Preface The Joint Global Ocean Flux Study

• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.214.2395; http://ijgofs.whoi.edu/Publications/Report_Series/JGOFS_19.pdf

relies on a variety of techniques and measurement strategies to characterize the biogeochemical state of the ocean, and to gain a better mechanistic understanding required for predictive capability. Early in the program, a list of Core Measurements was defined as the minimum set of properties and variables JGOFS needed to achieve these goals. Even at the time of the North Atlantic Bloom Experiment (NABE), in which just a few nations and a relatively small number of laboratories contributed most of the measurements, there was a general understanding that experience, capability and personal preferences about particular methods varied significantly within the program. An attempt to reach consensus about the best available techniques to use is documented in JGOFS Report 6, “Core Measurement Protocols: Reports of the Core Measurement Working Groups”. As JGOFS has grown and diversified, the need for standardization has intensified. The present volume, edited by Dr. Anthony Knap and his colleagues at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research, is JGOFS ’ most recent attempt to catalog the core measurements and define the current state of the art. More importantly, the measurement protocols are presented in a standardized format which is intended to help new investigators to perform these measurements with some understanding of the procedures needed to