Fluorescence and backscatter vertical profiles on the Eastern and Central Agulhas Bank during March 2019 (cruise EK188).

The Agulhas Bank is a moderately productive and dynamic shelf ecosystem, where underwater visibility can at times be poor. To investigate what causes turbidity events and how far they extend, we collected high-resolution vertical profiles of backscatter and fluoresence on the Central and Eastern Agulhas Bank from 23rd – 31st March 2019 aboard the R.V. Ellen Khuzwayo (voyage EK188). Our survey started in the east near Port Alfred (closest station: 33.64°S, 29.92°E) and followed the general circulation towards the west of the bank (most western station: 35.10°S, 21.31°E). Data were collected using a standalone Seabird Environmental Characterization Optics (ECO) Triplet Fluorometer and Backscattering Sensor, measuring and Chl fluorescence (excitation/emission at 470/695 nm) and backscatter at two wavelengths in the green and red spectrum (532 nm and 700 nm, respectively).