Research Cruises

Since the first ASCA deployment cruise in April 2015, two subsequent successful cruises have taken place. A mooring cruise in April 2016 deployed an additional three tall moorings and four CPIES completing the ASCA array. During this cruise, the moorings deployed one year earlier (April 2015) for the launch of ASCA were also serviced and redeployed. A cruise in July 2016, a hydrographic cruise in which more than 20 full depth Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) profiles were completed across the ASCA transect. This survey was complimented by the collection of additional water samples for various chemical and biological analyses, underway chemistry and ship-borne Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), and the deployment of Argo floats and Expendable Bathythermograph’s (XBT’s). On both of these cruises, Argo floats and SVP drifters were adopting by schools supported by the SAEON Egagasini Node Education component and will be used for science and maths projects initiated by the schools and the learners.

Data from the first 12 months of mooring deployments is now available. Please contact tammy@saeon.ac.za