Current and water properties data were collected using STD casts in the Puget Sound from NOAA Ship McARTHUR. The data were collected from 08 January 1973 to 14 February 1973. Data were submitted by the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory.

The data in this accession were collected as part of Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS). Ships ENDEAVOR and NOAA Ship RESEARCHER were used by Atlantic Oceanographic Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), Miami, FL to collect the data. The data was submitted by Ms. Carol Reese from OCD NOAA in Miami. The biological/nutrient data is in JGOFS format and include the following parameters: temperature, salinity, oxygen, nutrients, organic matter, pigments, chlorophyll-a, phaeophytin, productivity data, and photosynthesis light curves. The projects are named Role of Organics in the Marine Environment (ROME) and Subtropical Underwater (SUW). Marine pigments, productivity and associated chemistry data from the ROME I and II, and SUW projects are reported in files containing separate reference numbers. There are three reference numbers which represent each cruise: L00938 = ROME I, November-December 1979, R/V Endeavor L00939 = ROME II, April-May 1980, NOAA Ship Researcher L00940 = SUW, February-March 1978.

The National Status and Trends Program is comprised of three nationwide programs: Benthic Surveillance, Mussel Watch, and Bioeffects. These programs are in place to observe estuarine and coastal waters nationwide to describe the current status and detect changes in the environmental quality using long-term, continuous monitoring. Special Studies is another program which assesses the environmental impacts of different events, such as Hurricane Katrina. Mussel Watch is the longest continuous, nationwide contaminant monitoring program, running from 1986 to present, analyzing sediment and bivalve tissue for organic contaminants and trace metals. Bioeffects Assessment Program has completed over 30 regional studies since 1991, studying sediment contaminants, toxicity, and the condition of benthic communities. Benthic Surveillance monitored chemical concentrations of bottom-swelling fish and sediments, as well as biological effects of contaminant exposure. This project was discontinued in 1993.

Twenty-six surveys were carried out under the NOAA “RESTORE” project from 2020-present. The main objective of this project was to determine the spatial and temporal variability of parameters in Mobile Bay based on river discharge and seasonal variation. During these surveys, temperature, salinity, pH, oxygen, nutrients, chlorophyll, inorganic and organic carbon, and suspended sediments were measured at thirty different stations across Mobile Bay and the Mississippi Sound.

Wave spectra, meteorological, and other data were collected from NOAA Ship FERREL and other platforms in the Chesapeake Bay. Data were collected by the National Ocean Service (NOS) from 14 March 1983 to 22 November 1983. Data has been processed by NODC to the standard NODC F191-Meteorology and Wave Spectra format. Data in this accession do not completely conform to the F191 format. The F191 format is used to report meteorological data and ocean wave spectra data from NDBO. The format contains seven data record types to: 1) identify the buoy for position, duration, rate of sampling and heading, 2) identify the meteorological parameters, (temperature, pressure, weather, solar radiation, and surface waves), and 3) report time times series frequency, density and resolution of waves. Each record is 120 characters in length, sorted by station and record type.

Physical, chemical, phytoplankton, marine toxin, and other data from bottle casts and bottom grabs from NOAA Ship ALBATROSS IV and other platforms from 12 February 1977 to 10 August 1981. Data were collected by the Fish and Wildlife Service - Eastern Pennsylvania Region (FWS) and other institutions as part of the North East Monitoring Program and other projects. Data were processed by NODC to the NODC standard F004 Water Physics and Chemistry format, the F028 Phytoplankton, and the F144 Marine Toxic Substances and Pollutants format. The F004 format is used for data from measurements and analyses of physical and chemical characteristics of the water column. Among chemical parameters that may be recorded are salinity, pH, and concentration of oxygen, ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, chlorophyll, and suspended solids. Physical parameters that may be recorded include temperature, density (sigma-t), transmissivity, and current velocity (east-west and north-south components). Cruise and station information, including environmental conditions of the study site at the time of observations, is also included. This F028 format is used for data from the sampling and analysis of marine phytoplankton. Information on phytoplankton abundance, distribution, and productivity derived from these data support studies of marine populations and ecosystems. Data reported may include: position, date, and time of sampling; bottom depth and sampling depths; volume of water filtered; and concentration of cells, carbon concentration, wet and dry weight, and counts for each species reported. Comments may be relayed in a text record. The F144 format contains data on ambient concentrations of toxic substances and other pollutants in the marine environment. The data derive from laboratory analyses of samples of water, sediment, or marine organisms. Samples may have been collected near marine discharge sites or during ocean monitoring surveys of large areas. Field observations of tar deposits on beaches may also be reported. Survey information includes platform type, start and end dates, and investigator and institution. If data are collected near a discharge site, discharge location, depth, distance to shore, average volume, and other characteristics are reported. Position, date, time and environmental conditions are reported for each sample station. Environmental data may include meteorological and sea surface conditions, tide stage and height, depth of the thermocline or mixed layer surface temperature and salinity, and wave height and periods. Sample characteristics, collection methods, and laboratory techniques are reported for each sample collected and analyzed. The data record comprises concentration values (or a code to indicate trace amounts) for each chemical substance analyzed. Chemical substances are identified by codes based on the registry numbers assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) of the American Chemical Society. Marine organisms from which samples have been taken are identified using the 12-digit NODC Taxonomic Code. A text record is available for optional comments.