Cruise inventory
RRS Discovery D338
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | RRS Discovery (74E3) |
| Cruise identifier | D338 |
| Cruise period | 2009-04-15 — 2009-05-27 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain |
| Port of return | Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | This cruise is part of the UK science contribution to the international SOLAS project (Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study www.uea.ac.uk/env/solas/) which aims to advance our understanding of environmentally important interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere. Data collected during the cruise will help to determine the influence of coastal/shelf regions (20-200 km offshore) on microbiological activity in the ocean and chemical interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere. Deep water containing high concentrations of nutrients such as nitrate, and gases such as nitrous oxide and methane, rises to the surface (upwells) at the Mauritanian shelf edge and moves offshore. These nutrients can be chemically altered by sunlight and used by bacteria and microscopic plants to grow. The gases escape to the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. This cruise will sample the upwelled water as it moves offshore measuring its temperature, salinity, nutrient and gas content and the impact this water has on microbiological growth and atmospheric composition in order to improve international global climate models.
The cruise has three scientific objectives: 1. To determine the role of upwelling on the supply, loss and air-sea exchange of climatically important gases produced by plankton 2. To determine the role of light in breaking down upwelled and recently produced dissolved organic matter and in producing climatically important trace gases 3. To determine the impact of nutrient enriched upwelled water on the spatial and temporal variability of plankton community structure and activity and resultant influence on biogenic gas flux |
| Chief scientist | Carol Robinson (University of East Anglia School of Environmental Sciences) |
| Project | Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study (UK SOLAS) |
| Coordinating body | School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia |
| Cruise report |  (7.73 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W) |
| Specific | Eastern Atlantic |
| Track charts | (0.02 MB) |
| Measurements | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| Transparency (eg transmissometer) | Quantity: number of deployments = 27 Description: In-water optics rig: i) Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometer (phytoplankton physiology); ii) Satlantic UV sensor (downwelling spectral UV light at 305, 320, 340 and 380 nm); iii) Wetlabs ac-9 (attenuation and absorption at 9 wavelengths: 412, 440, 488, 510, 532, 555, 650, 676, 715 nm – decomposed into a(c) total and CDOM by using casts with and without supracap filters); iv) SeaBird SBE19+ CTD (temperature and salinity with depth for correction of the ac9); v) ancillary PAR measurements (determination of light levels in water column) |
| Optics (eg underwater light levels) | Quantity: number of deployments = 27 Description: In-water optics rig: i) Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometer (phytoplankton physiology); ii) Satlantic UV sensor (downwelling spectral UV light at 305, 320, 340 and 380 nm); iii) Wetlabs ac-9 (attenuation and absorption at 9 wavelengths: 412, 440, 488, 510, 532, 555, 650, 676, 715 nm – decomposed into a(c) total and CDOM by using casts with and without supracap filters); iv) SeaBird SBE19+ CTD (temperature and salinity with depth for correction of the ac9); v) ancillary PAR measurements (determination of light levels in water column) |
| Chemical oceanography | |
| Oxygen | Quantity: number of stations = 51 Description: Vertical profiles for dissolved oxygen concentration |
| Oxygen | Quantity: number of samples = 30 Description: Calibration samples for optode in non toxic seawater supply |
| Oxygen | Quantity: number of experiments = 19 Description: Photo-oxidation experiments – carbon monoxide, dissolved oxygen and pH |
