Phytoplankton pigments from discrete water samples collected from the Research Vessel Sikuliaq, Gulf of Alaska to Bering Sea, 2023

This data set includes measurements of water samples collected at hydrographic stations from the R/V Sikuliaq during the Arctic Chief Scientist Training cruise June 6–12, 2023 sponsored by the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) Arctic Icebreaker Coordinating Committee and the National Science Foundation. SKQ202309T was utilized as a training expedition for early-career Arctic oceanographers, focusing on skills essential for leading research cruises. Training topics centered on logistics, how to request time on ships, how to coordinate personnel and equipment, how to plan for operations and survey tasks at sea, how to work with vessel crew and staff, and how to edit research plans based on field conditions. Participants collected various data sets opportunistically throughout the research training. The cruise transited from Seward to Nome and water samples were collected at seven hydrographic stations for phytoplankton pigments (this data set). Specifically, this data set contains chlorophyll-a and its degradation product, pheophtyin collected at discrete water depths. Bottled 200 milliliter (mL) seawater samples were filtered onto 25 millimeter (mm) Whatman GF/F filters in the dark immediately following collection from a Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) rosette system. Chlorophyll-a was extracted from filters using 90% acetone and measured using a calibrated Trilogy Fluorometer (Turner Designs, San Jose, California) along with pheophytin using the acidification method.