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Abstract. The presented pilot for the Synthesis Product for Ocean Time Series (SPOTS) includes data from 12 fixed ship-based time-series programs. The related stations represent unique open-ocean and coastal marine environments within the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Nordic Seas, and Caribbean Sea. The focus of the pilot has been placed on biogeochemical essential ocean variables: dissolved oxygen, dissolved inorganic nutrients, inorganic carbon (pH, total alkalinity, dissolved inorganic carbon, and partial pressure of CO2), particulate matter, and dissolved organic carbon. The time series used include a variety of temporal resolutions (monthly, seasonal, or irregular), time ranges (10–36 years), and bottom depths (80–6000 m), with the oldest samples dating back to 1983 and the most recent one corresponding to 2021. Besides having been harmonized into the same format (semantics, ancillary data, units), the data were subjected to a qualitative assessment in which the applied methods were evaluated and categorized. The most recently applied methods of the time-series programs usually follow the recommendations outlined by the Bermuda Time Series Workshop report (Lorenzoni and Benway, 2013), which is used as the main reference for “method recommendations by prevalent initiatives in the field”. However, measurements of dissolved oxygen and pH, in particular, still show room for improvement. Additional data quality descriptors include precision and accuracy estimates, indicators for data variability, and offsets compared to a reference and widely recognized data product for the global ocean: the GLobal Ocean Data Analysis Project (GLODAP). Generally, these descriptors indicate a high level of continuity in measurement quality within time-series programs and a good consistency with the GLODAP data product, even though robust comparisons to the latter are limited. The data are available as (i) a merged comma-separated file that is compliant with the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) exchange format and (ii) a format dependent on user queries via the Environmental Research Division's Data Access Program (ERDDAP) server of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). The pilot increases the data utility, findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability following the FAIR philosophy, enhancing the readiness of biogeochemical time series. It facilitates a variety of applications that benefit from the collective value of biogeochemical time-series observations and forms the basis for a sustained time-series living data product, SPOTS, complementing relevant products for the global interior ocean carbon data (GLobal Ocean Data Analysis Project), global surface ocean carbon data (Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas; SOCAT), and global interior and surface methane and nitrous oxide data (MarinE MethanE and NiTrous Oxide product). Aside from the actual data compilation, the pilot project produced suggestions for reporting metadata, implementing quality control measures, and making estimations about uncertainty. These recommendations aim to encourage the community to adopt more consistent and uniform practices for analysis and reporting and to update these practices regularly. The detailed recommendations, links to the original time-series programs, the original data, their documentation, and related efforts are available on the SPOTS website. This site also provides access to the data product (DOI: https://doi.org/10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.896862.2, Lange et al., 2024) and ancillary data. 

Abstract. The Global Ocean Data Analysis Project (GLODAP) is a synthesis effort providing regular compilations of surface to bottom ocean biogeochemical bottle data, with an emphasis on seawater inorganic carbon chemistry and related variables determined through chemical analysis of seawater samples. GLODAPv2.2023 is an update of the previous version, GLODAPv2.2022 (Lauvset et al., 2022). The major changes are as follows: data from 23 new cruises were added. In addition, a number of changes were made to the data included in GLODAPv2.2022. GLODAPv2.2023 includes measurements from more than 1.4 million water samples from the global oceans collected on 1108 cruises. The data for the now 13 GLODAP core variables (salinity, oxygen, nitrate, silicate, phosphate, dissolved inorganic carbon, total alkalinity, pH, chlorofluorocarbon-11 (CFC-11), CFC-12, CFC-113, CCl4, and SF6) have undergone extensive quality control with a focus on the systematic evaluation of bias. The data are available in two formats: (i) as submitted by the data originator but converted to World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) exchange format and (ii) as a merged data product with adjustments applied to minimize bias. For the present annual update, adjustments for the 23 new cruises were derived by comparing those data with the data from the 1085 quality-controlled cruises in the GLODAPv2.2022 data product using crossover analysis. SF6 data from all cruises were evaluated by comparison with CFC-12 data measured on the same cruises. For