Oceanographic aspects during Expedition ANTAR XVI

Abstract

Oceanographic features in the Bransfield Strait showed the confluence of three types of waters: Weddell Sea waters, Bellingshausen Sea waters characterized by the presence of Antarctic Surface Water and Circumpolar Deep Water, Gerlache Strait waters. In Bransfield Strait the Front Bransfield (FB) was observed, which separates warm - low salty water flowing toward the northeast in the northern half of the Bransfield Strait from cold and more salty water occupying its middle area. In the experiment on Elephant Island, temperature showed a significant correlation with the best concentrations of phytoplankton (dinoflagellates) and the 1.0 °C isotherm in the layers deeper than 20 m depth. A diel pattern of krill was also observed, deepened during the day and ascending at night; the increased presence of krill would be associated with temperatures of 0.5 °C to 1.0 °C, with adults and sub-adult individuals located between 30 and 70 m depth.