GABBARD
Gabbard NMMP SmartBuoy, 52 00'.0N 002 20'.0E, 11/12/2000 -
29/8/2002
These deployments formed part of the National Marine Monitoring
Programme (NMMP) funded by the UK Government's Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
A SmartBuoy was deployed at a site in the southern North Sea in
approximately 45 m water depth to observe the dynamics of plant
nutrients and the growth of phytoplankton.
Measurements of plant nutrient
concentrations were derived from two SmartBuoy instruments. Hourly
measurements of nitrate concentration were made by the NAS2E in
situ nutrient analyser, while lower frequency (daily)
measurements of nitrate and silicate concentration were derived
from laboratory analysis of water samples collected and preserved
by the AquaMonitor.
Phytoplankton concentration (biomass) was measured 4 times per
hour using a fluorometer measuring chlorophyll fluorescence.
To aid interpretation of these data, SmartBuoy also took
measurements of conductivity, temperature, suspended sediment
concentration and light penetration.
Summary Data