gov.noaa.nodc:0246785 eng utf8 dataset NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NOAA Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information custodian 2026-04-17T21:09:47Z ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) 2013 Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Long-Term Monitoring of the Reef Crest Benthic and Fish Communities of Stetson Bank, northwestern Gulf of Mexico (NCEI Accession 0246785) 2022-01-28 publication 2024-09-10 creation NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0246785 NCEI Archive Management System 0246785 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information publisher Raven D. Blakeway Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) raven.blakeway@noaa.gov https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/ HTTPS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) website Institution web page information resourceProvider Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/ HTTPS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) website Institution web page information resourceProvider Raven Blakeway Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) raven.blakeway@noaa.gov https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/ HTTPS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) website Institution web page information principalInvestigator Blakeway, Raven D. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/ HTTPS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) website Institution web page information author Nuttall, Marissa F. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/ HTTPS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) website Institution web page information author Hickerson, Emma L. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/ HTTPS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) website Institution web page information author Schmahl, G.P. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/ HTTPS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) website Institution web page information author Sinclair, James Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement author Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/ HTTPS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) website Institution web page information contributor tableDigital This dataset contains raw and processed data from an annual long-term monitoring study that documents the benthic and fish community changes at Stetson Bank, in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Stetson Bank is an uplifted claystone/siltstone feature, located 75 nautical miles from Galveston, TX in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, that supports a well-developed benthic community of scleractinian coral and tropical marine sponges. Due to a wide range of temperatures and variable light availability, Stetson Bank has marginal environmental conditions for coral reef development and growth. The fish community is similar to other Caribbean reefs but has comparatively lower diversity. Monitoring has occurred on the bank crest (17-34 m) of the site since 1993. Bank crest monitoring includes random transect and repetitive photostation photographs of the benthos to estimate percent cover of major taxonomic groups (e.g., coral, sponge, algae). Benthic photographs are analyzed using Coral Point Count (CPCe) and output into Microsoft Excel worksheets. These data are analyzed for temporal community changes in Primer. Fish census surveys are conducted annually using a modified Bohnsack and Bannerot stationary method, both at random and repetitive sites. Fish data are recorded in Microsoft Excel worksheets. Primer software is used to identify any temporal shifts that occur in the fish community. Water quality parameters (e.g., temperature, salinity, turbidity, nutrients) are measured with moored conductivity temperature depth (CTD) instruments and quarterly profiles of the water column are performed. Temperature and salinity data are reduced to report daily averages. The bank crest benthic community at Stetson Bank has undergone several significant shifts, changing from a habitat predominated by hydrocoral and sponges to one of macroalgae and sponges. The fish community on the bank crest has varied annually. Exotic fish species are present at the bank, including lionfish (Pterois volitans/P. miles) and regal demoiselle (Neopomacentrus cyanomos). Fluctuations in oceanic conditions, macroalgae cover, and continued annual variation in fish communities were documented. Since 1995, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, has monitored the health of the reefs at Stetson Bank. The monitoring effort is designed to assess the health of the reefs through the evaluation of changes in living coral and other benthic community cover, coral growth rates, reef fish population dynamics, water quality, benthic contamination, and other indices of reef vitality. The assessment allows detection of changes in the reef communities, including detection of possible anthropogenic influence (specifically oil and gas impacts). Funding Agency: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Funding Agency: Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) pending NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact asNeeded https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0246785 Graphic not available. PNG 0246785 NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 2021-12-16 publication BENTHIC SPECIES CONDUCTIVITY CORAL - CENSUS CORAL - SPECIES IDENTIFICATION DISSOLVED INORGANIC CARBON (DIC) DISSOLVED OXYGEN FISH - CORAL REEF FISH CENSUS HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE pH SALINITY SPONGE SPECIES IDENTIFICATION total alkalinity turbidity Video Transect Images water depth WATER TEMPERATURE theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS CTD CTD - moored CTD multi-parameter