In July 2006 the initial deployment of the CV (Cape Verde) timeseries site was made by a scientific team on the research vessel Meteor. In February 2008 this mooring was recovered by the RV Atalante.
The mooring design and sensors deployed are described in a table and in a diagram.
Follow this link to view the joint press release of January 2007 issued by NERC and Ifm-GEOMAR

Scientific rationale:

Long-term observation is fundamental to understanding of global changes in air quality, atmospheric oxidation capacity, and climate. Such changes impact marine ecosystems and the atmosphere is, in turn, influenced by ocean physical and biogeochemical processes. Many impacts and feedbacks are focussed in the Tropics. TENATSO will initialize ground- and ocean-based observations in the tropical Eastern North Atlantic Ocean region, specifically at Sao Vicente, Cape Verde (16oN, 24oW). The tropical Eastern North Atlantic is ‘data poor’ but plays a key role in atmosphere-ocean interactions of climate-related and biogeochemical parameters including greenhouse gases. Being ‘downwind’ of an area of high primary productivity (the Mauritanian upwelling), the Observatory will provide unique information on links between upwelling and atmospheric composition changes. The location is also ideal for climate studies and for investigating impacts of dust on the marine ecosystem. Operation of the site involves transfer of technology to Cape Verde: a small West African developing country with an enormous economic zone and strong ties to Europe and North America. TENATSO will establish linked atmospheric and ocean stations. The atmospheric station will measure meteorological parameters, greenhouse gases, short-lived gaseous species, and aerosols. The data will be integrated into the Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) program of the World Meteorological Organization. The ocean site will include a mooring equipped for temperature, salinity, ocean current and oxygen measurements and will also be incorporated into international observing programs. The site will be visited regularly with Cape Verde’s research vessel, to collect samples for physical and biogeochemical parameters. The Observatory will be a resource for national and international programs and is considered part of a broader initiative to establish a Science Logistics Centre in Cape Verde. An outreach program will promote the Observatory at major conferences and with international research organizations.

Groups / P.I.s /labs /countries involved / responsible:

IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel, Germany (Douglas Wallace, Martin Visbeck, Arne Körtzinger)

INDP, Cape Verde (Oscar Melicio)

INMG, Cape Verde (Jose Pimenta Lima)

University of York, UK (Lucy Carpenter)

Max-Planck Institut für Biogeochemie, Jena, Germany (Martin Heimann)

Institut für Troposphärenforschung, Leipzig, Germany (Hartmut Hermann)

Temperature

Salinity

Sigma-t