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Surface Water Quality Monitoring Data collected in South Florida Coastal Waters (FCE LTER) from June 1989 to Present


At a Glance


Authors: Henry Briceno
Time period: to
Package id: knb-lter-fce.1055.9
Dataset id: LT_ND_Boyer_001

How to cite:
Briceno, H.. 2020. Surface Water Quality Monitoring Data collected in South Florida Coastal Waters (FCE LTER) from June 1989 to Present. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/. Dataset accessed 2024-03-29.

Geographic Coverage


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Detailed Metadata


  • Dataset Abstract
    The Southeast Environmental Research Center at Florida International University operates a network of 331 fixed sampling sites distributed throughout the estuarine and coastal ecosystems of south Florida. The purpose of this network is to address concerns in regional water quality which cross and overlap separate political boundaries. Funding has come from different sources with individual programs being added as funding became available. Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay, Whitewater Bay, Ten Thousand Islands, Rookery Bay, Estero Bay, andPine Island Sound are sampled monthly while the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) and the southwest shelf are sampled quarterly. Variables currently being measured include surface and bottom temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, total nitrogen, total organic nitrogen, total phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus, total organic carbon, total silicate, chlorophyll a, alkaline phosphatase activity, turbidity, and light extinction. The purpose of this network is to address concerns in regional water quality which cross and overlap separate political boundaries. One of the products is a quasi-synoptic big picture of nutrient and phytoplankton biomass distributions over the South Florida Coastal Waters. The SERC network will, in time, provide us with the data necessary to determine whether conditions within the estuaries and sanctuary are improving or declining.
  • Geographic Coverage
    Study Extent Description
    South Florida Coastal Waters Including Florida Bay and Whitewater Bay.

    Bounding Coordinates
    TS/Ph9
    N: 25.177, S: 25.177, E: -80.490, W: -80.490

    TS/Ph10
    N: 25.025, S: 25.025, E: -80.681, W: -80.681

    TS/Ph11
    N: 24.913, S: 24.913, E: -80.938, W: -80.938

    Joe Bay
    N: 25.224, S: 25.224, E: -80.537, W: -80.537

    Little Madeira Bay
    N: 25.175, S: 25.175, E: -80.627, W: -80.627

    Tarpon Bay
    N: 25.417, S: 25.417, E: -80.998, W: -80.998

    Gunboat Island
    N: 25.379, S: 25.379, E: -81.031, W: -81.031

    Ponce de Leon Bay
    N: 25.350, S: 25.350, E: -81.125, W: -81.125

    Oyster Bay
    N: 25.331, S: 25.331, E: -81.073, W: -81.073

    FCE LTER Sites
    TS/Ph9,TS/Ph10, TS/Ph11, Joe Bay-WQM Station 10, Little Madeira Bay-WQM Station 11, Tarpon Bay-WQM Station 38, Gunboat Island-WQM Station 39, Ponce De Leon Bay-WQM Station 40, Oyster Bay-WQM Station 41

    All Sites
    Geographic Description
    Bounding Coordinates
    TS/Ph9
    N: 25.177, S: 25.177, E: -80.490, W: -80.490
    TS/Ph10
    N: 25.025, S: 25.025, E: -80.681, W: -80.681
    TS/Ph11
    N: 24.913, S: 24.913, E: -80.938, W: -80.938
    Joe Bay
    N: 25.224, S: 25.224, E: -80.537, W: -80.537
    Little Madeira Bay
    N: 25.175, S: 25.175, E: -80.627, W: -80.627
    Tarpon Bay
    N: 25.417, S: 25.417, E: -80.998, W: -80.998
    Gunboat Island
    N: 25.379, S: 25.379, E: -81.031, W: -81.031
    Ponce de Leon Bay
    N: 25.350, S: 25.350, E: -81.125, W: -81.125
    Oyster Bay
    N: 25.331, S: 25.331, E: -81.073, W: -81.073
  • Attributes
    • Data Table:   Surface Water Quality Monitoring Data collected in South Florida Coastal Waters (FCE)
      Attribute Name:
      SURV
      Attribute Label:
      Survey Number
      Attribute Definition:
      Survey Number
      Storage Type:
      ordinal
      Measurement Scale:
      Survey Number
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Date
      Attribute Label:
      date
      Attribute Definition:
      Date of Sampling
      Storage Type:
      datetime
      Measurement Scale:
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (not collected)

