Abundance of Particulate Aggregrates (Marine Snow) Measured during the JGOFS Equatorial Pacific Process Study

The Equatorial Pacific Process Study (EQPAC) was conducted along 140 deg W
longitude during 1992.

Four cruises took place: February 3 - March 9, March 19 - April 15,
August 5 - September 18, and September 24 - October 21. A fifth benthic
cruise and sediment trap legs were added. During the first cruise
(TT007), 15 stations were occupied along 140 deg W longitude from
12 deg N latitude to 12 deg S latitude. During the second cruise
(TT008), data were collected at 8 stations along 140 deg W longitude
from 9 deg S latitude to 9 deg N latitude. During the third cruise
(TT011), data were collected at 15 stations along 140 deg W from 12 deg N
latitude to 12 deg S latitude. During the fourth cruise (TT012), data were
collected at 5 stations along 140 deg W longitude from 17 deg S
latitude to the equator.

On the second cruise, a camera and strobelights were used to
illuminate aggregate particles. The system was lowered slowly
10-20 m/min through the water column on a trawl wire, exposing frames
at a time interval of 7-20 sec calculated to yield 700-800 frames
between the surface and the sea floor. Depth was monitored and
recorded using a pinger and the ship's precision depth recorder.
The parameter measured was the number of aggregates greater than 0.5 mm.

The data is public domain and can be retrieved on-line at
"http://usjgofs.whoi.edu/jg/dir/jgofs/"

[The information in this summary was taken from the JGOFS
World Wide Web pages.]