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.]