Title Processed underway Thermosalinograph (TSG) observations from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on the Algoa Voyage 279, February 2022
Project Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP: SB)
Authors

Leon Jacobs
Oceans and Coastal Research, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE); role: Marine Scientific Technician; contact details: email: LJacobs@dffe.gov.za

Marcel van den Berg
Oceans and Coastal Research, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE); role: Marine Scientific Technician; contact details: email: mvdberg@dffe.gov.za

Tarron Lamont
Oceans and Coastal Research, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE); role: Marine Scientist; contact details: email: tlamont@dffe.gov.za

Publisher Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (2023)
Contributors

Contact Person: Leon Jacobs
Oceans and Coastal Research, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE); role: Marine Scientific Technician; contact details: email: LJacobs@dffe.gov.za

Contact Person: Marcel van den Berg
Oceans and Coastal Research, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE); role: Marine Scientific Technician; contact details: email: mvandenberg.dea@gmail.com

Contact Person: Tarron Lamont
Oceans and Coastal Research, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE); role: Marine Scientist; contact details: email: tarron.lamont@gmail.com

Abstract Here we present the 6-second resolution processed Thermosalinograph (TSG) data collected during the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) cruise on the Algoa Voyage 279 between 04 February and 12 February 2022. A SeaBird SBE45 Thermosalinograph (TSG) is used to opportunistically collect underway near-surface temperature and conductivity measurements during research and monitoring cruises. Water is continuously pumped to the TSG from an intake located in the hull of the vessel, and the observations are continuously interfaced with navigational information. A temperature sensor close to the intake provides temperature measurements of the incoming water (T1). The temperature of the water inside the conductivity cell (T2) is used to accurately compute salinity (S) from the conductivity measurements (C). The IEP:SB in 2013 consolidated a long-term, multi-decadal time-series (from 1951 onward) of information for this important region and has continued monitoring in the form of the IEP:SB. The programme is a multi-disciplinary, collaborative and capacity building platform undertaking relevant science, including updating technology, with the aim to develop ecosystem indicators that can be used to effectively monitor and understand the Southern Benguela. These include physical, chemical, planktonic, microbial, seabird, marine mammal, benthic and pollution (plastic) ecosystem indicators as required by ecosystem-based management regarding the following priorities: ocean warming, ocean acidification, trophic functioning, pollution and water quality. It is on-going monitoring programme.
Methods The SeaBird SBE45 Thermosalinograph (TSG) is used on the Algoa for the collection of underway near-surface temperature and conductivity measurements. The underway seawater is obtained from a depth of 5m below the surface and pumped through the TSG. Data is collected using the most recent SeaBird (SBE) SeaSave software and processed using the most recent SBE data processing software. The software was set to record data at 6 second intervals for the duration of the cruise, between 04 February 2022 and 12 February 2022. Data was collected in the southern part of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) region on the west coast of South Africa. Unreliable TSG measurements can result from a variety of problems encountered during the cruises, including insufficient water flow, extreme air bubbling during severely adverse weather conditions, debris trapped in the system, or a variety of electronic failures. Detailed visual inspection of the ship trajectory and TSG measurements, as well as comparisons with other concurrent and historical near-surface measurements, and expert knowledge of local conditions, were used to identify and remove all unreliable data.
Data
Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Temporal extent 04 Feb 2022 – 12 Feb 2022
Geographic extent

Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BLMCE); shelf region on the west coast of South Africa

North: -29.0
South: -35.0
West: 14.0
East: 19.0

Vertical extent Max: -5.0 m
Min: -5.0 m
Keywords Algoa, Algoa 279, SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN, THERMOSALINOGRAPH, TSG
Related resources
  • This digital object is new version of Raw underway Thermosalinograph (TSG) observations from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on the Algoa Voyage 279, February 2022 (10.15493/DEA.MIMS.01242023)
  • This digital object is part of Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on the Algoa Voyage 279, February 2022 (10.15493/DEA.MIMS.21112022)