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

Location:
East Cabritte, Grootpan Bay St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands at 9-m depth.
Research conducted from the University of the Virgin Islands Marine Station in Lameshur Bay during March 2019.

Methods & Sampling:
Measurements were recorded every second from 05:00:00 to 15:38:00 (Local Time, Atlantic Standard Time, GMT-04:00) on March 10th, 2019 using HOBO light loggers (model UA-0002-64). Loggers were placed at ~9-m depth at East Cabritte, in Grootpan 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