Oelker, Julia; Karstensen, Johannes; Dilmahamod, Ahmad Fehmi; Hassoun, Abed El Rahman (2026): Continuous optical chlorophyll-a and turbidity data along RV MARIA S. MERIAN cruise MSM129/2 [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.992566

Underway optical chlorophyll-a and turbidity data were collected along the cruise track with Sea-Bird Scientific ECO FLNTU sensors installed within two autonomous measurement containers, as part of the "Reinseewassersystem" (RSWS). The containers measure alternatingly. While one container is measuring, the other one is being cleaned. The boxes switched generally every 12 hours. The water inlet for the RSWS is at about 6.5 m below sea surface. Observed chlorophyll-a and turbidity data were both quality controlled. Analysis of the chlorophyll-a and turbidity data during parallel operation of the sensors in the two boxes showed significant differences between the sensors. The sensors were aligned resulting in consistent chlorophyll-a and turbidity time series. A consistent turbidity time series was only found until 25 Jun 2024. After this date, slight biofouling appears to be affecting the turbidity time series and data values were therefore flagged as probably bad data. The chlorophyll-a time series appears to be unaffected by biofouling. The corrected chlorophyll-a data were calibrated based on chlorophyll-a values from discrete water samples taken from a RSWS water outlet in the hangar. Samples were frozen and measured fluorometrically in the lab. The turbidity time series was also compared to suspended particulate matter from water samples, however, correlation was low and therefore the comparison not used for calibrating turbidity. The calibrated chlorophyll-a time series and corrected turbidity time series were compared against Globcolour CHL1 and TSM products, respectively. Details on all quality control steps, the calibration, and the comparison with satellite data can be found in the data processing report. The data set user should keep in mind that some parts of the time series might be affected by non-photochemical quenching, see data processing report. It was out of the scope of the quality control to flag or correct non-photochemical quenching. The resulting data set contains the original data and corresponding quality flags achieved by the quality control algorithm as well as the calibrated chlorophyll-a and corrected turbidity data with corresponding quality flags. The data source is given through the name of the active container. The data set contains data during transit time and station work. We recommend to use ship's speed to filter for only transit data.