Cruise inventory
RRS James Clark Ross JR19970421 (AMT4, JR21)
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Cruise period | 1997-04-21 — 1997-05-27 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Stanley, Falkland Islands (Malvinas) |
| Port of return | Grimsby, United Kingdom |
| Objectives | The Atlantic Meridional Transects (AMTs) were conceived as a means of acquiring a time series of oceanographic, biological, chemical and optical data over large latitudinal ranges (50° N to 50° S) and through a number of contrasting oceanographic provinces. The core scientific objectives are to refine out understanding of the role of the ocean biota in the biogeochemical processes, carbon fluxes and ultimately global climate and to develop remotely-sensed measurements of global primary production.
The AMTs take advantage of the twice yearly passage of the NERC vessel, RRS James Clark Ross, operated by the British Antarctic Survey, during its passage to and from Antarctica each year. Since the only ship costs involved are to cover the additional time required for course deviations and station work, the AMT is a highly cost-effective project for fundamental marine science. AMT-4 is the fourth Atlantic transect in the current series. Aims: 1. To improve our undestanding of the relationship between physical processes and biological production. 2. Identify, define and quantify latitudinal changes in biogeochemical provinces. 3. Determine phytoplankton characteristics and photosynthetic parameters. 4. Identify nutrient regimes and their role in biogeochemical cycles. 5. Characterise plankton community structure, including the accurate determination of carbon values 6. Relate the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) in surface waters with the biological production 7. Acquire data for the calibration of remotely sensed obersvations (primary validation). 8. Secondary validation of remotely sensed products (e.g. chlorophyll concentration). 9. Interpret basin-scale remote sensing observations 10. Develop models that enable the interpretation of satellite imagery in terms of total water column properties. |
| Chief scientist | Tony Bale (Plymouth Marine Laboratory) |
| Project | AMT |
| Cruise report |  (3.65 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North Atlantic Ocean South Atlantic Ocean |
| Track charts | (0.03 MB) |
| Measurements | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| Water bottle stations | Quantity: number of stations = 1 Description: The stations were sampled for a number of things. Bottle casts were taken for plankton samples. Samples were then taken for pigment analysis. CTD casts were made. Sky and sea photo graphs were taken. Optical stations were carried out. No. of stations not noted. |
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of stations = 1 Description: The stations were sampled for a number of things. Bottle casts were taken for plankton samples. Samples were then taken for pigment analysis. CTD casts were made. Sky and sea photo graphs were taken. Optical stations were carried out. No. of stations not noted. |
| Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements | Quantity: number of samples = 1 Description: Underway measurements including salinity, temperature and fluorescence were taken. No. of samples not noted. |
| Optics (eg underwater light levels) | Quantity: number of samples = 1 Description: Optical oceanography samples were taken. No. of samples not noted. |
| Optics (eg underwater light levels) | Quantity: number of stations = 1 Description: The stations were sampled for a number of things. Bottle casts were taken for plankton samples. Samples were then taken for pigment analysis. CTD casts were made. Sky and sea photo graphs were taken. Optical stations were carried out. No. of stations not noted. |
| Chemical oceanography | |
| Carbon dioxide | Quantity: number of samples = 1 Description: CO2 samples were collected for analysis. No. of samples not noted. |
| Biology and fisheries | |
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | Quantity: number of samples = 1 Description: Underway measurements including salinity, temperature and fluorescence were taken. No. of samples not noted. |
| Phytoplankton | Quantity: number of samples = 1 Description: Studies of phytoplankton and zooplankton communities are made. No. of sample not noted. |
| Zooplankton | Quantity: number of samples = 1 Description: Studies of phytoplankton and zooplankton communities are made. No. of sample not noted. |
| Zooplankton | Quantity: number of stations = 1 Description: The stations were sampled for a number of things. Bottle casts were taken for plankton samples. Samples were then taken for pigment analysis. CTD casts were made. Sky and sea photo graphs were taken. Optical stations were carried out. No. of stations not noted. |
| Data held at BODC | |
| Discrete samples | |
| 66 CTD frame plus rosette sampler | Particulate total and organic nitrogen concentrations in the water column Primary production in the water column Metadata parameters Plankton biomass expressed as carbon per unit volume of the water column Phytoplankton taxonomic abundance in water bodies Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column Density of the water column Phytoplankton taxonomic biomass in water bodies Particulate total and organic carbon concentrations in the water column Bacteria non taxonomy-related biomass expressed as carbon per unit volume of the water column Phaeopigment concentrations in the water column Plankton abundance per unit volume of the water column Silicate concentration parameters in the water column Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column Temperature of the water column Bacteria generic abundance in water bodies Carotenoid pigment concentrations in the water column Salinity of the water column Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in the water column Reference numbers |
| 140 Expendable Bathythermograph | Temperature of the water column |
| 306 Sample taken from ship's non-toxic supply | Carotenoid pigment concentrations in the water column Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in the water column |
