The datasets refer to the dating of three basaltic samples collected from Bruce Bank and Jane Bank in the southern Scotia Sea. The samples were dredged from depths between 850 -1900 m from steep scrap slopes at two locations (DR.225: 59.927 degrees S, 39.154 degrees W; DR.84: 62.468 degrees S, 039.785 degrees W). The files include full analytical datasets for 40Ar/39Ar analysis of whole rock and plagioclase mineral separates performed at the Open University, UK in June 2022. This project was funded by NERC NC-ALI funding to Geology & Geophysics.

Acoustic backscatter data were collected on board the RRS James Clark Ross (cruise JR177) as part of the Discovery 2010 programme. Data were collected using a Simrad EK60 echo sounder at 38, 120 and 200 kHz. The EK60 was run continuously from Stanley (Falkland Islands) to Signy (South Orkney Islands), then to South Georgia across the Scotia Sea in the austral summer from December 2007 - February 2008. Dedicated acoustic transects were also run at a number of stations within these transects. The EK60 was calibrated during JR177 (10-11th February 2008). More information about the calibration can be found in the Cruise Report for JR177: https://www.bodc.ac.uk/data/information_and_inventories/cruise_inventory/report/jr177.pdf JR177 was the second of three cruises which comprise the field studies of the British Antarctic Survey''s (BAS) core science Discovery 2010 programme, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council. *******PLEASE BE ADVISED TO USE PROCESSED DATA******* The JR177 EK60 processed data is now available at https://doi.org/10.5285/cfc33544-e1df-4202-9d4b-c99e7f8a51d4.

Acoustic backscatter data were collected on board the RRS James Clark Ross (cruise JR200) as part of the Discovery 2010 programme. Data were collected using a Simrad EK60 echo sounder. This cruise ran two transects (Stanley to Signy and Signy to South Georgia) across the Scotia Sea in the austral autumn (March - April) of 2009. Within these transects, there were a series of stations at which dedicated acoustic transects were run, although the EK60 was run continuously throughout the cruise. JR200 was the third of three cruises which comprise the field studies of the Discovery 2010 programme. The programme was designed to analyse interactions in the Southern Ocean ecosystem. The raw data files (Simrad .raw format) are held by the Polar Data Centre (PDC) at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). *******PLEASE BE ADVISED TO USE PROCESSED DATA******* The JR200 EK60 processed data is now available at https://doi.org/10.5285/7b86ed5f-0520-4dec-9d1e-f76be05b98c9.

This dataset compiles fish length and weight measurements from the RMT-25 net hauls carried out on Discovery 2010 cruises (JR161, JR177, JR200) in the Scotia Sea, Southern Ocean in spring 2006, summer 2008, and autumn 2009. The dataset comprises of the station net hauls only. Research cruises were led by British Antarctic Survey aboard the RRS James Clark Ross. Net hauls were conducted along a transect from the Antarctic Polar Front to the sea ice zone in the Scotia Sea. Hauls included in this dataset are depth stratified (1000-700 m, 700-400 m, 400-200 m, 200 m to surface). Individual fish lengths, and weights were measured on board. Where weights were not measured, length-weight regressions have been used to estimate fish weight. This data set accompanies the paper by Belcher et al. in Marine Ecology Progress Series, titled, Respiration rates and active carbon flux of mesopelagic fishes (Family Myctophidae) in the Scotia Sea, Southern Ocean.

Zooplankton faecal pellet abundance, volume and flux were determined from samples collected at three stations in the Scotia Sea, Southern Ocean during cruise JR304. Samples were collected at six depths within the 0 - 400 m epi- to upper mesopelagic using Niskin bottles attached to a CTD unit and were preserved in a formalin-based solution. Fluorescence data were collected during the same deployments. Sampling was performed by C. Liszka and G. Tarling on board RRS James Clark Ross. Sample analysis was performed by C. Liszka at British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge.

This dataset contains processed acoustic backscatter data that reflect integrated density estimates for Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba). The acoustic backscatter data are from the Western Core Box (WCB), comprising 8 acoustic transects that span the shelf-break at South Georgia. The data were obtained from a time series of 22 cruises carried out between 1996/97 and 2019/20. Data were collected using either a Simrad EK500 or EK60 echo sounder by biological oceanographers working at the British Antarctic Survey under the Ecosystems scientific research programme and predecessor Discovery 2010 and Dynamo research programmes. Funding was provided by the NERC/BAS Antarctic, Logistic, Infrastructure (ALI) Science and predecessor Long Term Monitoring Science research programmes.

