Mobile Bay Real-time Continuous Environmental Monitoring -- Middle Bay Lighthouse Waves and Currents

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Publication_Date:

2012

Title:

Mobile Bay Real-time Continuous Environmental Monitoring -- Middle Bay Lighthouse Waves and Currents

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place:

Dauphin Island, AL

Publisher:

Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Other_Citation_Details:

None

Online_Linkage:

http://www.mymobilebay.com/stationdata/StationInfomiddlebay.asp?jday=&property=&chartyear=&StationID=188

Description:

Abstract:

Dauphin Island Sea Lab has partnered with many agencies and orgaizations to provide real-time wave and current data from Middle Bay Lighthouse in Mobile Bay, AL. Near real-time data are available in a user-friendly format at www.mymobilebay.com. Informative pop-ups describe each parameter and graphs of each may be displayed for the visitor to the website. Researchers may download the data in a spreadsheet format for further analysis.

Purpose:

The value of coastal observing systems is recognized by the U.S. Congress, the National Ocean Partnership Program, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. Recent reports by the Pew Oceans Commission and U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy have decried the lack of information from near coastal waters on which to base management decisions and recommended monitoring programs linked to strong research. Reasons for continuous, real-time observations of meteorological and hydrographic parameters include (1) continuous characterization of spatial and temporal patterns of change in water quality, (2) development of a permanent record of significant and human caused changes in environmental indicators over time, and (3) support for research activities through the availability of consistent, scientifically valid data. An additional benefit of real-time observation is the potential for the public to track and learn about water quality conditions. Many coastal dwellers are uninformed about conditions in nearby estuaries because they do not have access to current information about parameters such as water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen levels and water level and they may fail to appreciate the complexity of interactions in estuarine ecosystems.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date:

20121213

Ending_Date:

Present

Currentness_Reference:

publication date

Status:

Progress:

In work

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency:

Continually

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate:

-88.0117

East_Bounding_Coordinate:

-88.0117

North_Bounding_Coordinate:

30.4367

South_Bounding_Coordinate:

30.4367

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus:

None

Theme_Keyword:

ADCP

Theme_Keyword:

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler

Theme_Keyword:

NEMO

Theme_Keyword:

Wave Height

Theme_Keyword:

Wave Direction

Theme_Keyword:

Wave Period

Theme_Keyword:

Water Height

Theme_Keyword:

Current Speed

Theme_Keyword:

Current Magnitude

Theme_Keyword:

Current Direction

Theme_Keyword:

Current Velocity

Theme_Keyword:

Current Profile

Theme_Keyword:

Surface Current

Theme_Keyword:

Hydrographic

Theme_Keyword:

Estuarine

Theme_Keyword:

Vertical Profile

Theme_Keyword:

Real Time

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus:

ISO 19115 Topic Categories

Theme_Keyword:

inlandWaters

Theme_Keyword:

oceans

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus:

None

Place_Keyword:

DISL

Place_Keyword:

Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Place_Keyword:

Alabama

Place_Keyword:

Mobile Bay

Place_Keyword:

Middle Bay Light

Place_Keyword:

Middle Bay Lighthouse

Place_Keyword:

Mobile Ship Channel

Access_Constraints:

None

Use_Constraints:

Acknowledgement of DISL, Mobile Bay NEP, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources State Lands Division Coastal Section, and the Alabama Lighthouse Association, would be appreciated in products developed from these data. The data herein, including but not limited to geographic data, tabular data, analytical data, electronic data structures or files, are provided as is without warranty of any kind, either expressed, implied, or statutory. This is to include, but is not limited to, the implied warranties or merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The user assumes the entire risk as to quality and performance of the data. No guarantee of accuracy is granted, nor is any responsibility for reliance thereon assumed. In no event shall the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) be liable for direct, indirect, incidental, consequential or special damages of any kind. DISL does not accept liability for any damages or misrepresentation caused by inaccuracies in the data or as a result of changes to the data caused by system transfers, transformations, or conversions, nor is there responsibility assumed to maintain the data in any manner or form. These data have been developed from the best available sources. Efforts have been made to ensure that the data are accurate and reliable, however, errors and variable conditions originating from physical sources used to develop the data may be reflected in the data supplied. Users must be aware of these conditions and bear responsibility for the appropriate use of the information with respect to possible errors and other circumstances specific to these data. The user is responsible for understanding accuracy limitations of the data and determining fitness for its use. These data have been processed successfully on computer systems at the DISL, however, no guarantee, expressed or implied is made by DISL regarding the use of these data on any other system, nor does the act of distribution constitute or imply such a warranty. Distribution of these data is intended for information purposes only.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Contact_Person:

