The NPS Southeast Alaska Inventory and Monitoring Network's oceanography vital sign is conducted in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Vertical profiles of pressure, temperature, salinity, sigma-t, density, dissolved oxygen, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), chlorophyll-a fluorescence, and optical backscatter (turbidity) are currently collected using a Seabird Inc. 19Plus V2 CTD and associated sensors at 22 stations.

The U.S. Geological Survey began oceanographic data collection in Glacier Bay in 1993. Once identified as a NPS Inventory and Monitoring vital sign in 2008, the program was transferred to the Southeast Alaska Network (SEAN). Eight core stations are sampled monthly from March to October and 22 stations are sampled semiannually in midwinter and midsummer. Spatial coverage includes the waters of Glacier Bay proper as well as Icy Strait near the mouth of the bay. The SEAN oceanographic monitoring program seeks to better understand 1) the seasonal, inter-annual, and long-term trends in local and regional marine dynamics and 2) spatiotemporal variation in the abundance patterns of marine organisms from primary producers to apex predators.

This dataset (deliverable OC_D) contains data from oceanographic CTDs and a suite of attached sensors. Raw readings are processed using calibration factors for each sensor, then binned into 1 meter segments and expressed in standard scientific units. Individual profiles in CNV format (deliverable OC_C) are reviewed against established data quality standards and quality assessment grades (deliverable OC_M) applied. Readings are also standardized among multiple CTDs with different sensitivities. Each record lists the protocol package that defines its content; the protocol has been updated several times over the program's history. The OC_D file is the cumulative database of all certified oceanographic data since 1993. A revised file containing the most recent observations is published annually.