Oceanographic, meteorological and physical data collected from Saildrone 1043, 1046, and 1049, in the eastern Bering Sea and northern Pacific Ocean from 2020-06-23 to 2020-08-24 (NCEI Accession 0234333)

This dataset contains near-surface measurements of oceanographic, meteorological and physical data collected in situ during a survey of the eastern Bering Sea shelf conducted by three autonomous surface vehicles (USVs, Saildrones (SD) 1043, 1046, and 1049). The saildrones were used to conduct an acoustic survey of walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) in the US economic exclusive zone in summer 2020. This survey is traditionally conducted with crewed research vessels, but was conducted with USVs asin response to the cancellation of the ship-based surveys due to safety concerns associated with COVID-19 pandemic. The USV survey was conducted on 14 transects spaced 74 km apart spanning the ~80 m to ~1000m depth contour, with SD 1046 sampling in the south, SD 1046 in the center, and SD 1049 in the north portion of the survey area. All available data are included, which encompass the survey and a portion of the transit to the survey area.

The saildrones were equipped with a variety of sensors and instruments consisting of thermosalinograph, echo sounder, oxygen optode, fluorometer, SST IR pyrometer, anemometer, meteorological probe, digital and barometer. The oceanographic measurements include skin temperature, salinity, water temperature, water skin temperature, chlorophyll-a, and dissolved oxygen. The atmospheric measurements consist of wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative humidity and air pressure. All the data are in netCDF-CF (underway) format. These data are experimental and have not been quality controlled. These data are made available at the user’s own risk. Users will need to do quality control when using these data. The data from the echosounder will be separately archived at NCEI’s water column sonar data archive.