Renee Collini

Contact_Position:

Contact_Address:

Address_Type:

mailing and physical

Address:

101 Bienville Blvd

City:

Dauphin Island

State_or_Province:

AL

Postal_Code:

36528

Country:

USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone:

251-861-2141 x 7546

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:

rcollini@disl.org

Data_Quality_Information:

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Data quality checking for the Middle Bay Current Profiler and NEMO waves processing module is conducted automatically by the RDI ADCP and NEMO Waves processing module, as are calculations to derive current velocities and wave parameters. The calculated parameters are then reported to the Middle Bay Weather Station with no additional range or quality checks.

Completeness_Report:

We provide near real time environmental monitoring data on the website, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There have been interruptions in the transmission of data. Occasionally stations are damaged by hurricanes, communications are interrupted or sensors fail. For those time periods, data are not written to the data base.

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Teledyne RDInstruments 1200kHz Workhorse Monitor ADCP with NEMO waves Processing Module

Publication_Date:

Unknown

Title:

RDInstruments Workhorse Monitor ADCP

Online_Linkage:

http://rdinstruments.com/monitor.aspx

Type_of_Source_Media:

online

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date:

Unknown

Ending_Date:

Present

Source_Currentness_Reference:

publication date

Source_Citation_Abbreviation:

ADCP

Source_Contribution:

Information about the instrument used to collect data, as provided by the manufacturer, including default parameter settings.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The following are setup commands used by the NEMO and ADCP. \\ ADCP Parameters: CP1 \\ EB [HEADINGOFFSET] = 0 \\ ED [XDUCERDEPTH] = 0 \\ HP [EPB] = 2100 Number of pings in a wave burst \\ HR [SETWAVEBURST] = 30 Time of wave bursts in min = waves every 30 min \\ HS = 4,5,8,15,16 \\ HV = 4,5,8,15,16 \\ HT = 50 Time between wave pings in csec = .5sec (17.5min of wave sampling) \\ TE [SETENSEMBLE] = 600 Time of current ensembles in seconds 600 = currents every 10min \\ TG [SETSTARTAT] = yyyy/mm/dd,hh:mm:ss Start time, if entered as TG hh:mm:ss, will start on the current day \\ TP [TIMEBETWEENPINGS] = 2 Time between current pings = 2 sec \\ WC = 64 \\ WN [NUMPROCESSBINS] = 36 Number of Bins 36 bins at .25m/bin = 9m \\ WP [PINGSPERENS] = 60 Number of pings in each current ensemble = 60pings \\ WS [DEPTHCELLSIZE] = 25 Depth cell size =.25m \\ REC = OFF Record to ADCP card, if ON and card full, will not send data \\ DS = 1 \\ TS [GETAWCMSYSTIME] = 2012/11/30,13:23:48 Set Time, you will need to set the adcp time as well using $adcp,start \\ System Parameters: CP2 \\ REPLY = 1 \\ MTCHAR = # \\ SLEEP = OFF \\ SBETimeOut = 5000 \\ UseNMEAChkSum = 1 \\ MaxNemoDataFileSize = 275000 \\ NemoDataPath = \Storage Card\RD Instruments\Project Files\ \\ NemoDataFile = 1200_.NMEA \\ SENSORID = 0 \\ Ports: CP3 \\ BB (to ADCP): \\ Port = 1 \\ Baud = 57600 \\ Par = 0 \\ Databits = 8 \\ Stopbits = 1 \\ BC (to User): \\ Port = 3 \\ Baud = 38400 \\ Par = 0 \\ Databits = 8 \\ Stopbits = 1 \\ \\ Output Parameters: CP4 \\ OF [SETOUTPUTFIRSTCELL] = 1 Start outputting at the first bin \\ OL [SETOUTPUTDEPTHCELL] = 36 Output until bin 36, the last bin \\ OS [SETOUTPUTSTEP] = 2 Current bin output step 2 = output every other bin \\ OH = 0 \\ OW = 1 Output wave message 1 = output wave height, period, direction \\ OC = 3 Output current message 3 = output magnitude and direction \\ OQ = ON \\ OR [STARTRAWDATA] = ON \\ ON [SETNONDIROUT] = 1 Output non directional spectrum, sends $PWRS sentence, may be off \\ OD = 0 \\ CJ = 0 \\ OM = 1 Mark data above surface bad 1=data is above surface is flagged -7999 \\ Installation Parameters: CP5 \\ IA [SETALTITUDE] = 0 \\ ID [NOMDEPTH] = 0 \\ IH [NOMINALHEADING] = 0 \\ IT = 1 \\ IX = 0 \\ IY = 0 \\ Frequency Parameters: CP6 \\ QB = 128 \\ QD = 128 \\ QU = 0.220000 Upper wave cutoff frequency cHz should be 22 or .22 Hz \\ QS = 0.650000 \\ QP = 0.200000 \\ QL = 0.030000 \\ QM = 100 \\ QT = 12 \\ Processing Parameters: CP7 \\ PD = 0 \\ PF [FFTLEN] = 2048 \\ PP = 0 \\ PU = 0 \\ PV = 80 \\ PW = V \\ AS = 0 Turns off automated wave routines 0= off 1= on This was part of a firmware upgrade that allows us to change the upper cutoff frequency \\ Internal Processing Parameters: CP8 \\ DepthOffset = 0 \\ AltOffset = 0 \\ ModelType = 1 \\ FixedRoll = 0 \\ FixedPitch = 0 \\ Press4Depth = 1 \\ HPRSeries = 1 \\ DirP2 = 0 \\ AutoBinSel = 1 \\ Iter = 1 \\ ScaleSpec = 0 \\ RemoveBias = 1 \\ ClipPwrSpec = 0 \\ VelMin = -5000 \\ VelMax = 5000 \\ VelSTD = 4 \\ VelMaxChng = 400 \\ SurfMin = -5000 \\ SurfMax = 100000 \\ SurfSTD = 4 \\ SurfMaxChng = 2000 \\ SurfPctGd = 90 \\ TBEMaxDev = 500 \\ WindowType = 1 \\ TransV2Surf = 1 \\ VSpecOffset = 0.000000 \\ SSpecOffset = 0.000000 \\ PSpecOffset = 0.000000 \\ ORGain = 0.900000 \\ SampleRate = 2.000000 \\ HsScale = 0.001000 \\ EScale = 0.000010 \\ HWarnLevel = 3.000000 \\ NHrsHist = 24.000000 \\ ProcBins = 0 \\ NBeams = 4 \\ NBins = 0 \\ VelBins = 0 \\ WaveParams = 1 \\ NDir = 90 \\ VelTimeSeries = 0 \\ IntTimeSeries = 0 \\ SurfTimeSeries = 0 \\ PressTimeSeries = 0 \\ VelSpectra = 1 \\ SurfSpectra = 1 \\ PressSpectra = 1 \\ DirSpectra = 1 \\ FourierCoefficients = 1 \\ PVelTimeSeries = 1 \\ PSurfTimeSeries = 1 \\ PPressTimeSeries = 1 \\ PVelSpectra = 1 \\ PSurfSpectra = 1 \\ PPressSpectra = 1 \\ PDirSpectra = 1 \\ PFourierCoefficients = 1 \\ PSrfDirSpectra = 0 \\ PWaveParams = 1 \\ BeamConf = 20 \\ # \\ (Note: newline is indicated with \\ in case the spacing has been lost from the original formatting.)

