Abstract
In this article we provide pipelines for acquiring and processing Sea-Bird Scientific Spectral Absorption and Attenuation Sensor (ac-s) data through a high-level Python package. The raw streamed and converted instrument output is complex and requires several post-processing steps rooted in optical theory and empirical methods to create base products for algorithms that approximate biogeochemical properties and appeal to a broader oceanographic community. Because datasets from the ac-s are becoming more available in public archives and in real time from large oceanographic infrastructure programs, it is important to establish uncomplicated software packages and interfaces that support the implementation of best practices and the distribution of findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) data. acspype provides means to perform both instrument-intrinsic and human-in-the-loop corrections with flexibility and clear provenance following well-established manufacturer and research community guidelines. Core functions are provided that allow for the acquisition of real-time data and for post-processing archived datasets. As best practices continue to evolve, acspype would benefit from the addition of time-lag correction functions, methods for assessing instrument drift, and improved uncertainty estimation procedures.