The present proposal is directed toward the acquisition of virtually continuous, concurrent biogeochemical-physical- optical data at a site (0, 140W) in the equatorial Pacific as part of the JGOFS program. Presently, meteorological, current, and temperature data are being collected from a mooring at the site by Dr. Michael McPhaden of PMEL/NOAA. Dr. McPhaden's measurements at that site will be complemented in this effort by placing Multi-Variable Moored Systems (MVMS) at 4 depths within the upper 120m on this mooring. The data collected from the MVMS units will include: currents, temperature, conductivity, beam attenuation coefficient, stimulated and natural fluorescence, dissolved oxygen, photosynthetically available radiation (PAR), spectral upwelling radiance, and spectral downwelling irradiance. Derived variable products from the MVMS units and the PMEL current meters and temperature recorders will include: stratification, mixed layer depth, mixing time scales, and current shears. Additional MVMS products will include: the spectral diffuse attenuation of light which can be used for computation of the penetrative component of solar radiation as well as for bio-optical models, particle concentrations, pigment biomass, primary production (using several methods), integrated pigment biomass and primary production, oxygen respiration and utilization, the flux of oxygen across the air-sea interface, and the advection and flux of particles and pigments. The MVMS units would provide virtually continuous time series for about 6 months per deployment, thus complementing and spanning the planned JGOFS/NOAA shipboard studies.
