The dataset comprises of vertical profiles of water column properties (temperature, salinity, conductivity, pressure, depth, sound velocity and density) of the full water column in the South West region of the UK. Measurements were taken opportunistically at three main locations (L4, L5 and E1 Western Channel Observatory stations) as well from Plymouth Sound and the surrounding inshore areas. Data have been gathered using a Valeport MIDAS 606 CTD (with a passive flow induction cell, Platinum Resistance Thermometer and a strain gauge transducer) and extracted and processed using Valeport DataLogX2 software (version1.0.4.1270). The CTD was deployed using vertical deployment from the RV MBA Sepia and were hauled using a manually controlled hydraulic winch. The surveyors have been dependent on the sensor calibrations applied by the CTD manufacturer (Valeport). Manufacturer calibrations are applied to the in situ direct measurements via sensor specific microchips in the CTD unit. Derived parameters are calculated using the in-built processing provided with the units software: Datalogx2. The data have been collected in the framework of the long term monitoring of the Western Channel Observatory stations and the Plymouth inshore fisheries undertaken annually by the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. The RV MBA Sepia department of the Institute carried out the data collection activities.

The cross-disciplinary themes will result in a diverse data catalogue. The ship collected data will be in the form of sea surface meteorology (2-D wind speed and direction, total irradiance, Photosynthetically Active Radiation/PAR, air temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity); atmospheric carbon dioxide (pCO2); biological, chemical and physical properties and processes in the marine photic zone (carbonate chemistry - pCO2, total alkalinity, pH, DIC; dissolved gases - oxygen; nutrient concentrations, ammonium regeneration, nitrification, nitrogen fixation, zooplankon ecology, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthetic pigment composition, bacterial production, phytoplankton and bacterial speciation, concentrations of biogenic trace compounds such as dimethyl sulphide/DMS and dimthylsulphoniopropionate/DMSP, salinity, temperature, zooplankon ecology) and bioassays of these same parameters under different future IPCC CO2 and temperature scenarios. The long-term (18 month) laboratory based mesocosm experiments will include data on individual organism response (growth, immune response, reproductive fitness) under different future IPCC CO2 and temperature scenarios in rocky intertidal, soft sediment and calcareous biogenic habitats, as well as the effects on commercially important species of fish and shellfish. The analysis of sediment cores will provide greater resolution of the paleo record during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). Data will be used to aid the parameterisation of coastal and continental shelf seas (Northern Europe and the Arctic) model runs as well as larger scale global models. The shipboard fieldwork will take place around the UK, in the Arctic Ocean and the Southern Ocean. The mesocosms will look at temperate marine species common to UK shelf seas. Sediment cores have been collected from Tanzania. The models will look from the coastal seas of Northern Europe to the whole globe. Data to be generated will include data collected at sea, short-term (2-3 day) ship-board bioassays, from long-term (18 month) laboratory based mesocosm experiments and reconstructed paleo records from sediment cores. The 5 year UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme is the UK’s response to growing concerns over ocean acidification. Aims: 1 - to reduce uncertainties in predictions of carbonate chemistry changes and their effects on marine biogeochemistry, ecosystems and other components of the Earth System; 2 - to understand the responses to ocean acidification, and other climate change related stressors, by marine organisms, biodiversity and ecosystems and to improve understanding of their resistance or susceptibility to acidification; 3 - to provide data and effective advice to policy makers and managers of marine bioresources on the potential size and timescale of risks, to allow for development of appropriate mitigation and adaptation strategies. The study unites over 100 marine scientists from 27 institutions across the UK. It is jointly funded by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).