Vertical microstructure profiler, CTD and vessel-mounted ADCP data for WS16336-MeRMEED-1, a 7 day research expedition along the slope offshore of Great Abaco, Bahamas in December 2016.

The data contained in this dataset includes the data associated with the first of three MeRMEED research expeditions aboard the R/V Walton Smith from December 1, 2016 to December 7, 2016. The data include vertical microstructure profiler (VMP) measurements of the turbulent dissipation rate and temperature variance, profiles of temperature and conductivity from a CTD sensor attached to the VMP, and along-track meridional and zonal velocity profiles from a vessel mounted 75 kHz ADCP. A total of 68 VMP and CTD profiles were collected in zonal sections running offshore from Great Abaco Bahamas with maximum profile depths of 1200 metres. Profiles were performed in a tow-yo fashion while the ship steamed at 1-2 knots, resulting in a profile spacing of approximately 500 metres. ADCP velocity profiles typically extended to 600-700 metres. The MeRMEED project aimed to determine and quantify how the interaction between mesoscale eddies and the steep slope along ocean western boundaries affects the dissipation of mesoscale eddies in these regions. The data were collected as part of the project titled Mechanisms Responsible for Mesoscale Eddy Energy Dissipation (MeRMEED) run by Eleanor Frajka-Williams and Dafydd Gwyn Evans between 2015-2019, and was funded by NERC Discovery Science grant NE/N001745/1.