Compilation of quality controlled nutrient profiles from the Mediterranean Sea

In the last decades, a striking amount of hydrographic data, covering the most part of Mediterranean basin, have been generated by the efforts made to characterize the oceanography and ecology of the basin. On the other side, the improvement in technologies, and the consequent perfecting of sampling and analytical techniques, provided data even more reliable than in the past. Nutrient data enter fully in this context, but suffer of the fact of having been produced by a large number of uncoordinated research programs and of being often deficient in quality control, with data bases lacking of intercalibration. In this study we present a computational procedure based on robust statistical parameters and on the physical dynamic properties of the Mediterranean sea and its morphological characteristics, to partially overcome the above limits in the existing data sets. Through a data pre filtering based on the outlier analysis, and thanks to the subsequent shape analysis, the procedure identifies the inconsistent data and for each basin area identifies a characteristic set of shapes (vertical profiles). Rejecting all the profiles that do not follow any of the spotted shapes, the procedure identifies all the reliable profiles and allows us to obtain a data set that can be considered more internally consistent than the existing ones.

(Table 2) Abundance and biomass of zooplankton in the eastern Black Sea in the beginning of September 1996

On the basis of analyses of samples collected in the eastern Black Sea in September 1996 trends of increase in surface zooplankton biomass and general decrease in Mnemiopsis biomass were revealed.

Age determination of eastern Weddel Sea sediments

The huge ice shelves in West Antarctica -the Ross and Filchner/Ronne Ice Shelves- habe probably extended out on th continental shelf during the late Wisconsin (Stuiver et al., 1981). Previous discussions, which have focused on the Ross Sea, have suggested (1) that the ice extended across the whole continental shelf (Denton et al., 1975; Kellog et al., 1979, doi:10.1130/0091-7613(1979)7<249:LQEOTW>2.0.CO;2) or (2) that there was only a minor ecpansion (Drewry, 1979). Here we present sedimentological data from the Weddel Sea which suggests that a late Wisconsin grounded ice sheet extended to the shelfe edge. The evidence includes a recent thicker ice in Ellsworth Mountains at the head of the Filchner/Ronne Ice Shelf (Rutford et al., 1980). This thickening would lead to an expansion of the inland ice sheet over the continental shelf, filling up the Weddell Sea embayment.

Amount and patterns of beluga sightings in the eastern Beaufort Sea

An understanding of the adaptability of belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) to changing ice conditions is required to interpret and predict possible changes in habitat selection in response to projected loss of sea ice throughout the circumpolar Arctic. We analyzed beluga observations made during spring aerial surveys for ringed seals conducted from 1975 to 1979 in the eastern Beaufort Sea. Despite interannual variability in the extent and distribution of sea ice, belugas consistently selected areas with water depths of 200-500 m and heavy ice concentrations (8/10 to 10/10) while areas of open water to light ice concentrations (0/10 to 1/10) were not selected. Belugas were also found in proximity to regions with >0.5 degrees seafloor slope which include the continental slope and other areas with the potential for oceanographic upwellings. In most years (4 of 5), fast-ice edges and coastal areas were not selected. In the lightest ice year analyzed, belugas showed less specificity in habitat selection as their distribution expanded and shifted shoreward to fast-ice edges. The observed distribution is discussed in terms of predator-prey relationships particularly with reference to beluga feeding on polar cod (Boreogadus saida). More research is required to examine and compare possible changes in distribution since the late 1970s and to investigate the factors driving the patterns described.

Concentrations of floating plastic debris in the Mediterranean Sea measured during MedSeA-2013 cruise

Floating plastic debris sampled in surface waters of the Mediterranean Sea in May 2013 on board the Spanish R/V Angeles Alvariño. Geographical coordinates and dates of sampling are available in the dataset. Surface plastic concentrations derived from net tows were adjusted in relation to wind speed following the vertical-distribution model proposed by Kukulta et al. (2012, doi:10.1029/2012GL051116).

Abundance of macrozooplankton in the north-eastern Black Sea during SESRU02 cruise in September 2008

The SESRU02_macrozooplankton dataset contains data collected in September 2008 at 15 stations located between 37°E and 39.5°E and between 42.4°N and 44.5°N in the north-eastern Black Sea. Samples were collected with a Ring net. Vertical tows of a Ring net, with mouth area 0.5 m**2, mesh size 400?m. Sample was taken from the layer 0-45 m. Towing speed: 0.8m/s. Samples were analyzed on board without preservation. Sampling volume was estimated by multiplying the mouth area by the wire length. The entire sample was analyzed on board. Macrozooplankton species were identified and enumerated.