      Attribute Name:
      TIME
      Attribute Label:
      Time
      Attribute Definition:
      Time of Sample Collection
      Storage Type:
      Measurement Scale:
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (not collected)

      Attribute Name:
      STA
      Attribute Label:
      Station ID
      Attribute Definition:
      WQM Station ID where samples collected
      Storage Type:
      ordinal
      Measurement Scale:
      WQM Station ID where samples collected
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      SITE
      Attribute Label:
      Collection Site
      Attribute Definition:
      Name of station collection site
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Name of station collection site
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      LATDEC
      Attribute Label:
      LATDEC
      Attribute Definition:
      Decimal Latitude
      Storage Type:
      coordinate
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: degree
      Precision: 0.00001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      LONDEC
      Attribute Label:
      LONDEC
      Attribute Definition:
      Decimal Longitude
      Storage Type:
      coordinate
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: degree
      Precision: 0.00001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      DEPTH
      Attribute Label:
      DEPTH
      Attribute Definition:
      Station Depth
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: meter
      Precision: 0.1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      BAY
      Attribute Label:
      Bay
      Attribute Definition:
      Accronym of Bay where samples are collected
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      FB= Florida Bay
      WWB= White Water Bay
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      NOX
      Attribute Label:
      NOX
      Attribute Definition:
      Nitrate + Nitrite
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: microMolesPerLiter
      Precision: 0.001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      NO3
      Attribute Label:
      NO3
      Attribute Definition:
      Nitrate
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: microMolesPerLiter
      Precision: 0.001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      NO2
      Attribute Label:
      NO2
      Attribute Definition:
      Nitrite
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: microMolesPerLiter
      Precision: 0.001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      NH4
      Attribute Label:
      NH4
      Attribute Definition:
      Ammonium
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: microMolesPerLiter
      Precision: 0.001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      TN
      Attribute Label:
      Total Nitrogen
      Attribute Definition:
      Total Nitrogen
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: microMolesPerLiter
      Precision: 0.001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      DIN
      Attribute Label:
      DIN
      Attribute Definition:
      Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: microMolesPerLiter
      Precision: 0.001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      TON
      Attribute Label:
      TON
      Attribute Definition:
      Total Organic Nitrogen
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: microMolesPerLiter
      Precision: 0.001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      TP
      Attribute Label:
      Total Phosphorus
      Attribute Definition:
      Total Phosphorus
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: microMolesPerLiter
      Precision: 0.001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      SRP
      Attribute Label:
      SRP
      Attribute Definition:
      Soluble Reactive Phosphorus
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: microMolesPerLiter
      Precision: 0.001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      APA
      Attribute Label:
      APA
      Attribute Definition:
      Alkaline Phosphatase Activity
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: microMolesPerLiter
      Precision: 0.001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      CHLA
      Attribute Label:
      CHLA
      Attribute Definition:
      Chlorophyll a
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: microgramsPerLiter
      Precision: 0.001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      TOC
      Attribute Label:
      TOC
      Attribute Definition:
      Total Organic Carbon
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: microMolesPerLiter
      Precision: 0.001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      SiO2
      Attribute Label:
      SiO2
      Attribute Definition:
      Silicon Dioxide in Water
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: microMolesPerLiter
      Precision: 0.001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      SAL_S
      Attribute Label:
      Salinity
      Attribute Definition:
      Surface Salinity
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: PSU
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      SAL_B
      Attribute Label:
      Salinity
      Attribute Definition:
      Bottom Salinity
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: PSU
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      TEMP_S
      Attribute Label:
      Surface Water Temperature
      Attribute Definition:
      Surface Water Temperature
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: celsius
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      TEMP_B
      Attribute Label:
      Bottom Water Temperature
      Attribute Definition:
      Bottom Water Temperature
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: celsius
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      DO_S
      Attribute Label:
      Dissolved Oxygen at Surface
      Attribute Definition:
      Dissolved Oxygen at Surface
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: milligramsPerLiter
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      DO_B
      Attribute Label:
      Dissolved Oxygen at Bottom
      Attribute Definition:
      Dissolved Oxygen at Bottom
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: milligramsPerLiter
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      TURB
      Attribute Label:
      Turbidity
      Attribute Definition:
      Turbidity
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: NTU
      Precision: 0.001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      pH
      Attribute Label:
      pH
      Attribute Definition:
      pH
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Kd
      Attribute Label:
      Diffuse Light Attenuation Coefficient (m-1)
      Attribute Definition:
      Diffuse Light Attenuation Coefficient
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: perMeter
      Precision: 0.001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      TN_TP
      Attribute Label:
      TN:TP
      Attribute Definition:
      Surface Total Nitrogen To Total Phosphorus Ratio
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Precision: 0.1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.0 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      N_P
      Attribute Label:
      N:P
      Attribute Definition:
      Surface Din To SRP Ratio
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Precision: 0.1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.0 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      DIN_TP
      Attribute Label:
      DIN:TP
      Attribute Definition:
      Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen To Total Phosphorus Ratio
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Precision: 0.1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.0 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      DSIGT
      Attribute Label:
      DSIGT
      Attribute Definition:
      Delta Sigma-T
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: kilogramPerCubicMeter
      Precision: 0.001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Si_DIN
      Attribute Label:
      Si:DIN
      Attribute Definition:
      Silicate to Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen Ratio
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Precision: 0.1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.0 (Value will never be recorded )


