CARIACO Ocean Time Series Program


In 1995, the Ocean Time Series Program called CARIACO was initiated, completing 232 monthly core cruises through January 2017. This time series consists of field observations using ship, mooring, and satellite platforms in the eastern Cariaco Basin at 10°30’N, 64°40’W. The program seeks to understand the relationship between surface primary production, physical forcing variables like the wind, and the settling flux of particles in this unique location.
Ship observations

Monthly oceanographic cruises are conducted on board the R/V Hermano Ginés of the Fundación La Salle de Ciencias Naturales de Venezuela. The cruises serve to collect hydrographic, nutrient and carbon concentration, primary productivity and other biogeochemical observations throughout the entire water column . Additionally, seasonal cruises to the CARIACO station are conducted to examine chemical and microbial processes.
Moorings

A sediment trap mooring, consisting of five sediment traps, is also deployed near the study site. This mooring collects the downward flux of particulate material, derived both from the primary production at the surface and the terrestrial material from the mainland.
Satellite observations

The remote sensing component of the CARIACO Oceanographic Time Series Program is based on real-time and historical satellite measurements. The satellite data helps observe surface variations in sea surface temperature and ocean color, which include chlorophyll and river plumes.
Since it was initiated, this program has been supported by the National Science Foundation. It has also been supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Fondo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnologicas.
All data generated by the CARIACO program are available via the project web page.