Suspended Matter Distribution in the Surface Layer of the East Equatorial Atlantic

Abstract—The research is dedicated to the suspended particulate matter (SPM) distribution and the hydrological–hydrochemical conditions within the oceanic upwelling of the so-called Guinea Dome. This dome is a 500 km diameter stable cyclonic eddy, the center of which is located at 10° N and 22° W. It was formed owing to northern branch of Equatorial Counter Current activity. A cruise in November 2016 made it possible to observe the rising of isotherms and isohalines up to 50 m in the northern part of the dome, as well as a high SPM concentration (up to 0.7 mg/L) in the ocean surface layer south of 8° N.