Glossary

the collection of biological (bio), geological (geo) and chemical (chem) components of the ocean or any system; abbrev. BGC

the study of unique optical signatures of seawater and organic matter to identify ocean biological properties; BGC-Argo bio-optical measurements include fluorescence, backscatter and beam attenuation, which allow oceanographers to determine quantities of phytoplankton chlorophyll and biomass.

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a green pigment found in plants, including phytoplankton, which is used during photosynthesis; chlorophyll is often used as an indicator of phytoplankton biomass in the ocean

the original Argo program consisting of floats that only measure conductivity (salinity), temperature and depth in the ocean

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a widely-used oceanographic instrument that measures the conductivity (C), temperature (T) and depth (D) of a parcel of water

a branch of the Argo program consisting of floats that are capable of descending to between 4000 and 6000 m; Deep Argo measures the same parameters as Core Argo (i.e., conductivity, temperature and depth only; no BGC variables)

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the amount of oxygen that is present in water; in the ocean, photosynthesis and inputs from the atmosphere are the main sources

in oceanography, a robotic instrument that drifts freely in the water

a measure of light, in oceanography typically referring to sunlight 

the deepest part of the ocean water column that a float descends to

a major nutrient used by phytoplankton, and other plants, to build proteins and other molecules; abbrev. NO3

an expression of the acidity of seawater, or the quantity of hydrogen ion dissolved in water; measured on a 14-point scale, values lower than 7 indicate acidic conditions and higher values indicate basic conditions

the saltiness or amount of salt dissolved in water

a device that measures a physical or biogeochemical property 

the flow path of a float, which is usually controlled by ocean currents

something that is caused by humans

the accumulation of phytoplankton, algae, or small animals on mechanical surfaces, often causing structural or functional harm

quantity of living organism and materials; may refer to plants, phytoplankton, animals, bacteria or viruses individually or collectively 

a general term referring to the long term, anthropogenic shift in the Earth's climate, including, but not limited to, changes in air temperature, weather patterns and ocean circulation; mostly caused by burning fossil fuels, which results in increasingly more carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere, and leading to global warming

an effect of climate change specifically referring to the warming of Earth

a robotic ocean instrument that measures biogeochemical and physical properties and whose trajectory can be controlled remotely by a pilot 

an often stationary instrument that contains sensors for measuring biogeochemical and physical ocean variables

a chemical property required for phytoplankton growth; macronutrients - such as nitrate, phosphate and silicate - are required in large quantities; micronutrients are required in very small quantities and include elements such as iron, cadmium and manganese

the increasing acidity of seawater (decrease in pH)  caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

a researcher who studies processes in the ocean

the study of ocean processes, like primary production, ocean heat content and currents using observations and models

an ocean region of very low dissolved oxygen levels; typically occurs below the ocean's surface; abbrev. OMZ 

the process by which plants, phytoplankton and some bacteria use sunlight, carbon dioxide and water to produce food and oxygen 

microscopic organisms that are common in the ocean and freshwater systems; phytoplankton are vital because they perform photosynthesis and form the base of ocean food webs

the creation of organic materials by phytoplankton (in the ocean) and plants (on land)

"Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observations and Modelling" project; a research program focused on understanding the carbon and climate systems of the Southern Ocean

aquatic microorganisms that include crustaceans, some types of jellyfish and fish larvae; an important step between phytoplankton and larger animals in the ocean food web