Scientific Data (May 2023)

Sustained year-round oceanographic measurements from Rothera Research Station, Antarctica, 1997–2017

  • Hugh Venables,
  • Michael P. Meredith,
  • Katharine R. Hendry,
  • Petra ten Hoopen,
  • Helen Peat,
  • Alice Chapman,
  • Jennifer Beaumont,
  • Rayner Piper,
  • Andrew J. Miller,
  • Paul Mann,
  • Helen Rossetti,
  • Ali Massey,
  • Terri Souster,
  • Simon Reeves,
  • Mairi Fenton,
  • Sabrina Heiser,
  • Sam Pountney,
  • Sarah Reed,
  • Zoë Waring,
  • Marlon Clark,
  • Emma Bolton,
  • Ryan Mathews,
  • Hollie London,
  • Alice Clement,
  • Emma Stuart,
  • Aurelia Reichardt,
  • Mark Brandon,
  • Melanie Leng,
  • Carol Arrowsmith,
  • Amber Annett,
  • Sian F. Henley,
  • Andrew Clarke

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02172-5
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Oceanographic changes adjacent to Antarctica have global climatic and ecological impacts. However, this is the most challenging place in the world to obtain marine data due to its remoteness and inhospitable nature, especially in winter. Here, we present more than 2000 Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) profiles and associated water sample data collected with (almost uniquely) full year-round coverage from the British Antarctic Survey Rothera Research Station at the west Antarctic Peninsula. Sampling is conducted from a small boat or a sled, depending on the sea ice conditions. When conditions allow, sampling is twice weekly in summer and weekly in winter, with profiling to nominally 500 m and with discrete water samples taken at 15 m water depth. Daily observations are made of the sea ice conditions in the area. This paper presents the first 20 years of data collection, 1997-2017. This time series represents a unique and valuable resource for investigations of the high-latitude ocean’s role in climate change, ocean/ice interactions, and marine biogeochemistry and carbon drawdown.