water quality sensor photograph swimmer/diver video camera instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS in situ theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary dataCentre NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary dataCentre NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS LONG TERM MONITORING EAST-WEST FLOWER GARDEN BANKS LONG-TERM MONITORING AT THE EAST AND WEST FLOWER GARDEN BANKS (FLOWER GARDENS) project NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Gulf of Mexico place NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS oceanography theme WMO_CategoryCode 2012-09-15 publication DOC/NOAA/NOS/NMS > National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Coral Reef Studies Long Term Monitoring at Stetson Bank Flower Garden Banks Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks (DOI/MMS) project Provider Project Names EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES > SPONGES EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > BATHYMETRY/SEAFLOOR TOPOGRAPHY > WATER DEPTH EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN CHEMISTRY > ALKALINITY EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN CHEMISTRY > INORGANIC CARBON EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN CHEMISTRY > OXYGEN EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN CHEMISTRY > PH EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN OPTICS > TURBIDITY EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN PRESSURE > WATER PRESSURE EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN TEMPERATURE > WATER TEMPERATURE EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > SALINITY/DENSITY > CONDUCTIVITY EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > SALINITY/DENSITY > SALINITY EARTH SCIENCE > SOLID EARTH > GEOMORPHIC LANDFORMS/PROCESSES > COASTAL LANDFORMS > CORAL REEFS EARTH SCIENCE > SPECTRAL/ENGINEERING > VISIBLE WAVELENGTHS > VISIBLE IMAGERY theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian ALTIMETER BENTHIC SPECIES (MESOPHOTIC) BENTHIC SPECIES (REEF CREST) CORAL Coral Reef Studies FISH CENSUS (MESOPHOTIC) FISH CENSUS (REEF CREST) VIDEO TRANSECT WATER QUALITY (MOORED) WATER QUALITY (PROFILES) WATER QUALITY (SAMPLES) algae - species identification coral - species identification sponge - species identification theme Provider Keywords CTD > Conductivity, Temperature, Depth VIDEO CAMERA > VIDEO CAMERA instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian CTD CTD - moored CTD photograph swimmer/diver video camera instrument Provider Instrument Names OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF AMERICA OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF MEXICO place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Gulf of Mexico Stetson Bank place Provider Place Names 2F1KRB Send2NCEI Submission Package ID Data in this archival information package are not currently available for public download from NCEI. Please contact NCEI directly for access to these data. accessLevel: Public otherRestrictions Cite as: Blakeway, Raven D.; Nuttall, Marissa F.; Hickerson, Emma L.; Schmahl, G.P.; Sinclair, James (2022). 2013 Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Long-Term Monitoring of the Reef Crest Benthic and Fish Communities of Stetson Bank, northwestern Gulf of Mexico (NCEI Accession 0246785). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Unpublished Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0246785. Accessed [date]. Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives. otherRestrictions Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose. Long-Term Monitoring at Stetson Bank, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, 2013 Annual Report. 2016 publication Nuttall, MF. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/ HTTPS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) website Institution web page information author Embesi,JA. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/ HTTPS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) website Institution web page information author Eckert,RJ. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/ HTTPS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) website Institution web page information author Hickerson, EL. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/ HTTPS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) website Institution web page information author Johnston, MJ. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/ HTTPS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) website Institution web page information author Schmahl, GP. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/ HTTPS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) website Institution web page information author U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary publisher documentDigital 79 pp crossReference sciencePaper eng; USA utf8 environment oceans biota -94.3 -94.28 28.15 28.16 2013-01-01 2013-12-31 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 ncei.info@noaa.gov pointOfContact In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media. Data in this archival information package are not currently available for public download from NCEI. Please contact NCEI directly for access to these data. Originator data format https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0246785 HTTPS Web browser NCEI Dataset Landing Page Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/246785 HTTPS Web browser Descriptive Information Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page. offlineAccess https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/246785 HTTPS Web browser HTTPS Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page. offlineAccess https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Users may contact NCEI for more information and to request access to the archived data. User requests