title: A Southern Indian Ocean database of hydrographic profiles obtained with instrumented elephant seals.
abstract: The instrumentation of southern elephant seals with satellite-linked CTD tags has offered unique temporal and spatial coverage of the Southern Indian Ocean since 2004. This includes extensive data from the Antarctic continental slope and shelf regions during the winter months, which is outside the conventional areas of Argo autonomous floats and ship-based studies. This landmark dataset of around 75,000 temperature and salinity profiles from 20-140 °E, concentrated on the sector between the Kerguelen Islands and Prydz Bay, continues to grow through the coordinated efforts of French and Australian marine research teams. The seal data are quality controlled and calibrated using delayed-mode techniques involving comparisons with other existing profiles as well as cross-comparisons similar to established protocols within the Argo community, with a resulting accuracy of ±0.03 °C in temperature and ±0.05 in salinity or better. The data offer invaluable new insights into the water masses, oceanographic processes and provides a vital tool for oceanographers seeking to advance our understanding of this key component of the global ocean climate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University , S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roquet
authors.affiliation: Antarctic Climate and Ecosystem Cooperative Research Centre, University of Tasmania , Hobart 7001, Australia ; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania , Hobart 7001, Australia.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Antarctic Climate and Ecosystem Cooperative Research Centre, University of Tasmania , Hobart 7001, Australia ; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania , Hobart 7001, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hindell
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University , Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harcourt
authors.affiliation: Sydney Institute for Marine Science , Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia.
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS UMR 7372 , 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guinet
authors.affiliation: LOCEAN Sorbonne Universités (UPMC, Univ Paris 6)/CNRS/IRD/MNHN , 75252 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Benoit
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Charrassin
authors.affiliation: LOCEAN Sorbonne Universités (UPMC, Univ Paris 6)/CNRS/IRD/MNHN , 75252 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reverdin
authors.affiliation: Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews , St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boehme
authors.affiliation: Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews , St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK.
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lovell
authors.affiliation: Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews , St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fedak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016208:Databases, Factual; D019156:Indian Ocean; D009791:Oceanography / Q000379:methods; D046048:Seals, Earless