Measurements of sinking particle types from deployed Particle Interceptor Trap System (PITS) at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site from Jul 2021 to Mar 2023

These data represent measurements of individual sinking particle types—specifically fecal aggregates, phytodetrital aggregates, euphausiid and other crustacean fecal pellets, and debris—collected from the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site. Sampling occurred during six time points: July 2021, November 2021, March 2022, July 2022, November 2022, and March 2023. Particle interceptor traps (PITs) were deployed at depths of 150 m, 200 m, and 300 m, each equipped with three gel-filled collection cups to preserve particle morphology. The collected particles were analyzed to quantify area and biovolume for each particle type, contributing to a better understanding of the composition and flux of sinking material in the mesopelagic zone.
The data were collected aboard the R/V Atlantic Explorer through the collaborative efforts of the laboratories of Dr. Susanne Neuer, Dr. Amy Maas, and Dr. Leocadio Blanco-Bercial, affiliated with Arizona State University and the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences. These measurements support research into particle-mediated carbon flux and the biological carbon pump, and are intended for use by scientists studying marine biogeochemistry, particle dynamics, and oceanic carbon cycling.