Resources

RRS Discovery D368

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Discovery (74E3)
Cruise identifierD368
Cruise period2011-07-15 — 2011-08-04
StatusCompleted
Port of departureLiverpool, United Kingdom
Port of returnSanta Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesCTD stations on 20W line from 50N to 20N, following the old WOCE line A16N

Physical measurements (CTDO and LADCP) and discrete samples for salt, oxygen, inorganic nutrients and alkalinity/inorganic carbon

Underway ADCP, surface ocean measurements, surface meteorology measurements.

Contribution to GO-SHIP sustained hydrography program.

Partial repeat of a hydrographic line last occupied in 2003.
Chief scientistBrian A King (National Oceanography Centre, Southampton)
ProjectGO-SHIP
Coordinating bodyNational Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Cruise reportRRS Discovery D368 cruise report d368.pdf (5.85 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificNorth Atlantic Ocean, 20°W, 20°N to 50°N
Track chartsRRS Discovery D368 cruise track — d368trk.pdf (0.09 MB) 
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Surface measurements underway (T,S)Quantity: activity duration in days = 20
Description: Discrete salinity samples from underway supply, analysed using an autosalinometer. Used to calibrate the underway salinity sensor situated in the SurfMet system.
Surface measurements underway (T,S)Quantity: activity duration in days = 20
Description: Underway salinity, temperature, transmittance and fluorescence from SurfMet system
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 29
Description: Discrete inorganic nutrients (N, P & Si) samples from CTD bottles, analysed using automated segmented flow analysis with colourimetric detection.
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 29
Description: Discrete water samples collected from CTD bottles to determine dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentration and total alkalinity using coulometry and potentiometry analysis
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 29
Description: Water collected from depth for discrete samples using a SeaBird 911+ stainless steel CTD frame fitted with SBE 32, 24-way carousel and 24 x 10 L Niskin bottles. Station depths ranged from 3404-5329 metres
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 29
Description: Discrete salinity samples from CTD bottles, analysed using an autosalinometer. Used to calibrate CTD salinity
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 29
Description: Discrete oxygen samples from CTD bottles, analysed using Winkler titration and Metrohm 794 Basic Tritrino titration unit. Used to calibrate CTD oxygen sensor.
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 29
Description: Temperature, salinity, pressure, transmittance, fluorescence, oxygen and back-scatter using a SeaBird 911+ stainless steel CTD unit. Station depths ranged from 3404-5329 metres
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 29
Description: Sea water velocities using a RDI WH monitor 300 kHz lowered acoustic doppler current profiler (LADCP)
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurementsQuantity: activity duration in days = 20
Description: Water velocities using a 75 kHz vessel mounted acoustic doppler current profiler (VMADCP)
Transparency (eg transmissometer)Quantity: activity duration in days = 20
Description: Underway salinity, temperature, transmittance and fluorescence from SurfMet system
Transparency (eg transmissometer)Quantity: number of stations = 29
Description: Temperature, salinity, pressure, transmittance, fluorescence, oxygen and back-scatter using a SeaBird 911+ stainless steel CTD unit. Station depths ranged from 3404-5329 metres
Optics (eg underwater light levels)Quantity: activity duration in days = 20
Description: Underway salinity, temperature, transmittance and fluorescence from SurfMet system
Current profiler (eg ADCP)Quantity: activity duration in days = 20
Description: Water velocities using a 75 kHz vessel mounted acoustic doppler current profiler (VMADCP)
Current profiler (eg ADCP)Quantity: number of stations = 29
Description: Sea water velocities using a RDI WH monitor 300 kHz lowered acoustic doppler current profiler (LADCP)
Neutrally buoyant floatsQuantity: number of deployments = 3
Description: 3 PROVOR floats deployed for French Argo program
Chemical oceanography 
OxygenQuantity: number of stations = 29
Description: Discrete oxygen samples from CTD bottles, analysed using Winkler titration and Metrohm 794 Basic Tritrino titration unit. Used to calibrate CTD oxygen sensor.
PhosphateQuantity: number of stations = 29
Description: Discrete inorganic nutrients (N, P & Si) samples from CTD bottles, analysed using automated segmented flow analysis with colourimetric detection.
Total - NQuantity: number of stations = 29
Description: Discrete inorganic nutrients (N, P & Si) samples from CTD bottles, analysed using automated segmented flow analysis with colourimetric detection.
SilicateQuantity: number of stations = 29
Description: Discrete inorganic nutrients (N, P & Si) samples from CTD bottles, analysed using automated segmented flow analysis with colourimetric detection.
AlkalinityQuantity: number of stations = 29
Description: Discrete water samples collected from CTD bottles to determine dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentration and total alkalinity using coulometry and potentiometry analysis
Other chemical oceanographic measurementsQuantity: number of stations = 29
Description: Discrete water samples collected from CTD bottles to determine dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentration and total alkalinity using coulometry and potentiometry analysis
Biology and fisheries 
PhytoplanktonQuantity: number of stations = 15
Description: Water samples collected from CTD bottles and concentrated by filtration. Samples were frozen immediately at -80C and stored for further molecular characterisation of the bacterial and smallest phytoplankton communities.
Pelagic bacteria/micro-organismsQuantity: number of stations = 15
Description: Water samples collected from CTD bottles and concentrated by filtration. Samples were frozen immediately at -80C and stored for further molecular characterisation of the bacterial and smallest phytoplankton communities.
Meteorology 
Routine standard measurementsQuantity: activity duration in days = 20
Description: Underway atmospheric pressure, air temperature, air humidity, total irradiance (TIR), photosynthetic radiation (PAR), wind speed and wind direction from SurfMet system
Geology and geophysics 
Single-beam echosoundingQuantity: activity duration in days = 20
Description: Sea floor depth using a SIMRAD EA600
Data held at BODC Get data
Series/Profiles 
1  Acoustic doppler current profiler
Reference numbers
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Date and time
Vertical spatial coordinates
Horizontal platform movement
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)
Reference numbers
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Date and time
Vertical spatial coordinates
Horizontal platform movement
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
28  Bottle station
Reference numbers
Vertical spatial coordinates
Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column
Silicate concentration parameters in the water column
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column
Quality control flags
Reference numbers
Vertical spatial coordinates
Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column
Silicate concentration parameters in the water column
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column
Quality control flags

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
29  CTD/STD cast
Reference numbers
Transmittance and attenuance of the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Optical backscatter
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Temperature of the water column
Salinity of the water column
Density of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
Reference numbers
Transmittance and attenuance of the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Optical backscatter
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Temperature of the water column
Salinity of the water column
Density of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
Discrete samples 
58  CTD frame plus rosette samplerDissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Salinity of the water column
110  Sample taken from ship's non-toxic supplySalinity of the water column