Abstract
The Deep Madagascar Basin Expedition Cruise, conducted aboard the RV Roger Revelle from Apr 9 to May 13, 2023, aimed to investigate the abyssal circulation patterns in the Madagascar Basin, a critical component of the Indian Ocean's Meridional Overturning Circulation. Funded by the NSF, the expedition focused on understanding how younger abyssal water from the Southern Ocean enters the basin through deep fracture zones along the Southwest Indian Ridge. The cruise involved deploying advanced technologies, including Deep SOLO floats and RAFOS floats, to collect high-resolution data on temperature, salinity, and circulation dynamics. Despite challenges such as delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and adverse weather conditions, the scientific team successfully executed multiple CTD and LADCP stations, contributing valuable insights into the region's complex hydrodynamics. The collaboration with various institutions and the inclusion of early-career researchers further enriched the expedition's outcomes. This report details the methodologies, findings, and collaborative efforts undertaken during the cruise, providing a comprehensive overview of the expedition's scientific contributions.