Fig. 1. Map of the study region in the Argentinean Patagonia, Southwestern South Atlantic Ocean. The position of hydrographic stations occupied during PATEX 4 (spring of 2007; red dots) and PATEX 6 (spring of 2008; blue dots) cruises are shown as the coloured dots. The main schematic flows of Brazil (black straight line) and Malvinas (black dashed line) currents are shown by arrows (see Strub et al., 2015 for details about the regional ocean circulation in the area). The bottom bathymetry is represented by both isobath contour and colour shadings. Two marked cross-shelf transects (one for each cruise) have been selected for displaying hydrographic and carbonate system properties.