AIMS Physico-Chemical and Nutrient Database

This dataset aggregates and summarises the water quality data collected by researchers from the Australian Institute of Marine Science from 1974 until the present. AIMS' biological oceanographers have studied the physical, chemical, and biological properties of seawater around northern Australia using a variety of methods including in situ sampling, moored sensors, and vertical profiles. This dataset contains in situ water quality information (list of analytes shown below) from northern Australia, with a large volume of data from the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. It also contains an historical dataset transcribed from the reports of the Low Islands Expedition 1928-29 led by C.M. Yonge.

This dataset contains biogeochemical data from many research expeditions (the majority led by Dr. Miles Furnas) as well as records from water quality monitoring programmes. Some data in this record were collected as part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Monitoring Program for Inshore Water Quality (MMP WQ), which has collected in situ water quality data, along with time-series of temperature, salinity, fluorescence, and turbidity since 2005. More information about the MMP WQ can be found on its metadata record (see link below in Related Information).

Each water sample occurs at a unique combination of geographic location, time, and date. In the AIMS database, samples are assigned a unique alphanumeric identifier (called a ‘station’), which is comprised of a 3-letter area code and a 3-digit station number (e.g. WQM324). Using this code, water chemistry information can be linked to other associated data, such as vertical profiles of the water column (i.e., CTD casts), which can be retrieved from AIMS’ CTD database (link below). Variables in this database include: depth, silicate (Si), ammonium (NH4), nitrite (NO2), nitrate (NO3), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), temperature (Temp), salinity (Sal), particulate nitrogen (PN), particulate phosphorus (PP), particulate organic carbon (POC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), Chlorophyll-a (Chl), phaeophytin (Phaeo), suspended solids (SS), Secchi depth, and coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM). All analytes may not be available at every station.

Brief description of collection, storage and analysis method for parameters:

SAL: 250 mL unfiltered sample, stored refrigerated at 4ºC in screw-top plastic bottle, analysed on Guildline Portasal Salinometer (temperature-compensated and calibrated using OSIL standard seawater as reference)

TEMP: Electronic reversing thermometer attached to Niskin

SECCHI_DEPTH: The average of the vertical disappearance and reappearance depths of a Secchi disc

SS: Filtered onto pre-weighed 47 mm 0.4 µm polycarbonate membrane filter, rinsed with deionised water, dried at 60ºC for 12 hours, gravimetric analysis

CDOM: 50 mL filtered sample (0.2 µm acrodisc), CDOM absorption coefficient at 443 nm calculated from absorbance measured by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy

NH4, NO3, NO2, and DIP: 10 mL filtered sample (0.45 µm minisart), stored frozen at -25°C, filtrate analysed on segmented flow analyser

NH4_INSITU: Unfiltered 20 mL sample, processed immediately, OPA fluorescence method (post 2005)

SI: 10 mL filtered sample (0.45 µm minisart), stored refrigerated at 4ºC, filtrate analysed on segmented flow analyser (reported as Si)

PN_SHIM and POC: 500 mL filtered onto 25 mm GF/F, stored frozen at -25ºC, analysed by high temperature combustion (Shimadzu TOC-L)

PP: 250 mL filtered onto 25 mm GF/F (0.7 µm), stored frozen at -25ºC, persulphate digestion of filter, colorific (molybdate blue) analysis on UV-Vis spectrophotometer

TDN_PER and TDP_PER: 10 mL filtered sample (0.45 µm minisart), stored frozen at -25ºC, persulphate oxidation/digestion with mixture of NaOH, boric acid and K2S2O8 in autoclave, analysed on segmented flow analyser

DOC: 10 mL filtered sample (0.45 µm minisart), acidified with 100 µL HCl, stored refrigerated at 4ºC, analysed by high temperature combustion (Shimadzu TOC-L)

CHL and PHAEO: 100 mL filtered onto 25 mm GF/F (0.7 µm), stored frozen at -25ºC, extraction into 10 mL of acetone, read on Turner Fluorometer using acidification method

Data can be downloaded from AIMS' main water quality database (see link below in Data Downloads). Data are presented as depth-weighted means calculated using surface, bottom, and any intermediate samples.

