Bio-optical Database of the Arctic Ocean

The Arctic bio-optical database assembles a diverse suite of biological and optical data from 34 expeditions throughout the Arctic Ocean. Data combined into a single AO database following the OBPG criteria (Pegau et al. 2003), as was done in the development of the global NASA Bio-optical Marine Algorithm Data Set (NOMAD) (Werdell 2005, Werdell & Bailey 2005). This Arctic database combines coincident in situ observations of IOPs, apparent optical properties (AOPs), Chl a, environmental data (e.g. temperature, salinity) and station metadata (e.g. sampling depth, latitude, longitude, date). Data were acquired from the NASA SeaWiFS Bio-optical Archive and Storage System (SeaBASS, https://seabass.gsfc.nasa.gov/), the LEFE CYBER database (http://www.obs-vlfr.fr/proof/index2.php), the Data and Sample Research System for Whole Cruise Information in JAMSTEC (DARWIN, http://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp), NOMAD, and individual contributors. To ensure consistency, data were limited to those that were collected using OBPG defined protocols (Pegau et al. 2003). Only observations shallower that 30 m were included. For spectral parameters, we included data at the following wavelengths that are used by satellite and thus are relevant for ocean color algorithm evaluation: 412, 443, 469, 488, 490, 510, 531, 547, 555, 645, 667, 670 and 678 nm. In situ measurements were binned at the same station if measurements were within 8 hours and 1° of distance (Werdell & Bailey 2005). For regional analyses, each station was assigned to one of ten sub-regions and three functional shelf-types (Carmack et al. 2006).