Hydrological measurements collected on board of R/V OGS-Explora in the Western sector of the Strait of Magellan and in the Pacific margin

First results on the hydrological survey undertaken in the framework of the geophysical SCP04 cruise on board the R/V OGSExplora are here presented. The synoptic oceanographic measurements include shipborne ADCP and TS continuous recordings as well as high resolution CTD and XBT vertical profiles. The intensive current measurements and hydrological sampling program was carried out on a continuous basis from the 3rd to the 7th of April, 2004. The investigation area was the Strait of Magellan and the Southernmost Chilean margin (54° 52° S, 77° 70° W). The data acquisition methods and the used instrument are also described. The thermohaline properties of the water masses over the Strait of Magellan are analysed by means of θS diagrams, including also a comparison with other measurements available from the same region. In order to follow the spatial variability of the hydrological characteristics, temperature vertical profiles in the Pacific slope are considered as well. A good agreement in the thermohaline characteristics of the new observations with respect to historical data is highlighted. The spatial distribution of the hydrological parameters considered so far is briefly discussed.