Title Processed CTD discrete observations from the Coastal Current Meter Programme on the Africana Voyage 017, March 1984
Authors

Gavin Tutt
Oceans and Coastal Research, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE); role: Marine Scientific Technician; contact details: email: Gtutt@environment.gov.za

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

Publisher Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (2022)
Contributors

Contact Person: Gavin Tutt
Oceans and Coastal Research, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE); role: Marine Scientific Technician; contact details: email: gtsglider@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 This is processed Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) discrete data from the upcast from the Coastal Current Meter Programme on the Africana Voyage 017 collected between 19 and 27 March 1984. The cruise operated in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) region on the west coast of South Africa. The objectives of this cruise were to retrieve ten moorings, eight on the shelf and two on the shelf break between Cape Columbine and Port Nolloth; to deploy three moorings in the coastal zone between Cape Columbine and Cape Town; to obtain Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) profiles and water samples on a transect bearing 270° from Cape Columbine; to profile currents, make repeated CTD casts and record atmospheric conditions in St Helena Bay as part of a vertical mixing study, participating in this work were two scientists from UCT; to calibrate the CTD temperature probe in-situ using reversing thermometers; to allow the chemical oceanography team to familiarise themselves with the operation of a new box corer and enable them to analyse intact sediment samples from St Helena Bay; to use the thermosalinograph and fluorometer to obtain 'surface truth' measurements for NOAA thermal infra-red imagery; to test a portable CTD unit to 50m and lastly to train two new members of technical staff.
Methods Neil Brown MK3 and MK4 Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) instruments were used to measure pressure, temperature and conductivity through the water column during research and monitoring cruises between 1983 and 2000. Temperature was converted from the IPTS-68 scale to the ITS-90 scale, and salinity was computed from conductivity measurements on the 1978 Practical Salinity Scale, according to UNESCO (1991) algorithms. UNESCO (1993) quality control procedures were applied to the data, and obvious erroneous values resulting from problems including electronic spikes, data collection in air, inadequate flow through the conductivity cell, among others, have been removed. Any additional calibrations or corrections have been specified in each data file, where applicable and available.
Data
Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Temporal extent 19 Mar 1984 – 27 Mar 1984
Geographic extent

Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) region on the west coast of South Africa

North: -30.5
South: -33.0
West: 13.0
East: 18.5

Vertical extent Max: -1004.4 m
Min: 0.0 m
Keywords Africana, Africana 017, Conductivity, CTD, Depth, Neil Brown CTD, SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN, Temperature
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