Identification info

Date (Revision): 2024-10-17T00:00:00

Publisher

Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) - ()

PRIVATE MAIL BAG 3, TOWNSVILLE MAIL CENTRE

TOWNSVILLE

Queensland

4810

Australia

+61 7 4753 4444

AIMS Web Site >

Owner

Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) - ()

PRIVATE MAIL BAG 3, TOWNSVILLE MAIL CENTRE

TOWNSVILLE

Queensland

4810

Australia

+61 7 4753 4444

AIMS Web Site >

Website: AIMS Web Site

Website: AIMS Web Site

Credit: Furnas, M

Credit: Skuza, M

Status: On going

Principal investigator

Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) - Gruber, RK ()

PRIVATE MAIL BAG 3, TOWNSVILLE MAIL CENTRE

TOWNSVILLE

Queensland

4810

Australia

+61 7 4753 4444

AIMS Web Site >

Point of contact

Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) - AIMS Data Centre ()

PRIVATE MAIL BAG 3, TOWNSVILLE MAIL CENTRE

TOWNSVILLE

Queensland

4810

Australia

+61 7 4753 4444

AIMS Web Site >

Temporal resolution: P1Y0M0DT0H0M0S

Topic category

Oceans

Extent

Description: Region 3

Extent

Description: Region 2

Extent

Description: Region 1

Extent

Description: Collective resources start and end dates

Temporal extent

Time position: 1974-01-01

Maintenance and update frequency: As needed

AODN Discovery Parameter Vocabulary

Resource constraints

Linkage: http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/3.0/au/88x31.png
License Graphic

Title: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License

Website: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/
License Text

Other constraints: Use Limitation: All AIMS data, products and services are provided "as is" and AIMS does not warrant their fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. While AIMS has made every reasonable effort to ensure high quality of the data, products and services, to the extent permitted by law the data, products and services are provided without any warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of title, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. AIMS make no representation or warranty that the data, products and services are accurate, complete, reliable or current. To the extent permitted by law, AIMS exclude all liability to any person arising directly or indirectly from the use of the data, products and services.

Other constraints: Attribution: Format for citation of metadata sourced from Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in a list of reference is as follows: "Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). (2017). AIMS Physico-Chemical and Nutrient Database. https://doi.org/10.25845/5c09b551f315b, accessed[date-of-access]".

Other constraints: Resource Usage:Security classification code: unclassifiedMetadata Usage:Security classification code: unclassified

Language: English

Character encoding: UTF8

Content Information

Content type: Physical measurement

Identifier

Code: Sea-floor depth below surface of the water body

Identifier

Code: Concentration of chlorophyll per unit volume of the water body

Description: The mass of all types of chlorophyll per unit volume of the water column held in particles of any size

Identifier

Code: Concentration of carbon (total inorganic) per unit mass of the water body

Description: Concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon per unit mass of the water column. Solute may be expressed in terms of mass or quantity of substance.

Identifier

Code: Concentration of phosphate {PO4} per unit volume of the water body

Description: Concentration of phosphate per unit volume of the water column. Phosphate may be expressed in terms of mass or quantity of substance

Identifier

Code: Colored Dissolved Organic Matter

Description: The amount of colored organic compounds (sometimes called yellow substance or gelbstoff) dissolved in a specified amount of water from any body of fresh or salt water

Identifier

Code: Concentration of total dissolved nitrogen {TDN} per unit volume of the water body

Identifier

Code: Concentration of Phaeophytin {Phae} per unit volume of the water body

Identifier

Code: Concentration of carbon (total organic) per unit mass of the water body

Identifier

Code: Depth of observation or sample collection

Identifier

Code: Concentration of dissolved nitrite per unit volume of the water body

Identifier

Code: Secchi depth

Description: Estimate of the transparency of the surface water based upon the distance below the ship at which a standard black and white disk becomes visible.

Identifier

Code: Concentration of ammonium {NH4} per unit volume of the water body

Description: Concentration of ammonium per unit volume of the water column. Ammonium may be expressed in terms of mass or quantity of substance.

