A regional ocean database for the Coastal China Sea

Area of Science:

• Marine Geophysics
• Oceanography
• Biogeochemistry

Background:

• High-quality marine data is essential for evaluating and calibrating models in the Coastal China Sea (CCS).
• Existing data repositories are fragmented, posing a challenge for comprehensive research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Regional Ocean Database for the Coastal China Sea (RODCCS).
• To consolidate and quality-control marine geophysical and biogeochemical data for the CCS region.
• To provide an accessible, high-quality data resource for marine modeling and research.

Main Methods:

• Data compilation from six repositories covering 116-135°E and 20-42°N.
• Collection of approximately 3.9 million data points on physical and chemical variables.
• Implementation of six quality-control (QC) checks for data validation.
• Storage of data in a unified structure across twelve Network Common Data Format (NetCDF) files.

Main Results:

• The RODCCS database contains 3.9 million quality-controlled data points.
• Data includes temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and various nutrient and carbon species.
• The database is organized into twelve unified NetCDF files for ease of access.

Conclusions:

• RODCCS provides a valuable, high-quality, and accessible data resource for the Coastal China Sea.
• The database facilitates marine modeling, parameter calibration, and field research in the region.
• Standardized data format and rigorous QC enhance the usability and reliability of the collected information.