Process_Date:

2012

Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person:

Renee Collini

Contact_Organization:

Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Contact_Address:

Address_Type:

mailing and physical

Address:

101 Bienville Blvd.

City:

Dauphin Island

State_or_Province:

Al

Postal_Code:

36528

Country:

USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone:

251-861-2141 ext. 7546

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:

rcollini@disl.org

Hours_of_Service:

8-5:00 CST

Contact_Instructions:

Please email for further information.

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label:

Middle Bay Wave and Current Profile Data

Entity_Type_Definition:

An RDInstruments 1200kHz Workhorse Monitor outputs a current profile every 10 minutes and a waves measurement every 30 minutes. The instrument is located on the bottom looking up in approximately six meters of water. It lies 6m from the SE leg of Middle Bay lighthouse on a bearing of 135 degrees. The data is displayed in near realtime at www.mymobilebay.com, and is also available for free download from http://mondata.disl.org/mondata/disclaimer.cfm, as comma-delimited text (CSV) which can be opened with Microsoft Excel.

Entity_Type_Definition_Source:

DISL Marine Tech Support: Kyle Weis

Attribute:

Attribute_Label:

Current Speed (m/s)

Attribute_Definition:

The current is measured from and upward looking 1200 kHz RDInstruments Workhorse Monitor ADCP, mounted on the bottom of the bay in approximately 6m of water. The current velocity profile consists of 36 .25m deep bins, beginning with bin 1, which is located .44m above the transducer face and the pressure sensor, and .68m above the Bay bottom. This setup samples to a total possible water depth of 9m to account for high water events. The instrument uses the pressure sensor depth measurement to mark the data above the surface bad with a reading of -7999. Every odd depth reading is output to the waters surface. A profile is generated every 10min using 60 pings every 2sec. The current speed is output in meters per second, and knots.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

DISL Marine Tech Support: Kyle Weis

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum:

0

Range_Domain_Maximum:

5

Attribute_Units_of_Measure:

meters per second

Attribute_Measurement_Resolution:

.001

Attribute:

Attribute_Label:

Current Direction (degrees)

Attribute_Definition:

The current is measured from and upward looking 1200 kHz RDInstruments Workhorse Monitor ADCP, mounted on the bottom of the bay in approximately 6m of water. The current velocity profile consists of 36 .25m deep bins, beginning with bin 1, which is located .44m above the transducer face and the pressure sensor, and .68m above the Bay bottom. This setup samples to a total possible water depth of 9m to account for high water events. The instrument uses the pressure sensor depth measurement to mark the data above the surface bad with a reading of -7999. Every odd depth reading is output to the waters surface. A profile is generated every 10min using 60 pings every 2sec. The current direction is output in degrees. This values represents the magnetic bearing to which the current is flowing, and is relative to magnetic North. The instrument uses an internal electronic compass for this calculation.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

DISL Marine Tech Support: Kyle Weis

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum:

0

Range_Domain_Maximum:

360

Attribute_Units_of_Measure:

magnetic degrees

Attribute:

Attribute_Label:

Wave Height(m)

Attribute_Definition:

Wave parameters measured by the the 1200kHz RDInstruments workhorse monitor use a separate series of acoustic pings from those used to generate the current profile. A wave measurement is created every 30 minutes. The instrument uses 2100 pings at 2Hz to sample the first 17.5 minutes of each 30 minute waves interval. Wave parameters (height,period,direction) are calculated by the RDInstruments NEMO Waves processing module and archived. Significant Wave Height is output in meters and displayed in meters or feet, and represents the highest 1/3 of waves.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

DISL Marine Tech Support: Kyle Weis

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum:

0.01

Range_Domain_Maximum:

unknown

Attribute_Units_of_Measure:

meter

Attribute:

Attribute_Label:

Period(sec)

Attribute_Definition:

Wave parameters measured by the the 1200kHz RDInstruments workhorse monitor use a separate series of acoustic pings from those used to generate the current profile. A wave measurement is created every 30 minutes. The instrument uses 2100 pings at 2Hz to sample the first 17.5 minutes of each 30 minute waves interval. Wave parameters (height,period,direction) are calculated by the RDInstruments NEMO Waves processing module and archived. Wave period is output and displayed in seconds.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

DISL Marine Tech Support: Kyle Weis

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum:

1.8

Range_Domain_Maximum:

25

Attribute_Units_of_Measure:

second

Attribute:

Attribute_Label:

Wave Direction(degrees)

Attribute_Definition:

Wave parameters measured by the the 1200kHz RDInstruments workhorse monitor use a separate series of acoustic pings from those used to generate the current profile. A wave measurement is created every 30 minutes. The instrument uses 2100 pings at 2Hz to sample the first 17.5 minutes of each 30 minute waves interval. Wave parameters (height,period,direction) are calculated by the RDInstruments NEMO Waves processing module and archived. Wave direction is output in degrees relative to magnetic north, and represents the direction that the waves are coming from.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

DISL Marine Tech Support: Kyle Weis

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum:

0

Range_Domain_Maximum:

360

Attribute_Units_of_Measure:

magnetic degrees

Attribute:

Attribute_Label:

Water Depth (m)

Attribute_Definition:

The RDInstruments 1200kHz Workhorse ADCP uses an integrated pressure sensor to calculate the depth of seawater in meters above its transducer faces. This measurement is used in the wave parameter calculations, and to mark current data above the surface bed. It is also displayed on the website as water height.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

DISL Marine Tech Support: Kyle Weis

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum:

0

Range_Domain_Maximum:

200

Attribute_Units_of_Measure:

meter

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date:

20130219

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Contact_Person:

Mimi Tzeng

Contact_Position:

Data Management Specialist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type:

mailing and physical

Address:

101 Bienville Blvd.

City:

Dauphin Island

State_or_Province:

Al

Postal_Code:

36528

Country:

USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone:

251-861-2141

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:

metadata@disl.org

Hours_of_Service:

8-5:00 CST

Contact_Instructions:

Please email the metadata specialist for further information.

Metadata_Standard_Name:

FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version:

FGDC-STD-001-1998