Physical and chemical oceanographic data during Umitaka-maru cruise of the 61st Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition in January 2020

The Southern Ocean connects all major ocean basins and plays a pivotal role in the meridional overturning circulation of global oceans. High-quality physical (temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen) and chemical (nutrients) oceanographic data from the Southern Ocean are thus critical for an improved understanding of future climates. As part of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition, Umitaka-maru have annually observed high-quality conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) and water sampling data (salinity, dissolved oxygen, and nutrients) along a 110 degreeE transect in January. Sea surface temperature and salinity were obtained continuously with a thermosalinograph (TSG) along the cruise track between the ports of Fremantle and Hobart. Data quality was validated by following as far as possible the recommendations for instruments and methods of the Global Ocean Ship-Based Hydrographic Investigation Program.