Dataset: Light intensity (lux) of downwelling light upon the benthos along differing conditions of octocoral canopy formation in Lameshur Bay St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands in March of 2019

Location: Yawzi Point, Lameshur Bay St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands at 8 m depth.
Research conducted from the University of the Virgin Islands Marine Station in Lameshure Bay during March 2019.

Methods & Sampling:

Measurements were recorded every second from 05:00:00 to 23:05:21 (Local Time, Atlantic Standard Time, GMT-04:00) on March 12th, 2019 using HOBO light loggers (model UA-0002-64). Loggers were placed at ~8-m depth at Yawzi point, in Lameshur Bay, St. John U.S. Virgin Islands.

Each logger was secured in the center of a quadrat (1 m2), in which octocorals were censused, and a level was used to fix the sensor perpendicular to the horizon. Deployment occurred on days characterized by sunshine and scattered clouds, and low wind speeds of ~ 6.0–8.5 m s-1 (CariCOOS buoy 41052, ~ 8 km SW of Cabritte Horn).

Instruments:

HOBO Light and Temperature Logger, Model UA-0002-64