CVOO is part of the Cape Verde Observatory (17.6°N 24.3°W) which consists of operational atmosphere and ocean monitoring sites for various climate-relevant environmental parameters in the tropical Eastern North Atlantic Ocean. The entire region, as many tropical areas, is data poor but plays a key role in air-sea interaction. The ocean site measures temperature, salinity, biological parameters, nutrients, dissolved carbon and oxygen, and include an oceanographic long-term mooring for in-situ observations. Cape Verdean research vessel Islândia is equipped with state of the art instruments to collect samples for marine parameters. Novel observational platforms such as gliders or profiling floats are used within the framework of various field studies at CVOO. The ocean site measures temperature, salinity, biological parameters, nutrients, dissolved carbon and oxygen, and include an oceanographic long-term mooring for in-situ observations. Cape Verdean research vessel “Islândia” is equipped with state of the art instruments to collect samples for marine parameters. Novel observational platforms such as gliders or profiling floats are used within the framework of various field studies at CVOO. Science logistic bases are quite common for the study of high-latitude processes (e.g. sites in Svalbard, Canada, Antarctica as well as sub-tropical sites such as Bermuda and Hawaii), but there is a severe lack in critical tropical regions, including West Africa. CVOO provides in this region logistical support for international research campaigns and projects and therefore bringing the benefits of this research infrastructure to the attention of the international scientific community.