must be approved by NCEI and are subject to order fulfillment constraints. offlineAccess dataset Parameter or Variable: BENTHIC SPECIES (REEF CREST) (measured); Units: Percent Cover; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: photograph; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Bank crest repetitive photostations were selected within an area of dense high relief features harboring diverse benthic communities and marked by scuba divers using nails or eyebolts and numbered tags. Permanent mooring buoys 1, 2, and 3 were used for this study to enable easy access to the site by scuba divers. Repetitive photostations were installed on biologically interesting locations on high relief habitat, which included sites with scleractinian corals and sponges. In 1993, a total of 36 permanent photostations were installed. Over time several of these stations have been lost due to the dynamic environment at Stetson Bank (e.g., algal overgrowth, storm impacts, and fragile substrate). To maintain a sufficient number of repetitive photostation sites, new stations have been established, as needed, following the same selection criteria. Each station is located by scuba divers and photographed annually. Images were captured using a Sony A6500 digital camera in a Nauticam NA-A6500 housing with a Nikkor Nikonos 15 mm underwater lens mounted to a T-frame set at 1.75 m from the substrate, with two Inon® Z240 strobes set 1.2 m apart. A set of lasers were mounted to the pole of the T-frame, fixed at 30 cm, for spatial scale reference. To ensure repeatability of the area captured in each image, a compass and bubble level were mounted to the center of the T-frame to allow images to be taken in a vertical and northward orientation. Percent cover was calculated using CPCe® (Kohler & Gill 2006). Thirty points were randomly overlaid on each image and the benthos lying directly under each point was identified.; Data Quality Method: Data were reviewed by trained observers for quality and accuracy. Parameter or Variable: BENTHIC SPECIES (REEF CREST) (measured); Units: Percent cover; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: photograph; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Transect sites were selected within high and low relief habitat, defined using 1 m^2 resolution bathymetric data. Depth range was calculated with a 5 m x 5 m rectangular window, and reclassified to define low relief habitat (<1 m range) and high relief habitat (>1.1 m range). A 33.5 m contour was used to restrict the extent of the layer, limiting surveys to within depths that would allow scuba divers sufficient time to conduct surveys and avoid decompression. Sites were distributed proportionally by area between habitats: 20 low relief sites and 10 high relief sites. A still camera, mounted on a 0.65 m T-frame with a bubble level and strobes, was used to capture non-overlapping images of the reef, where each image captured approximately 0.8 x 0.6 m (0.48 m^2). Each transect was designed to capture 8.16 m^2 of benthic habitat, therefore requiring 17 images. Spooled fiberglass 15 m measuring tapes with 17 pre-marked intervals (every 0.8 m) were used as guides, providing a 0.2 m buffer between each image to prevent overlap. A Canon Power Shot® G11 digital camera in an Ikelite® housing with a 28 mm equivalent wet mount lens adaptor, with two Inon® Z240 strobes set 1 m apart on the T-frame, was used. Percent cover was calculated using CPCe® (Kohler & Gill 2006). Five hundred points per transect were distributed evenly amongst images and then randomly overlaid on each image. The benthos lying directly under each point was identified.; Data Quality Method: Data were reviewed by trained observers for quality and accuracy. Parameter or Variable: FISH CENSUS (REEF CREST) (measured); Units: Density (#/100 m^2); Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Scuba divers, using the modified Bohnsack and Bannerot (1986) stationary visual fish census technique, restricted observations to an imaginary cylinder with a radius of 7.5 m, extending from the benthos to the surface. All fish species observed within the first five minutes of the survey were recorded as the diver slowly rotated in place above the bottom. Immediately following this five-minute observation period, one rotation was conducted for each species noted in the original five-minute period to record abundance (number of individuals per species) and fork length (within size bins). Size was binned into eight groups; <5 cm, ≥5 to <10 cm, ≥10 to <15 cm, ≥15 to <20 cm, ≥20 to <25 cm, ≥25 to <30 cm, ≥30 to <35 cm. If fish were >35 cm, each individual size was recorded based on visual estimation by divers. Divers carried a 1 m PVC pole marked in 10 cm increments to provide a reference for size estimation. Each survey required, at minimum, 15 minutes to complete. Transitory or schooling species were counted and measured at the time they moved through the cylinder during the initial five-minute period. Notes on the habitat within each survey area were obtained, including information on benthic relief Surveys began after sunrise and were repeated throughout the day until dusk. There were two survey types: Random and Repetitive. Random survey start location were selected in conjuction with random transects. Survey sites were selected within high and low relief habitat, defined using 1 m^2 resolution bathymetric data. Depth range was calculated with a 5 m x 5 m rectangular window, and reclassified to define low relief habitat (<1 m range) and high relief habitat (>1.1 m range). A 33.5 m contour was used to restrict the extent of the layer, limiting surveys to within depths that would allow scuba divers sufficient time to conduct surveys and avoid decompression. Sites were distributed proportionally by area between habitats: 20 low relief sites and 10 high relief sites. Repetitive survey sites were co-located with select benthic repetitive