Hyperspectral underwater light field measured during the cruise SO248 with RV SONNE

Data presented here were collected during the cruise SO248 with RV SONNE from Auckland, New Zealand to Dutch Harbor, USA (May 1st, 2016 - June 3rd, 2016). In total, 20 underwater light profiles were collected at 19 stations, using a free-falling hyperspectral light profiler. The system used was a SEABIRD HyperPro II (SN 099, former Satlantic), equipped with a irradiance sensor to measure downwelling irradiance (Ed, SN 262) and a radiance sensor for upwelling radiance (Lu, SN 227). A reference unit was attached to the ship to measure the above water irradiance (Es, SN 223). The sensors were calibrated by the manufacturer and validated prior to the cruise with a reference lamp. Data were recorded with the SatView software (V 2.9.5_7) and processed from raw to Level1, 1b, 2, 2s to Level 3a using the ProSoft Processing software (V 7.7.19_2). Measured data were binned in 1 m depth intervals. A dark correction was made automatically based on shutter measurements by the instrument. Measurements with a tilt higher than 5° were not taken into account during processing. Spectra were interpolated to 1 nm intervals. For each station the hyperspectral profiles for each parameter cover the wavelength range from 400-700 nm, for Ed and Es in [W/m² nm], for Lu in [W/m² nm sr]. For Ed, Lu and Es descriptive statistics are given including min, max, mean, median and standard deviation of the tilt and the photosynthetically active radiation PAR [µmol photons/m² s (sr)], integrated from 400 - 700 nm. To allow an assignment of above water conditions to the respective depth measurements, Es spectra were given as a function of depth, recalculated from data Level2s. The profiler measurements were only conducted during daylight. Raw data are available on request from the principal investigator