| Oxygen | Quantity: number of measurements = 50 Description: Continuous measurements of pCO2 and O2using non toxic supply |
| Carbon dioxide | Quantity: number of measurements = 50 Description: Continuous measurements of pCO2 and O2using non toxic supply |
| Other dissolved gases | Quantity: activity duration in days = 15 Description: Underway SF6 (non toxic) |
| Other dissolved gases | Quantity: number of stations = 40 Description: OVOC analysis |
| Other dissolved gases | Quantity: number of stations = 28 Description: Vertical profiles - carbon monoxide |
| Other dissolved gases | Quantity: number of experiments = 19 Description: Photo-oxidation experiments – carbon monoxide, dissolved oxygen and pH |
| Other dissolved gases | Quantity: number of stations = 38 Description: Molecular analysis of methanogens |
| Other dissolved gases | Quantity: number of stations = 25 Description: 3He/4He measurements on vertical profiles |
| Other dissolved gases | Quantity: number of profiles = 36 Description: Vertical Profiles for DMS and DMSP |
| Other dissolved gases | Quantity: number of stations = 35 Description: Vertical Profiles for N2O and CH4 |
| Other dissolved gases | Quantity: number of stations = 50 Description: SF6 measurements – vertical profiles |
| Phosphate | Quantity: number of stations = 40 Description: Alkaline phosphatase analysis |
| Phosphate | Quantity: number of stations = 68 Description: Vertical profiles for micronutrient analysis, analysed by colorimetric segmented flow auto-analysis |
| Nitrate | Quantity: number of stations = 68 Description: Vertical profiles for micronutrient analysis, analysed by colorimetric segmented flow auto-analysis |
| Nitrite | Quantity: number of stations = 68 Description: Vertical profiles for micronutrient analysis, analysed by colorimetric segmented flow auto-analysis |
| Ammonia | Quantity: number of experiments = 19 Description: Photo-oxidation experiments - ammonia |
| Ammonia | Quantity: number of stations = 28 Description: Vertical profiles - ammonia |
| Ammonia | Quantity: number of stations = 68 Description: Vertical profiles for micronutrient analysis, analysed by colorimetric segmented flow auto-analysis |
| Silicate | Quantity: number of stations = 68 Description: Vertical profiles for micronutrient analysis, analysed by colorimetric segmented flow auto-analysis |
| Alkalinity | Quantity: number of stations = 29 Description: Vertical profiles for dissolved DIC/ALK concentration to be analysed in UEA by Carol Robinson |
| pH | Quantity: number of experiments = 19 Description: Photo-oxidation experiments – carbon monoxide, dissolved oxygen and pH |
| Isotopes | Quantity: number of stations = 11 Description: Sample collection for determination of 15N-N2O |
| Other chemical oceanographic measurements | Quantity: number of stations = 25 Description: N-assimilation kinetics, NH4+ regeneration, NH4+ oxidation, NO2- oxidation. |
| Other chemical oceanographic measurements | Quantity: number of stations = 10 Description: Surfactants |
| Biology and fisheries | |
| Primary productivity | Quantity: number of stations = 20 Description: Vertical profiles for gross primary production, community respiration and net community production (O2) |
| Primary productivity | Quantity: number of stations = 28 Description: Vertical profiles for on-board carbon fixation primary production |
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | Quantity: number of deployments = 27 Description: In-water optics rig: i) Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometer (phytoplankton physiology); ii) Satlantic UV sensor (downwelling spectral UV light at 305, 320, 340 and 380 nm); iii) Wetlabs ac-9 (attenuation and absorption at 9 wavelengths: 412, 440, 488, 510, 532, 555, 650, 676, 715 nm – decomposed into a(c) total and CDOM by using casts with and without supracap filters); iv) SeaBird SBE19+ CTD (temperature and salinity with depth for correction of the ac9); v) ancillary PAR measurements (determination of light levels in water column) |
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | Quantity: number of samples = 50 Description: Calibration samples for underway chlorophyll from non toxic seawater supply |
