SeaDataNet community standards. Data are converted to open community formats including Ocean Data View ASCII and SeaDataNet NetCDF, with data described using terms from the NERC vocabulary server. BODC submission agreements are documented on the BODC website and customer service is assured with a dedicated requests team that serve data following local regulations including General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018 and Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) 2004.

Pass: Yes

Statement: This dataset was created by the organisations with the "originator" role in this metadata record and provided to the British Oceanographic Data Centre for long term archive and management.Instrument(s) used to collect data: radiometers; sediment traps; salinity sensor; platform attitude sensors; electromagnetic sensors; nutrient analysers; current meters; water temperature sensor; dissolved gas sensors.

File identifier: e6e4a6bd81825dadb51accf6ec3d3e85 XML

Metadata language: EnglishEnglish

Hierarchy level: dataset Dataset

Date stamp: 2025-03-14T15:07:22

Metadata standard name: MEDIN

Metadata standard version: 3.1.1

Point of contact

British Oceanographic Data Centre - Polly Hadžiabdić ( Head of the BODC Requests Team )

Joseph Proudman Building , 6 Brownlow Street , Liverpool , Merseyside , L3 5DA , United Kingdom

https://www.bodc.ac.uk/

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