nutrients and ocean carbon dioxide (CO2), chemistry comparisons to estimates based on empirical algorithms provided additional context for adjustment decisions. The adjustments that we applied are intended to remove potential biases from errors related to measurement, calibration, and data-handling practices without removing known or likely time trends or variations in the variables evaluated. The compiled and adjusted data product is believed to be consistent to better than 0.005 in salinity, 1 % in oxygen, 2 % in nitrate, 2 % in silicate, 2 % in phosphate, 4 µmol kg−1 in dissolved inorganic carbon, 4 µmol kg−1 in total alkalinity, 0.01–0.02 in pH (depending on region), and 5 % in the halogenated transient tracers. The other variables included in the compilation, such as isotopic tracers and discrete CO2 fugacity (fCO2), were not subjected to bias comparison or adjustments. The original data, their documentation, and DOI codes are available at the Ocean Carbon and Acidification Data System of NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), which also provides access to the merged data product. This is provided as a single global file and as four regional ones – the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans – under https://doi.org/10.25921/zyrq-ht66 (Lauvset et al., 2023). These bias-adjusted product files also include significant ancillary and approximated data, which were obtained by interpolation of, or calculation from, measured data. This living data update documents the GLODAPv2.2023 methods and provides a broad overview of the secondary quality control procedures and results. 

Abstract. The Global Ocean Data Analysis Project (GLODAP) is asynthesis effort providing regular compilations of surface-to-bottom oceanbiogeochemical bottle data, with an emphasis on seawater inorganic carbonchemistry and related variables determined through chemical analysis ofseawater samples. GLODAPv2.2022 is an update of the previous version,GLODAPv2.2021 (Lauvset et al., 2021). The major changes are as follows: datafrom 96 new cruises were added, data coverage was extended until 2021, andfor the first time we performed secondary quality control on all sulfurhexafluoride (SF6) data. In addition, a number of changes were made todata included in GLODAPv2.2021. These changes affect specifically theSF6 data, which are now subjected to secondary quality control, andcarbon data measured on board the RV Knorr in the Indian Ocean in 1994–1995 whichare now adjusted using certified reference material (CRM) measurements made at the time. GLODAPv2.2022includes measurements from almost 1.4 million water samples from the globaloceans collected on 1085 cruises. The data for the now 13 GLODAP corevariables (salinity, oxygen, nitrate, silicate, phosphate, dissolvedinorganic carbon, total alkalinity, pH, chlorofluorocarbon-11 (CFC-11), CFC-12, CFC-113, CCl4,and SF6) have undergone extensive quality control with a focus onsystematic evaluation of bias. The data are available in two formats: (i) assubmitted by the data originator but converted to World Ocean CirculationExperiment (WOCE) exchange format and (ii) as a merged data product withadjustments applied to minimize bias. For the present annual update,adjustments for the 96 new cruises were derived by comparing those data withthe data from the 989 quality-controlled cruises in the GLODAPv2.2021 dataproduct using crossover analysis. SF6 data from all cruises wereevaluated by comparison with CFC-12 data measured on the same cruises. Fornutrients and ocean carbon dioxide (CO2) chemistry comparisons toestimates based on empirical algorithms provided additional context foradjustment decisions. The adjustments that we applied are intended to removepotential biases from errors related to measurement, calibration, and datahandling practices without removing known or likely time trends orvariations in the variables evaluated. The compiled and adjusted dataproduct is believed to be consistent to better than 0.005 in salinity, 1 % in oxygen, 2 % in nitrate, 2 % in silicate, 2 % in phosphate,4 µmol kg−1 in dissolved inorganic carbon, 4 µmol kg−1in total alkalinity, 0.01–0.02 in pH (depending on region), and 5 % inthe halogenated transient tracers. The other variables included in thecompilation, such as isotopic tracers and discrete CO2 fugacity(fCO2), were not subjected to bias comparison or adjustments. The original data, their documentation, and DOI codes are available at theOcean Carbon and Acidification Data System of NOAA NCEI (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/ocean-carbon-acidification-data-system/oceans/GLODAPv2_2022/, last access: 15 August 2022). This site also provides access to themerged data product, which is provided as a single global file and as fourregional ones – the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans –under https://doi.org/10.25921/1f4w-0t92 (Lauvset et al.,2022). These bias-adjusted product files also include significant ancillaryand approximated data, which were obtained by interpolation of, orcalculation from, measured data. This living data update documents theGLODAPv2.2022 methods and provides a broad overview of the secondary qualitycontrol procedures and results. 

