A group of European and American scientists have embarked on an oceanographic mission aboard the German research vessel RV Maria S. Merian to study the physical and bio-geo-chemical characterization of the Senghor Sea Mount ecosystem located to the north of the Cape Verde Archipelago.
The ten-day scientific mission is being conducted in the waters of Macaronesia between Cape Verde and the Canary Islands, starting in Mindelo and finishing in the port of La Luz and Las Palmas.
Several German research institutions will be participating in the mission, namely: Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research (Geomar), Centre for Marine Environmental Sciences (Marum), Thünen Institute, the American Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), the University of Aveiro in Portugal, the Instituto Nacional de Desenvolvimento das Pescas (INDP), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Canary Island Oceanic Platform (Plocan).
The study is part of the European AtlantOS project, and includes deploying and operating a range of autonomous observation equipment and platforms, such as multi-parameter modules anchored in the water column and on the seabed, autonomous surface marine vehicles – SV2 and SV3 wave gliders, and profilers, all fitted with sensor equipment for taking samples and data in-situ.
During the mission, Plocan will be deploying and operating an SV3 wave glider in co-operation with MBARI and Marum, equipped with a set of physical and bio-geo-chemical sensor equipment, including a Doppler technology current metre (ADCP) and a pH sensor based on spectrophotometry paired with a GPCTD-DO module to measure temperature, conductivity, pressure and dissolved oxygen in the sea water.
After spending approximately one month in the area of the Senghor Sea Mount, the SV3 wave glider is expected to be piloted back to the Canary Islands remotely.