  • Methods
    Sampling Description
    Water samples were collected and analyzed by SERC personnel using standardmethodology outlined in the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) with prior approval from SFWMD and FDEP.

    Method Step

    Description
    Water samples were collected and analyzed by SERC personnel using standardmethodology outlined in the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) with prior approval from SFWMD and FDEP. Salinity and temperature (degrees C) were measured 10 cm below the surface and 10 cm above the bottom using a combination salinity-conductivity-temperature probe (Orion model 140). Surface and bottom dissolved oxygen (DO, mg l-1) was measured using an oxygen electrode (Orion model 840), corrected for both salinity and temperature. Duplicate, unfiltered water samples were collected from 10 cm below the surface using sample rinsed, 120 ml HDPE bottles and kept at ambient temperature in the dark during transport. Duplicate water samples for dissolved nutrient analysis were collected using sample rinsed 150 ml syringes. These samples were filtered by hand (25 mm glass fiber GF/F) into acetone-washed and sample rinsed 60 ml HDPE bottles, which were then capped and immediately placed on ice in the dark for transport. The wet filters, used for chlorophyll a analysis (CHLA), were placed in 2 ml plastic centrifuge tubes to which 1.5 ml of 90% acetone was added. They were then immediately capped and put into a dark bottle on ice for transport. Unfiltered water samples were analyzed for total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), alkaline phosphatase activity (APA), and turbidity (NTU). TOC was measured by direct injection onto hot platinum catalyst in a Shimadzu TOC-5000 after first acidifying to pH<2 and purging with CO2-free air. TN was measured using an ANTEK 7000N Nitrogen Analyzer using O2 as carrier gas instead of argon to promote complete recovery of the nitrogen in the water samples. TP was determined using a dry ashing, acid hydrolysis technique. The APA assay measures the activity of alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme used by bacteria to mineralize phosphate from organic compounds. The assay is performed by adding a knownconcentration of an organic phosphate compound (o-methylfluorescein phosphate) to an unfiltered water sample. Alkaline phosphatase in the water sample cleaves the phosphate, leaving o-methylfluorescein, a highly fluorescent compound. The fluorescence of initial and 2 hr incubations were measured using a Gilford Fluoro IV spectrofluorometer (excitation = 430 nm, emission = 507 nm) and subtracted to give APA (uM h-1). Turbidity was measured using an HF Scientific model DRT-15C turbidimeter and reported in NTU. Filtrates were analyzed for soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), nitrate + nitrite (NOx), nitrite (NO2-), ammonium (NH4+), and silicate (Si(OH)4) by flow injection analysis (Alpkem model RFA 300). Filters for CHLA content (µg l-1) were allowed to extract for a minimum of 2 days at -20degrees C before analysis. Extracts were analyzed using a Gilford Fluoro IV Spectrofluorometer (excitation = 435 nm, emission = 667 nm) and compared to a standard curve of pure CHLA (Sigma). Some parameters were not measured directly, but were calculated by difference. Nitrate (NO3-) was calculated as NOX - NO2-. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) was calculated as NOX + NH4+. Total organic nitrogen (TON) was defined as TN - DIN. Concentrations for all of these water quality variables are reported in units of milligrams per liter (mg l-1) or the equivalent parts per million (ppm), except where noted. All nutrient concentrations are based on the atomic weight of primary nutrient species (ppm-N, ppm-P, and ppm-C), not the molecular weight. All N:P ratios discussed are calculated on a molar basis.