Effective data management plays a key role in oceanographic research as cruise-based data, collected from different laboratories and expeditions, are commonly compiled to investigate regional to global oceanographic processes. Here we describe new and updated best practice data standards for discrete chemical oceanographic observations, specifically those dealing with column header abbreviations, quality control flags, missing value indicators, and standardized calculation of certain properties. These data standards have been developed with the goals of improving the current practices of the scientific community and promoting their international usage. These guidelines are intended to standardize data files for data sharing and submission into permanent archives. They will facilitate future quality control and synthesis efforts and lead to better data interpretation. In turn, this will promote research in ocean biogeochemistry, such as studies of carbon cycling and ocean acidification, on regional to global scales. These best practice standards are not mandatory. Agencies, institutes, universities, or research vessels can continue using different data standards if it is important for them to maintain historical consistency. However, it is hoped that they will be adopted as widely as possible to facilitate consistency and to achieve the goals stated above. 

Abstract. Marine particles of different nature are found throughout the globalocean. The term “marine particles” describes detritus aggregates andfecal pellets as well as bacterioplankton, phytoplankton, zooplankton andnekton. Here, we present a global particle size distribution datasetobtained with several Underwater Vision Profiler 5 (UVP5) camerasystems. Overall, within the 64 µm to about 50 mm size range coveredby the UVP5, detrital particles are the most abundant component of allmarine particles; thus, measurements of theparticle size distribution with the UVP5 can yield importantinformation on detrital particle dynamics. During deployment, which ispossible down to 6000 m depth, the UVP5 images a volume of about 1 Lat a frequency of 6 to 20 Hz. Each image is segmented in real time, andsize measurements of particles are automatically stored. All UVP5units used to generate the dataset presented here wereinter-calibrated using a UVP5 high-definition unit as reference. Ourconsistent particle size distribution dataset contains 8805 verticalprofiles collected between 19 June 2008 and 23 November 2020. All major ocean basins, as well as the Mediterranean Sea and the Baltic Sea, were sampled. A total of 19 % of all profiles had a maximum sampling depth shallower than 200 dbar, 38 % sampled at least the upper 1000 dbar depth range and 11 % went down to at least 3000 dbar depth. First analysis of the particle size distribution dataset shows that particle abundance is found to be high at high latitudes and in coastal areas where surface productivity or continental inputs are elevated. The lowest values are found in the deep ocean and in the oceanic gyres. Our dataset should be valuable for more in-depth studies that focus on the analysis of regional, temporal and global patterns of particle size distribution and flux as well as for the development and adjustment of regional and global biogeochemical models. The marine particle size distribution dataset (Kiko et al., 2021) is available at https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.924375. 