This is data set held in two csv files, one DATA file contains the data and an accompanying NOTES file that provides additional detail on abbreviations. It contains processed acoustic backscatter (NASC) data that is coupled with environmental data. Acoustic backscatter data is from 13 acoustic transects spanning the Scotia Sea and major Southern Ocean fronts, obtained during cruises JR161, JR177, JR200, JR15002, JR15004 and JR16003 (2006-2017). Data were collected using a Simrad EK60 echo sounder at 38 kHz. The EK60 was run continuously between Stanley (Falkland Islands) and Signy (South Orkney Islands), Stanley and South Georgia. Environmental data includes: sea surface temperature, bathymetry, geopotential height, geostrophic current speeds, sea ice concentration, sea ice zone, time of day (day/night), sea temperature at 200m, distance to coast, net primary productivity, and hours of daylight. Environmental data are compiled from external data sources. Funding was provided by the NERC grants NE/L002434/1 and bas010017.

This dataset contains atmospheric methane and carbon dioxide concentration data in the Southern Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean, and dissolved methane concentration data from surface and water column seawater samples in the Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and South Georgia shelf taken onboard RRS Discovery during DY158 from December 2022 and January 2023. Atmospheric methane and carbon dioxide concentration was measured using a Los Gatos Ultraportable Greenhouse Gas Analyser (UGGA) G2311-f. The concentrations are 2 hour averaged and have been filtered based on wind direction to data corresponding to wind coming from behind the ship to remove sources of pollution from the ship stack. Surface seawater samples were taken either using the uncontaminated seawater system or from the surface sample from a CTD (Conductivity-Depth-Temperature) cast. Water column seawater samples were taken from a CTD with Niskin bottle rosette-casts at various depths spanning from the sea surface to the seafloor. The dissolved methane concentration in each seawater sample is measured using gas chromatography. Funding source: This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council and the ARIES Doctoral Training Partnership (grant no. NE/S007334/1). The fieldwork was supported by the Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme (CASS).

Acoustic backscatter data were collected on board the RRS James Clark Ross (cruise JR161) as part of the Discovery 2010 programme. Data were collected using a Simrad EK60 echo sounder at 38, 120 and 200 kHz. The EK60 was run continuously from Stanley (Falkland Islands) to Signy (South Orkney Islands), then to South Georgia across the Scotia Sea in the austral spring (October - December) of 2006. Dedicated acoustic transects were also run at eight stations within these transects. The EK60 was calibrated prior to data collection on a previous cruise (JR159 on 13-14th October 2006). More information about the calibration can be found in the Cruise Report for JR159: https://www.bodc.ac.uk/data/information_and_inventories/cruise_inventory/report/jr152_jr159.pdf JR161 was the first of three cruises which comprise the field studies of the British Antarctic Survey''s (BAS) core science Discovery 2010 programme, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council. *******PLEASE BE ADVISED TO USE PROCESSED DATA******* The JR161 EK60 processed data is now available at https://doi.org/10.5285/c831d5e4-8d03-4aea-a6c6-6db101f36d8d.

Among all possible interaction types, trophic interactions are easily observable and essential in terms of energy transfer, and thus binary networks have arisen as the most straightforward method to describe complex ecological communities. These food-web models also inform on the ecosystem dynamics and function, and the patterns arising from food web topology can be indicators for ecosystem stability. We present a comprehensive pelagic network for the Scotia Sea underpinned by surveys and dietary studies conducted in the Scotia Sea in the last century. Selection of the trophic links followed a protocol based on taxonomy and geographic location, and was further refined based on the consumer and resource depth ranges and their body size ratios. The resulting network consists on 228 nodes and 10880 links which represent the main trophic paths in the Scotia Sea ecosystem and can serve as a basis for ecosystem modelling in the Scotia Sea or comparison with other ecosystems. Funding was provided by NERC Highlight Topic grant NE/N005937/1 and NERC Fellowship NE/L011840/1.