    Citation
    Jones, R. D. , J. N. Boyer. 2002. Annual Report of the South Florida Estuarine Water Quality Monitoring Network, SFWMD/SERC Cooperative Agreement #C10244.. Southeast Environmental Research Center (SERC) and South Florida Water Management District, 67.

    Instrumentation
    HF Scientific model DRT-15C turbidimeterGilford Fluoro IV spectrofluorometerAlpkem model RFA 300 Shimadzu TOC-5000oxygen electrode (Orion model 840)ANTEK 7000N Nitrogen Analyzer

    Quality Control
    Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) with prior approval from South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).
  • Distribution and Intellectual Rights
    Online distribution
    https://fce-lter.fiu.edu/perl/public_data_download.pl?datasetid=LT_ND_Boyer_001.txt
    Data Submission Date:  2020-02-28

    Intellectual Rights
    This information is released under the Creative Commons license - Attribution - CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The consumer of these data ("Data User" herein) is required to cite it appropriately in any publication that results from its use. The Data User should realize that these data may be actively used by others for ongoing research and that coordination may be necessary to prevent duplicate publication. The Data User is urged to contact the authors of these data if any questions about methodology or results occur. Where appropriate, the Data User is encouraged to consider collaboration or co-authorship with the authors. The Data User should realize that misinterpretation of data may occur if used out of context of the original study. While substantial efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of data and associated documentation, complete accuracy of data sets cannot be guaranteed. All data are made available "as is." The Data User should be aware, however, that data are updated periodically and it is the responsibility of the Data User to check for new versions of the data. The data authors and the repository where these data were obtained shall not be liable for damages resulting from any use or misinterpretation of the data. Thank you.

  • Publications citing this dataset
    Dessu, Shimelis B., René M. Price, John S. Kominoski, Stephen E. Davis, Adam S. Wymore, William H. McDowell, and Evelyn E. Gaiser 2024. Percentile-Range Indexed Mapping and Evaluation (PRIME): A new tool for long-term data discovery and application. Environmental Modelling & Software 124: 104580.

    DOI : 10.1016/j.envsoft.2019.104580

  • Keywords
    inorganic nutrients, FCE, FCE LTER, Florida Coastal Everglades LTER, ecological research, long-term monitoring, aquatic, freshwater, marine , nutrients, organic, phosphorus, salinity, nitrogen, estuary, saltwater, surface water, water chemistry, water quality, Florida Bay, Whitewater Bay, Everglades National Park , Florida
  • Dataset Contact
    • Name: Henry Briceno 
    • Position: Project Collaborator
    • Organization: Southeast Environmental Research Center (SERC) at FIU
    • Address: Florida International University
      University Park
      11200 SW 8th Street
      OE 148
      Miami, FL 33199 USA
    • Phone: 305-348-1269
    • Fax: 305-348-4096
    • Email: bricenoh@fiu.edu
    • URL: http://sercweb.fiu.edu/people/faculty/henry-briceno/

    • Position: Information Manager
    • Organization: Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Program
    • Address: Florida International University
      University Park
      OE 148
      Miami, FL 33199 USA
    • Phone: 305-348-6054
    • Fax: 305-348-4096
    • Email: fcelter@fiu.edu
    • URL: http://fcelter.fiu.edu

  • Data Table and Format
    Data Table:  Surface Water Quality Monitoring Data collected in South Florida Coastal Waters (FCE)

    Entity Name:
    LT_ND_Boyer_001.txt
    Entity Description:
    Surface Water Quality Monitoring Data collected in South Florida Coastal Waters (FCE)
    Object Name:
    LT_ND_Boyer_001.txt
    Number of Header Lines:
    1
    Attribute Orientation:
    column
    Field Delimiter:
    ,
    Number of Records:
    2344