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | Quantity: number of stations = 47 Description: Vertical profiles for phytoplankton pigment post-cruise analyses |
| Dissolved organic matter (inc DOC) | Quantity: number of experiments = 19 Description: Photo-oxidation experiments – CDOM, fDOM |
| Dissolved organic matter (inc DOC) | Quantity: number of stations = 28 Description: Vertical profiles - CDOM, fDOM |
| Dissolved organic matter (inc DOC) | Quantity: number of experiments = 19 Description: Photo-oxidation experiments - DOC/N, amino acids |
| Dissolved organic matter (inc DOC) | Quantity: number of stations = 28 Description: Vertical profiles – DOC/N, amino acids |
| Biochemical measurements (eg lipids, amino acids) | Quantity: number of stations = 47 Description: Ambient concentrations and turnover rates of urea and three amino acids - leucine, methionine, tyrosine – by total bacterioplankton were measured using isotopic dilution time-series incubations. Using the same seawater sample, additions of UV irradiated deep seawater were made and the response of the bacterioplankton community measured in terms of the change in rate of amino acid uptake. |
| Phytoplankton | Quantity: number of stations = 16 Description: Vertical phytoplankton (10µm) net hauls (0-50m) for qualitative identification |
| Phytoplankton | Quantity: number of stations = 40 Description: Phytoplankton community growth and grazing rates |
| Phytoplankton | Quantity: number of stations = 45 Description: Vertical profiles of phytoplankton, bacteria abundance from Niskin bottles on CTD casts, by flow cytometry |
| Phytoplankton | Quantity: number of stations = 37 Description: Vertical profiles of phytoplankton abundance from Niskin bottles on CTD casts. Seawater samples preserved with Lugol’s iodine for post-cruise microscopic analysis of community structure/composition |
| Zooplankton | Quantity: number of stations = 10 Description: Vertical zooplankton (60µm and 700µm) net hauls (0-200m) for qualitative identification |
| Zooplankton | Quantity: number of stations = 37 Description: Vertical profiles of phytoplankton abundance from Niskin bottles on CTD casts. Seawater samples preserved with Lugol’s iodine for post-cruise microscopic analysis of community structure/composition |
| Pelagic bacteria/micro-organisms | Quantity: number of stations = 12 Description: Incubations to determine CH4 oxidation rates |
| Pelagic bacteria/micro-organisms | Quantity: number of stations = 21 Description: Heterotrophic bacterial production, Particulate uptake of 14C labelled methanol, acetaldehyde and acetone, Total oxidation of 14C labelled methanol, acetone and acetaldehyde. |
| Pelagic bacteria/micro-organisms | Quantity: number of stations = 45 Description: Vertical profiles of phytoplankton, bacteria abundance from Niskin bottles on CTD casts, by flow cytometry |
| Other biological/fisheries measurement | Quantity: number of stations = 15 Description: Incubations for continuous measurements of O2 consumption using micro electrodes and in vivo respiratory electron transport system activity |
| Other biological/fisheries measurement | Quantity: number of stations = 20 Description: Vertical profiles for gross primary production, community respiration and net community production (O2) |
| Meteorology | |
| Incident radiation | Quantity: activity duration in days = 38 Description: Deck mounted (over the CTD winch cab) Trios UV sensor: i) Hyperspectral (2.5 nm resolution: 200 – 500 nm wavelength) UV at 5 minute intervals through daylight hours; ii) decomposed hyperspectral into broadband UV-A and UV-B |
| Other meteorological measurements | Quantity: activity duration in days = 15 Description: OVOC analysis |
| Other meteorological measurements | Quantity: activity duration in days = 36 Description: Microtops sunphotometer measurements: i) Aerosol optical thickness at 340, 440, 675 and 870 nm; ii) water vapour content (cm) |
| Moorings, landers, buoys | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| CTD stations | 19° 24' 28" N 17° 49' 58" W — Buoy deployment. Wire Walker. |
| CTD stations | 19° 52' 40" N 18° 8' 36" W — Buoy deployment. Wire Walker. |
| CTD stations | 21° 36' 54" N 18° 3' 51" W — Buoy recovery. Wire Walker. |
| CTD stations | 21° 31' 9" N 17° 59' 21" W — Buoy deployment. Wire Walker. |
