BGC-Argo profiling float WMO 4903848: derived physical, biogeochemical and bio-optical products

This dataset provides products derived from 0-1000 m profiles acquired by the autonomous BGC-Argo float WMO 4903848 (National Research Council- CNR, Institute of Marine Sciences – ISMAR) across the Ionian Sea (Mediterranean Sea), since May 2025. This float is equipped with a set of sensors for measuring essential ocean, climate and biodiversity variables.
The dataset of derived products contains, for each profile acquired by the BGC-Argo float from 0 to 1000-m depth, a NetCDF file containing the following quantities:

- Potential density: the potential density is computed from the quality-controlled pressure, temperature and salinity profiles through the Gibbs-SeaWater (GSW) Oceanographic Toolbox which contains the TEOS-10 subroutines for evaluating the thermodynamic properties of seawater, according to McDougall and Barker (2011; ISBN 978-0-646-55621-5).
- Mixed layer depth: estimated according to Weller and Plueddemann 1996 (doi:10.1029/96JC00206).
- Particulate Organic Carbon (POC) concentrations: POC is computed from quality-controlled optical particulate backscattering measurements at the wavelength of 700 nm and quality-controlled chlorophyll-a concentration according to Koestner et al. (2022, doi:10.3389/fmars.2022.941950).
- Euphotic depth is defined as the depth at which photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) decreases to 1% of its value just below the sea surface, following Kirk (1994, doi:10.1017/CBO9780511623370). Prior to estimating the euphotic depth, PAR profiles are computed by integrating spectral downwelling irradiance signals over the 400–700 nm range. Each PAR profile is then quality-controlled in real time using the algorithm described by La Forgia and Organelli (2025, doi:10.1002/lom3.10701), and corrected for cloud and wave focusing effects according to Organelli et al. (2016, doi:10.1175/JTECH-D-15-0193.1).

The dataset of derived products is continuously updated in near-real-time as soon as new profiles are available.

This dataset was derived from data collected and made freely available by the International Argo Program and the national programs that contribute to it (https://argo.ucsd.edu, https://www.ocean-ops.org). The Argo Program is part of the Global Ocean Observing System.