This dataset contains monthly composite images of phytoplankton pigment concentrations in the North Western Pacific from December 1978 through June 1986, derived from about 4,000 elements of Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) data. Also included are associated images of the spectral radiance arising from the ocean body and atmosphere. These images convey information of temporal and spatial variability in marine biological/chemical processes such as the nutrient/primary production relation, as well as information of aerosol particle concentrations that may affect the oceanic processes. CZCS, aboard the Nimbus-7 satellite, was a scanning radiometer having four observation channels in the visible wavelengths. This ocean color instrument was the first to enable space-based mapping of ocean vegetation, mainly by measuring the concentration of surface phytoplankton pigment (approximately proportional to chlorophyll-a). Despite being designed with a life time of only one year, the instrument was operated over eight years, although the observation times were limited because of its experimental, "proof of concept," mission. Due to a mechanical problem, the opportunities for observation also decreased significantly from 1983. Nevertheless, CZCS collected valuable data over the global ocean, stimulating many applications and related studies. The information included in this dataset will contribute much to the requirements of researchers in ocean science, atmospheric science, and environmental management, as well as to environmental modelers and policy makers. The CZCS mission has now been succeeded by ADEOS-Ocean Color and Temperature Scanner (OCTS), after a period from 1986 to 1996 in which there were no satellite-borne ocean color sensors. The on-line monitoring and analysis of global change based on these missions are anticipated.

Zooplankton biomass data collected from Pacific Ocean in 1950 - 1961 years received from NMFS

Zooplankton biomass data were collected from net tows from the South Pacific Ocean. Data were collected by the Bedford Institute of Oceanography (BIO) from 27 January 1967 to 26 November 1967. Zooplankton samples were obtained from oblique tows and parameters include maximum tow depth, total water volume passed through net, small plankton volume, total plankton volume, and standard haul factor.

Zooplankton biomass (displacement volume) data collected during the NMFS Marine Mammal Survey program from Pacific Ocean from 1998-08-03 to 2006-12-05, data were acquired from the NMFS-COPEPOD database (NODC accession 0071761)

Zooplankton biomass data from the Hokkaido University Long-term Fisheries and Oceanographic Database

Diatom and dinoflagellate populations from various pier stations along the western North American coast were enumerated by W. E. Allen from 1917 through the mid-1940s. Most of the original data sheets have been archived by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) Library. From these original records, weekly (plus some hourly and some daily) diatom and dinoflagellate species abundances from SIO, Oceanside, Port Hueneme, Pacific Grove, Farallon Islands, and Scotch Cap piers for the period 1917 - 1939 have been digitized into a format that can be read by most current computer operating systems. This Reference Series provides these data on the CD titled W.E. Allen's Phytoplankton Species Time Series Data (1917-1939) from the North American Pacific Coast.