| CTD stations | 19° 26' 20" N 19° 9' 23" W — Buoy recovery. Wire Walker. |
| CTD stations | 19° 33' 56" N 18° 59' 21" W — Buoy deployment. Wire Walker. |
| CTD stations | 19° 33' 14" N 18° 55' 30" W — Buoy recovery. Wire Walker. |
| CTD stations | 19° 37' 37" N 18° 37' 1" W — Buoy recovery. Wire Walker. |
| CTD stations | 19° 37' 14" N 18° 27' 6" W — Buoy deployment. Wire Walker. |
| CTD stations | 19° 35' 11" N 18° 20' 14" W — Buoy recovery. Wire Walker. |
| CTD stations | 19° 44' 31" N 18° 37' 57" W — Buoy deployment. Wire Walker. |
| CTD stations | 19° 53' 3" N 18° 10' 47" W — Buoy recovery. Wire Walker. |
| Subsurface temperature measurements | 20° 26' 57" N 18° 25' 39" W — Buoy deployment. Thermistor. |
| Subsurface temperature measurements | 21° 14' 33" N 17° 17' 23" W — Buoy deployment. Thermistor. |
| Subsurface temperature measurements | 20° 39' 25" N 18° 42' 2" W — Buoy recovery. Thermistor. |
| Subsurface temperature measurements | 20° 37' 5" N 18° 25' 39" W — Buoy recovery. Thermistor. |
| Subsurface temperature measurements | 21° 13' 15" N 17° 22' 51" W — Buoy deployment. Thermistor. |
| Subsurface temperature measurements | 20° 2' 7" N 18° 37' 13" W — Buoy recovery. Thermistor. |
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | 19° 24' 48" N 17° 55' 3" W — Buoy deployment. ADCP. |
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | 19° 35' 46" N 19° 20' 43" W — Buoy recovery. ADCP. |
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | 19° 26' 24" N 19° 5' 54" W — Buoy recovery. ADCP. |
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | 21° 25' 15" N 17° 54' 43" W — Buoy deployment. ADCP. |
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | 21° 40' 55" N 17° 56' 20" W — Buoy recovery. ADCP. |
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | 19° 39' 42" N 18° 42' 53" W — Buoy recovery. ADCP. |
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | 21° 39' 29" N 18° 39' 29" W — Buoy recovery. ADCP. |
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | 21° 36' 3" N 18° 0' 21" W — Buoy deployment. ADCP. |
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | 19° 43' 35" N 18° 42' 34" W — Buoy deployment. ADCP. |
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | 19° 38' 31" N 18° 27' 12" W — Buoy deployment. ADCP. |
| Data held at BODC | |
| Discrete samples | |
| 834 All plastic clean surface pumped supply | Phytoplankton taxonomic abundance in water bodies Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column Silicate concentration parameters in the water column Ammonium concentration parameters in the water column Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column Phytoplankton generic abundance in water bodies Bacteria generic abundance in water bodies Bacteria taxonomic abundance in water bodies Organosulphur species concentration parameters in the water column Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column |
| 102 CTD frame plus rosette sampler | Raw suspended particulate material optical sensor output Microzooplankton generic abundance in water bodies Phytoplankton taxonomic abundance in water bodies Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column Density of the water column Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the water column Transmittance and attenuance of the water column Silicate concentration parameters in the water column Carbon monoxide and dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere Ammonium concentration parameters in the water column Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column Raw oxygen sensor output Phytoplankton generic abundance in water bodies Surfactant concentrations in water bodies Dissolved concentration parameters for other gases in the water column Temperature of the water column Bacteria generic abundance in water bodies Salinity of the water column Bacteria taxonomic abundance in water bodies Organosulphur species concentration parameters in the water column Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in the water column |
| 78 Sample taken from ship's non-toxic supply | Salinity of the water column Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in the water column |
| 11 | Surfactant concentrations in water bodies |