photostations where the station marker was the center of the fish survey cylinder. Counts were converted to density per 100m^2; Data Quality Method: Data were reviewed by trained observers for quality and accuracy. Parameter or Variable: WATER QUALITY (MOORED) (measured); Units: degrees C; psu; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: CTD - moored CTD; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Water temperature and salinity on the crest of Stetson Bank (24 m), was collected continuously using a Sea-Bird® Electronics Inc. 16plus V2 CTD, equipped with a WET Labs ECO NTUS turbidity meter. The loggers were installed on a large railroad wheel in the midsection of the bank crest. The instrument was downloaded quarterly and factory service of the instrument was performed annually. Onset® Computer Corporation HOBO® Pro v2 U22-001 thermographs were used as a backup to the Sea-Bird instrument and recorded temperature on an hourly basis. A HOBO® thermograph deployed at the 30 m station, located on the northerly edge of the bank crest, recorded temperature hourly. Another HOBO® thermograph was installed at 40 m, also along the northern edge of the bank crest, to record temperature hourly. The loggers were downloaded and maintained on a quarterly basis. The HOBO® thermistors were attached to eyebolts embedded in the substrate. Due to instrument download schedule, some data from the previous and subsequent year are included in this data package. All measurements were later processed to daily averages.; Data Quality Method: Data were reviewed by trained observers for quality and accuracy. Parameter or Variable: WATER QUALITY (PROFILES) (measured); Units: degrees C;; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: YSI - handheld multi-parameter instrument; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Water column profiles were collected using a YSI - handheld instrument to record temperature and salinity every 5 m from 5 - 20 m, then every 1 m from 0 - 5 m water depth.; Data Quality Method: Data were reviewed by trained observers for quality and accuracy. Parameter or Variable: WATER QUALITY (SAMPLES) (measured); Units: variety; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: CTD; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Water samples for nutrient and seawater carbonate chemistry parameters were collected quarterly. Samples were collected using a sampling carousel equipped with a Sea-Bird® Electronics Inc. MicroCAT 37 logger and six OceanTest® Corporation 2.5 liter Niskin bottles, with bottles activated at specific depths. When this instrument was not available due to maintenance or operational issues, samples were collected using a manually triggered handheld Niskin bottle, lowered on a measured line. Each quarter, three nutrient samples, with one replicate for each depth, were collected near the seafloor (approximately 20 m depth), mid-water (10 m depth) and near the surface (1 m depth). Ocean carbonate samples were collected at identical depth intervals, with one replicate collected with the surface (1 m) sample. Once samples were collected, subsamples were transferred as follows: chlorophyll-a subsamples were transferred to 1000 ml brown glass containers with no preservatives; reactive soluble phosphorous subsamples were placed in 250 ml white plastic bottles with no preservatives; and ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and total nitrogen subsamples were transferred to 1000 ml white plastic bottles and preserved with sulfuric acid. Within minutes of sampling, labeled sample containers were stored on ice at 4 °C and a chain of custody was initiated for processing at an EPA certified laboratory. The samples were transported and delivered to A&B Laboratories in Houston, TX within twenty-four hours of collection. Water samples for seawater carbonate chemistry measurements were collected following methods requested by the Carbon Cycle Laboratory (CCL) at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC). Samples were collected in ground neck borsilicate glass bottles. Bottles were filled using a 30 cm plastic tube connected to the filler valve of the Niskin bottle. Bottles were rinsed three times using the sample water, filled carefully to reduce bubble formation, and overflowed by at least 200 ml. A total of100 μl of saturated HgCl2was added to each bottle, which was then capped and the stopped was sealed with Apiezon® grease and secured with a rubber band. The bottles were then inverted vigorously to ensure homogeneous distribution of HgCl2. Samples were then stored at 4 °C and sent to CCL at TAMU-CC, in Corpus Christi, TX. Each sample was analyzed for pH, alkalinity, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), saturation state with respect to aragonite (Ωaragonite).; Data Quality Method: Data were reviewed by trained observers for quality and accuracy. asNeeded Metadata are developed, maintained and distributed by NCEI. Updates are performed as needed to maintain currentness. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information custodian CTD CTD Conductivity-Temperature-Depth probe CTD - moored CTD CTD - moored CTD CTD - moored CTD multi-parameter water quality sensor multi-parameter water quality sensor used to measure temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and other parameters Instrument used to measure temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and other parameters, often used to measure water quality parameters. Can be a hand-held instrument or a sonde for unattended monitoring. Often used in coastal water monitoring stations. YSI is the preeminent brand (as of 2024). photograph photograph still images used as the basis for making parameter determinations swimmer/diver swimmer/diver not an instrument - use as observation type video camera video camera a camera which makes moving or still images used as the basis for making parameter determinations