In this paper, we outline the need for a coordinated international effort toward the building of an open-access Global Ocean Oxygen Database and ATlas (GO 2 DAT) complying with the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable). GO 2 DAT will combine data from the coastal and open ocean, as measured by the chemical Winkler titration method or by sensors (e.g., optodes, electrodes) from Eulerian and Lagrangian platforms (e.g., ships, moorings, profiling floats, gliders, ships of opportunities, marine mammals, cabled observatories). GO 2 DAT will further adopt a community-agreed, fully documented metadata format and a consistent quality control (QC) procedure and quality flagging (QF) system. GO 2 DAT will serve to support the development of advanced data analysis and biogeochemical models for improving our mapping, understanding and forecasting capabilities for ocean O 2 changes and deoxygenation trends. It will offer the opportunity to develop quality-controlled data synthesis products with unprecedented spatial (vertical and horizontal) and temporal (sub-seasonal to multi-decadal) resolution. These products will support model assessment, improvement and evaluation as well as the development of climate and ocean health indicators. They will further support the decision-making processes associated with the emerging blue economy, the conservation of marine resources and their associated ecosystem services and the development of management tools required by a diverse community of users (e.g., environmental agencies, aquaculture, and fishing sectors). A better knowledge base of the spatial and temporal variations of marine O 2 will improve our understanding of the ocean O 2 budget, and allow better quantification of the Earth’s carbon and heat budgets. With the ever-increasing need to protect and sustainably manage ocean services, GO 2 DAT will allow scientists to fully harness the increasing volumes of O 2 data already delivered by the expanding global ocean observing system and enable smooth incorporation of much higher quantities of data from autonomous platforms in the open ocean and coastal areas into comprehensive data products in the years to come. This paper aims at engaging the community (e.g., scientists, data managers, policy makers, service users) toward the development of GO 2 DAT within the framework of the UN Global Ocean Oxygen Decade (GOOD) program recently endorsed by IOC-UNESCO. A roadmap toward GO 2 DAT is proposed highlighting the efforts needed (e.g., in terms of human resources). 

Abstract. The Global Ocean Data Analysis Project (GLODAP) is asynthesis effort providing regular compilations of surface-to-bottom oceanbiogeochemical data, with an emphasis on seawater inorganic carbon chemistryand related variables determined through chemical analysis of seawatersamples. GLODAPv2.2020 is an update of the previous version, GLODAPv2.2019.The major changes are data from 106 new cruises added, extension of timecoverage to 2019, and the inclusion of available (also for historicalcruises) discrete fugacity of CO2 (fCO2) values in the mergedproduct files. GLODAPv2.2020 now includes measurements from more than 1.2 million water samples from the global oceans collected on 946 cruises. Thedata for the 12 GLODAP core variables (salinity, oxygen, nitrate, silicate,phosphate, dissolved inorganic carbon, total alkalinity, pH, CFC-11, CFC-12,CFC-113, and CCl4) have undergone extensive quality control with afocus on systematic evaluation of bias. The data are available in twoformats: (i) as submitted by the data originator but updated to WOCEexchange format and (ii) as a merged data product with adjustments appliedto minimize bias. These adjustments were derived by comparing the data fromthe 106 new cruises with the data from the 840 quality-controlled cruises ofthe GLODAPv2.2019 data product using crossover analysis. Comparisons toempirical algorithm estimates provided additional context for adjustmentdecisions; this is new to this version. The adjustments are intended toremove potential biases from errors related to measurement, calibration, anddata-handling practices without removing known or likely time trends orvariations in the variables evaluated. The compiled and adjusted dataproduct is believed to be consistent to better than 0.005 in salinity, 1 % in oxygen, 2 % in nitrate, 2 % in silicate, 2 % in phosphate,4 µmol kg−1 in dissolved inorganic carbon, 4 µmol kg−1in total alkalinity, 0.01–0.02 in pH (depending on region), and 5 % inthe halogenated transient tracers. The other variables included in thecompilation, such as isotopic tracers and discrete fCO2, were notsubjected to bias comparison or adjustments. The original data and their documentation and DOI codes are available at theOcean Carbon Data System of NOAA NCEI(https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/ocads/oceans/GLODAPv2_2020/, lastaccess: 20 June 2020). This site also provides access to the merged dataproduct, which is provided as a single global file and as four regional ones– the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans –under https://doi.org/10.25921/2c8h-sa89 (Olsen et al., 2020). Thesebias-adjusted product files also include significant ancillary andapproximated data. These were obtained by interpolation of, or calculationfrom, measured data. This living data update documents the GLODAPv2.2020methods and provides a broad overview of the secondary quality controlprocedures and results.