Final Cruise Report SOCIB_CabreraSummer26 (13-16 July 2026)
Year: 2026
Type: report
Abstract: The SOCIB–Cabrera Summer 2026 oceanographic campaign, conducted aboard R/V SOCIB from 13 to 16 July 2026, aimed to characterise physical and biogeochemical variability in Cabrera Archipelago National Park and surrounding waters, validate regional ocean forecasting systems, and establish an observational baseline for MeDITTO-PROTECT, SOCIB's Digital Twin Ocean prototype. The campaign completed 25 CTD profiles across five transects spanning continental shelf, slope and deep-basin environments, reaching a maximum depth of 2,268 m. Discrete water samples were collected at 17 stations, complemented by continuous vessel-mounted ADCP, thermosalinograph and meteorological observations. Results revealed strong summer stratification, with surface temperatures of 27.8–29.2 °C, a seasonal thermocline near 15 m, deep chlorophyll maxima at 60–100 m and dissolved oxygen maxima at 35–52 m. Model validation demonstrated improvements in subsurface temperature, salinity and current-speed estimates using the higher-resolution BSOP system compared with WMOP, although not for surface temperature. Preliminary CTD data assimilation experiments reduced WMOP temperature forecast RMSE by 38% at depths of 20–50 m. Four preliminary Observing System Simulation Experiment (OSSE) configurations were proposed to optimise future sampling strategies. Quality-controlled datasets are available through the SOCIB Data Catalog following FAIR principles. The results provide an observational and scientific foundation for improved regional forecasting, observing-system optimisation and the development of MeDITTO-PROTECT to support evidence-based marine protected area management.
Source: SOCIB
DOI: 10.25704/eyxm-2007
Authors: Reyes Reyes, Emma, Casas Pérez, Benjamín, Díaz Barroso, Lara, García-Jove Navarro, Máximo, Melo Aguilar, Camilo Andrés, Carranza Narvaja, Magdalena Maria, Canyelles Bustillo, Alba, Martínez Ayala, Juan, Casaucao Aguilar, Andrea, Lizarán Esperilla, Irene, Baeza Montals, Josep, Balaguer Huguet, Pablo, Juza, Mélanie, Soriano González, Jesús, Zarokanellos, Nikolaos, Heslop, Emma Elizabeth
Language: English
Subfield: Oceanography
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225415992