Full information regarding scientific operations at each station should be logged, including deck operations, intended sample levels, types of samples, any perceived problems with samples upon collection or initial analysis, personnel involved in analysis, problems or unusual features in the CTD profiles, etc. Sampling logs should be maintained, showing every water sample drawn from each rosette bottle along with their sequence or serial numbers, and with notations for mistrips, leaking bottles, and other problems.

Documentation of sampling and analytical protocols should be submitted with the data sets. Documentation with the initial data submission should include a brief description of shipboard sampling procedures and precision and accuracy of observations. Final documentation should also include detailed descriptions of sample preparations, analytical procedures, equipment calibrations, data reduction techniques, computation algorithms, citations and anything else deemed necessary to understand the suitability, accuracy and precision of the data values.