Identifier

Code: Concentration of silicate {SiO4} per unit volume of the water body

Description: Concentration of silicate per unit volume of the water column. Silicate may be expressed in terms of mass or quantity of substance.

Identifier

Code: Concentration of Particulate Phosphorus {PP} per unit volume of the water body

Identifier

Code: Concentration of nitrate {NO3} per unit volume of the water body

Description: Concentration of nitrate per unit volume of the water column. Nitrate may be expressed in terms of mass or quantity of substance.

Identifier

Code: Concentration of Particulate Nitrogen {PN} per unit volume of the water body

Identifier

Code: Practical salinity of the water body

Description: The quantity of dissolved ions (predominantly salt in seawater) expressed on a scale (PSS-78) based on the conductivity ratio of a seawater sample to a standard KCl solution.

Identifier

Code: Concentration of Particulate Organic Carbon {POC} per unit volume of the water body

Identifier

Code: Concentration of suspended particulate material per unit volume of the water body

Distribution Information

Distributor

Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) - AIMS Data Centre ()

PRIVATE MAIL BAG 3, TOWNSVILLE MAIL CENTRE

TOWNSVILLE

Queensland

4810

Australia

+61 7 4753 4444

AIMS Home Page >

OnLine resource: Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan). Annual Monitoring Report. Reporting on data available from December 2004 to April 2006: Prange J, Haynes D, Schaffelke B and Waterhouse J (2007) Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan). Annual Monitoring Report. Reporting on data available from December 2004 to April 2006. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. 115 p.
Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan). Annual Monitoring Report. Reporting on data available from December 2004 to April 2006: Prange J, Haynes D, Schaffelke B and Waterhouse J (2007) Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan). Annual Monitoring Report. Reporting on data available from December 2004 to April 2006. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. 115 p.

OnLine resource: QA/QC Reports for the Marine Monitoring Program from 2005 - present
QA/QC Reports for the Marine Monitoring Program from 2005 - present

OnLine resource: Metadata record for Great Barrier Reef Marine Monitoring Program for Inshore Water Quality
Metadata record for Great Barrier Reef Marine Monitoring Program for Inshore Water Quality

OnLine resource: Biological oceanography of the Great Barrier Reef: Furnas MJ and Mitchell AW (1997) Biological oceanography of the Great Barrier Reef. 1: 75-87. The Great Barrier Reef: Science, Use and Management: A National Conference. Proceedings. 25-29 November 1996 James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Biological oceanography of the Great Barrier Reef: Furnas MJ and Mitchell AW (1997) Biological oceanography of the Great Barrier Reef. 1: 75-87. The Great Barrier Reef: Science, Use and Management: A National Conference. Proceedings. 25-29 November 1996 James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

OnLine resource: Environmental and oceanographic measurements at Scott Reef, Mermaid Reef and Broome, Western Australia: October 1997 to January 1999 and Final Project Review of Observations August 1993 to January 1999: Furnas MJ and Steinberg CR (1999) Environmental and oceanographic measurements at Scott Reef, Mermaid Reef and Broome, Western Australia: October 1997 to January 1999 and Final Project Review of Observations August 1993 to January 1999. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 121 p.
Environmental and oceanographic measurements at Scott Reef, Mermaid Reef and Broome, Western Australia: October 1997 to January 1999 and Final Project Review of Observations August 1993 to January 1999: Furnas MJ and Steinberg CR (1999) Environmental and oceanographic measurements at Scott Reef, Mermaid Reef and Broome, Western Australia: October 1997 to January 1999 and Final Project Review of Observations August 1993 to January 1999. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 121 p.

OnLine resource: Environmental, oceanographic measurements at Scott Reef, Western Australia: August 1993 to September 1994. Report submitted to Woodside Petroleum Pty. Ltd: Furnas MJ and Steinberg CR (1995) Environmental, oceanographic measurements at Scott Reef, Western Australia: August 1993 to September 1994. Report submitted to Woodside Petroleum Pty. Ltd. LIB 34. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 32 p.
Environmental, oceanographic measurements at Scott Reef, Western Australia: August 1993 to September 1994. Report submitted to Woodside Petroleum Pty. Ltd: Furnas MJ and Steinberg CR (1995) Environmental, oceanographic measurements at Scott Reef, Western Australia: August 1993 to September 1994. Report submitted to Woodside Petroleum Pty. Ltd. LIB 34. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 32 p.

