A dataset of coexisting Sargassum features and submesoescalar eddies near the south coast of the Dominican Republic in 2023.

This dataset provides a record of coexisting pelagic Sargassum features and submesoscale eddy-like structures along the southern coast of the Dominican Republic. It was developed to address the knowledge gap regarding how localized, nearshore oceanographic features influence the transport and arrival of Sargassum as it approaches the Greater Antilles. The dataset is organized into distinct temporal sequences from 2023, ranging from 6 to 18 days in length. Sargassum features were manually identified and tracked using Alternative Floating Algae Index (AFAI) imagery from the Sargassum Watch System (SaWS), providing bounding box coordinates, area, and center-point trajectories for 261 identified clusters. Eddy-like structures were identified through an automated detection algorithm applied to 1/12° resolution HYCOM (HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model) surface current estimations. This process yielded 936 eddy-like detections, characterized by their rotation type (cyclonic/anticyclonic), vorticity-related metrics (vorticity and Okubo-Weiss parameter), and characteristic streamline paths. The resulting CSV files offer a structured framework for researchers to analyze the transport of floating algae under complex coastal conditions. The dataset is suited for validating transport models, studying eddy-induced shoreward Sargassum influx, and supporting environmental management strategies for small-island developing states facing Sargassum inundation.