Log in Français
Datasets / Australian Ocean Data Network (AODN)

IMOS - Combined Biogeochemical parameters (reference stations)

OxygenNutrientsInorganic CarbonParticulate matterSea Surface SalinityPhytoplankton biomass and diversityMicrobe biomass and diversityHard coral cover and compositionOcean colour

This dataset includes the biogeochemical (BGC) parameters collected and analysed from the National Reference Stations (NRS) excluding the biological compositional data which can be accessed through other products. Nine Sites are included in the IMOS NRS field sampling stations. Maria Island (TAS), Kangaroo Island (SA), Esperance (WA, discontinued 2013), Rottnest Island (WA), Ningaloo (WA, discontinued 2013), Darwin (NT), Yongala (QLD), North Stradbroke Island (QLD) and Port Hacking (NSW). All data included in this product are obtained from water samples collected from small vessels. Parameters in this product include salinity, carbon, alkalinity, oxygen, pigments (from High Performance Liquid Chromatography - HPLC), picoplankton cells count (from flow cytometry), secchi depth, total suspended matter (inorganic and organic components) and nutrients, comprising of ammonium, nitrate, phosphate and silicate. Over the course of the long-term monitoring program some parameters have been discontinued, others introduced and depths at which samples have been taken may have changed. Therefore, there may not be a continuous time series for each parameter, it is advised to consult the IMOS NRS Biogeochemical Operations Manual (Davies & Sommerville 2020) for more details.

Data is also available in this collection from other projects which collect and analyse samples in similar methods to the NRS. The biogeochemical data from South Australian Research and Development Institutes' (SARDI) sampling at non IMOS stations is included along with the nutrient and picoplankton data from the Coastal Sampling Station at Botany Bay (https://imos.org.au/facilities/facilities/microbial-coastal-sampling). The data from Port Philip Bay and Great Barrier Reef (GBR) sites for this project is provided in other collections.

This dataset supersedes the following collections: "IMOS National Reference Station (NRS) - Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Secchi Depth" - https://catalogue-imos.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/api/records/f439db64-5551-15d1-e043-08114f8ce23c ; "IMOS National Reference Station (NRS) - Picoplankton flow cytometry" - https://catalogue-imos.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/api/records/fa93c66e-0e55-7e1d-e043-08114f8c1b76 ; "IMOS National Reference Station (NRS) - Salinity, Carbon, Alkalinity, Oxygen and Nutrients (Silicate, Ammonium, Nitrite/Nitrate, Phosphate)" - https://catalogue-imos.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/api/records/fa93c66e-0e56-7e1d-e043-08114f8c1b76 and "IMOS National Reference Station (NRS) - Phytoplankton HPLC Pigment Composition Analysis" - https://catalogue-imos.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/api/records/f48531e2-f182-56ca-e043-08114f8c7f2e (collections were removed from the AODN Portal in February 2022, and the data has been archived).

Data and resources

Additional information

Temporal extent2008-02-11 – 2026-07-19
Date (creation)2021-11-02
StatusonGoing
Update frequencyasNeeded
Metadata languageen
LicenseData, products and services from IMOS are provided "as is" without any warranty as to fitness for a particular purpose.
Source metadataISO 19115 XML
Last updated2026-11-05
Created2026-11-05
APIpackage_show