OnLine resource: Water quality in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. ( pp. 35-58). In: Schaffelke B, Furnas MJ and Waterhouse J (eds) Report on status and trends of water quality and ecosystem health in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area: September 2005: Furnas MJ (2005) Water quality in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. ( pp. 35-58). In: Schaffelke B, Furnas MJ and Waterhouse J (eds) Report on status and trends of water quality and ecosystem health in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area: September 2005. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority & CRC Reef Research. 162 p.
Water quality in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. ( pp. 35-58). In: Schaffelke B, Furnas MJ and Waterhouse J (eds) Report on status and trends of water quality and ecosystem health in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area: September 2005: Furnas MJ (2005) Water quality in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. ( pp. 35-58). In: Schaffelke B, Furnas MJ and Waterhouse J (eds) Report on status and trends of water quality and ecosystem health in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area: September 2005. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority & CRC Reef Research. 162 p.

OnLine resource: Biological and chemical oceanographic processes in shallow north west shelf waters surrounding the Harriet A production platform: Furnas MJ and Mitchell AW (1998) Biological and chemical oceanographic processes in shallow north west shelf waters surrounding the Harriet A production platform. APPEA Journal. 38: 655-664.
Biological and chemical oceanographic processes in shallow north west shelf waters surrounding the Harriet A production platform: Furnas MJ and Mitchell AW (1998) Biological and chemical oceanographic processes in shallow north west shelf waters surrounding the Harriet A production platform. APPEA Journal. 38: 655-664.

OnLine resource: Water quality and ecosystem monitoring programme. Reef Water Quality Protection Plan. Synthesis and spatial analysis of inshore monitoring data 2005-08: Thompson AA, Schaffelke B, De'ath AG, Cripps E and Sweatman HPA (2010) Water quality and ecosystem monitoring programme. Reef Water Quality Protection Plan. Synthesis and spatial analysis of inshore monitoring data 2005-08. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 78 p.
Water quality and ecosystem monitoring programme. Reef Water Quality Protection Plan. Synthesis and spatial analysis of inshore monitoring data 2005-08: Thompson AA, Schaffelke B, De'ath AG, Cripps E and Sweatman HPA (2010) Water quality and ecosystem monitoring programme. Reef Water Quality Protection Plan. Synthesis and spatial analysis of inshore monitoring data 2005-08. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 78 p.

OnLine resource: Regional variations in water column nutrients and other water quality parameters in Great Barrier Reef waters: Furnas MJ, Skuza MS, Wright M, Mitchell AW and Ghonim S (2004) Regional variations in water column nutrients and other water quality parameters in Great Barrier Reef waters. p. 29. Haynes D and Schaffelke B Catchment to reef : water quality issues in the Great Barrier Reef Region. 9-11 March 2004, Townsville. Conference abstracts. CRC Reef Research Centre
Regional variations in water column nutrients and other water quality parameters in Great Barrier Reef waters: Furnas MJ, Skuza MS, Wright M, Mitchell AW and Ghonim S (2004) Regional variations in water column nutrients and other water quality parameters in Great Barrier Reef waters. p. 29. Haynes D and Schaffelke B Catchment to reef : water quality issues in the Great Barrier Reef Region. 9-11 March 2004, Townsville. Conference abstracts. CRC Reef Research Centre

OnLine resource: Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring Programme - Reef Water Quality Protection Plan. Final Report: Schaffelke B, Thompson AA, Carleton JH, De'ath AG, Feather G, Furnas MJ, Neale SJ, Skuza MS, Thomson DP, Sweatman HPA and Zagorskis IE (2007) Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring Programme - Reef Water Quality Protection Plan. Final Report. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 196 p.
Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring Programme - Reef Water Quality Protection Plan. Final Report: Schaffelke B, Thompson AA, Carleton JH, De'ath AG, Feather G, Furnas MJ, Neale SJ, Skuza MS, Thomson DP, Sweatman HPA and Zagorskis IE (2007) Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring Programme - Reef Water Quality Protection Plan. Final Report. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 196 p.

