Water physical, chemical, and benthic organisms data from current meter and bottle casts from the H.J.W. FAY and CAPE HENLOPEN as part of the Ocean Continental Shelf - Mid Atlantic (OCS - Mid Atlantic) project, 1976-11-03 to 1977-09-15 (NCEI Accession 7800319)

Water physical, chemical, and benthic organisms data were collected using current meter and bottle casts from the H.J.W.FAY and CAPE HENLOPEN from November 3, 1976 to September 15, 1977. Data were submitted by Virginia Institute of Marine Science - Gloucester Point, as part of the Ocean Continental Shelf - Mid Atlantic (OCS - Mid Atlantic) project. Data were processed by NODC to the NODC standard Water Physical and Chemistry (F014) and Benthic Organisms (F132) format.

The F014 format is designed to support studies of physical and chemical observations on the water column. Reported are measurements of temperature, salinity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, orthophosphate, and organic carbon. The format consists of four data record types, 80 characters in length, sorted by station and sequence numbers for proper order. The first nine columns for all records are to be used for file type (columns 1-3) and file identifier (columns 4-9). The file identifier, to be assigned by the originator, is an unique originator id for each data submission. After submission, the NODC reassigns to this field an unique NODC identifier for internal use.

The F132 format contains data from field sampling or surveys of bottom dwelling marine organisms. The data provide information on species abundance, distribution, and biomass; they may have been collected by point sampling (grab or core), by tow (dredge, trawl or net), by photographic surveys, or by other methods. Cruise information such as vessel, start and end dates, investigator, and institution/agency; station numbers, positions and times; and equipment and methods are reported for each survey. Environmental data reported at each sampling site may include meteorological and sea surface conditions; surface and bottom temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen; and sediment characteristics. Number of individual organisms and total weight of organisms is reported for each species. A text record is available for comments.