OnLine resource: aims:mmp_depth_wgt_avg_by_station
Station Depth Weighted Average

OnLine resource: Water quality in the inshore Great Barrier Reef lagoon: Implications for long-term monitoring and management: Schaffelke B, Carleton JH, Skuza MS, Zagorskis IE and Furnas MJ (2012) Water quality in the inshore Great Barrier Reef lagoon: Implications for long-term monitoring and management. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 65: 249-260.
Water quality in the inshore Great Barrier Reef lagoon: Implications for long-term monitoring and management: Schaffelke B, Carleton JH, Skuza MS, Zagorskis IE and Furnas MJ (2012) Water quality in the inshore Great Barrier Reef lagoon: Implications for long-term monitoring and management. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 65: 249-260.

OnLine resource: AIMS Vertical Profiles of Conductivtiy Temperature Depth (CTD)
AIMS Vertical Profiles of Conductivtiy Temperature Depth (CTD)

OnLine resource: Annual reports from Marine Monitoring Program for Inshore Water Quality, 2005 - present
Annual reports from Marine Monitoring Program for Inshore Water Quality, 2005 - present

OnLine resource: Shelf-scale nitrogen and phosphorus budgets in the central Great Barrier Reef (16-19oS): Furnas MJ, Mitchell AW and Skuza MS (1997) Shelf-scale nitrogen and phosphorus budgets in the central Great Barrier Reef (16-19oS). 1: 809-814. Proceedings of the 8th International Coral Reef Symposium, Panama, 24-29 June 1996. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Shelf-scale nitrogen and phosphorus budgets in the central Great Barrier Reef (16-19oS): Furnas MJ, Mitchell AW and Skuza MS (1997) Shelf-scale nitrogen and phosphorus budgets in the central Great Barrier Reef (16-19oS). 1: 809-814. Proceedings of the 8th International Coral Reef Symposium, Panama, 24-29 June 1996. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

OnLine resource: Biological and chemical oceanographic measurements in the far northern Great Barrier Reef - February 1990. Research Publication No. 34: Furnas MJ, Mitchell AW, Liston P, Skuza MS, Drew EA and Wellington JT (1996) Biological and chemical oceanographic measurements in the far northern Great Barrier Reef - February 1990. Research Publication No. 34. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. 86 p.
Biological and chemical oceanographic measurements in the far northern Great Barrier Reef - February 1990. Research Publication No. 34: Furnas MJ, Mitchell AW, Liston P, Skuza MS, Drew EA and Wellington JT (1996) Biological and chemical oceanographic measurements in the far northern Great Barrier Reef - February 1990. Research Publication No. 34. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. 86 p.

OnLine resource: Glossary for data from the AIMS Physico-Chemical and Nutrient Database
Glossary for data from the AIMS Physico-Chemical and Nutrient Database

OnLine resource: Data Download for Phys-Chem Data
Data Download for Phys-Chem Data

Resource lineage

Statement: A detailed description of analytical procedures and quality assurance/quality control information for physico-chemical data in this record can be found in the Marine Monitoring Program's annual QA/QC report (see link below in Related Information).

Hierarchy level: Dataset

Maintenance and update frequency: As needed

Metadata

Metadata identifier: 09163cdc-decc-40ec-b5a8-9a07dabf7fb8

Language: English

Character encoding: UTF8

Point of contact

Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) - AIMS Data Centre

PRIVATE MAIL BAG 3

TOWNSVILLE MAIL CENTRE

Queensland

4810

Australia

+61 7 4753 4444

+61 7 4772 5852 (facsimile)

Hours of service: 0800 to 1640 UTC+10: Monday to Friday

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Type of resource

Resource scope: Dataset

Metadata linkage: Point of truth URL of this metadata record
Point of truth URL of this metadata record

Date info (Creation): 2017-08-30T00:00:00

Date info (Revision): 2023-03-20T00:00:00

Metadata standard

Title: ISO 19115-3:2018

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