RRS James Clark Ross JR20120120 (JR255A)
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |||||
| Ship name (ship code) | RRS James Clark Ross (74JC) | ||||
| Cruise identifier | JR20120120 (JR255A) | ||||
| Cruise period | 2012-01-20 — 2012-02-03 | ||||
| Status | Completed | ||||
| Port of departure | Stanley, Falkland Islands (Malvinas) | ||||
| Port of return | Mare Harbour, Falkland Islands (Malvinas) | ||||
| Purpose | Research | ||||
| Objectives | The objectives of the GENTOO project are:
(i) to quantify and understand the possible new source of dense water overflow and its variability; to determine the outflow's potential as an early indicator of Antarctic climate change; to assess the impact of changing dense overflows on the locations and strengths of the surface currents and frontal jets; to provide valuable constraints for climate models that describe how changes in ocean circulation feedback on and regulate climate change in polar latitudes. (ii) to determine the krill biomass distribution and (temporal and spatial) variability to the east of the Antarctic Peninsula and its likely impact on the circumpolar krill ecosystem; to assess the impact of any variations in the location of the frontal jets (from objective i) on the krill biomass distribution; to alleviate a severe regional lack of field data on krill, a key species in the Antarctic food web. To achieve the two objectives, our technological deliverable is a critical evaluation of our ability to measure (i) current velocity from a glider and (ii) krill biomass from a glider. The GENTOO fieldwork in the Weddell Sea was accomplished through a SeaGlider campaign in early 2012. A glider deployment cruise (JR255A) was the primary data gathering exercise; as well as deploying three SeaGliders, a hydrographic survey was undertaken together with nets and underway biological, chemical and physical measurements. The recovery of the three gliders was to have taken place on the recovery cruise. | ||||
| Chief scientist | Karen J Heywood (University of East Anglia School of Environmental Sciences) | ||||
| Project | Gliders: Excellent New Tools for Observing the Ocean (GENTOO) | ||||
| Coordinating body | Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) | ||||
| Cruise report |  (2.71 MB) | ||||
| Ocean/sea areas | |||||
| General | Southern Ocean | ||||
| Specific | Drake Passage, Weddell Sea, Powell Basin | ||||
| Track charts | (0.03 MB) | ||||
| Measurements | |||||
| Physical oceanography | |||||
| Surface measurements underway (T,S) | Quantity: activity duration in days = 12 Description: Underway Temperature and Salinity of surface water | ||||
| Bathythermograph | Quantity: activity duration in days = 12 Description: Underway Temperature and Salinity of surface water | ||||
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of stations = 41 Description: Vertical profiles of Salinity, Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Chlorophyll | ||||
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | Quantity: activity duration in days = 12 Description: ADCP current velocities | ||||
| Chemical oceanography | |||||
| Isotopes | Quantity: number of stations = 9 Description: Nitrous oxide isotopes | ||||
| Biology and fisheries | |||||
| Primary productivity | Quantity: number of stations = 37 Description: Chlorophyll and phytoplankton data | ||||
| Crustaceans | Quantity: number of hauls = 5 Description: Krill sample catch | ||||
| Acoustic reflection on marine organisms. | Quantity: activity duration in days = 12 Description: EK60 backscatter data | ||||
| Moorings, landers, buoys | |||||
| Physical oceanography | |||||
| Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements | 63° 22' 17" S 52° 58' 35" W — Seaglider 522 deployment, measuring Chlorophyll fluroescence, Oxygen, Temperature, Salinity | ||||
| Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements | 63° 22' 35" S 52° 58' 30" W — Seaglider 539 depoyment measuring dissolved oxygen, Temperature, Salinity, chlorophyll fluorescence | ||||
| Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements | 61° 36' 29" S 48° 25' 35" W — Seaglider 546, measuring Temperature, Salinity | ||||
| Neutrally buoyant floats | 63° 31' 17" S 51° 7' 11" W — Argo float measuring Temperature and Salinity | ||||
| Neutrally buoyant floats | 63° 31' 17" S 51° 7' 11" W — Argo float measuring Temperature and Salinity | ||||
| Neutrally buoyant floats | 63° 1' 29" S 51° 30' 0" W — Argo float measuring Temperature and Salinity | ||||
| Data held at BODC | Get data | ||||
| Series/Profiles | |||||
| 25 Bottle station | Reference numbers Particulate total and organic nitrogen concentrations in the water column Vertical spatial coordinates Quality control flags Particulate total and organic carbon concentrations in the water column Reference numbers Particulate total and organic nitrogen concentrations in the water column Vertical spatial coordinates Quality control flags Particulate total and organic carbon concentrations in the water column
| ||||
| 41 CTD/STD cast | Reference numbers Transmittance and attenuance of the water column Salinity of the water column Vertical spatial coordinates Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column Temperature 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 Salinity of the water column Vertical spatial coordinates Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column Temperature of the water column Density of the water column Electrical conductivity of the water column Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
| ||||
| 1 GPS positioning system | Reference numbers Horizontal spatial co-ordinates Date and time Platform or instrument orientation Horizontal platform movement Reference numbers Horizontal spatial co-ordinates Date and time Platform or instrument orientation Horizontal platform movement
| ||||
| 1 Meteorological data logger | Reference numbers Horizontal spatial co-ordinates Air pressure Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the atmosphere Date and time Wind strength and direction Air temperature Solar Radiation Atmospheric humidity Reference numbers Horizontal spatial co-ordinates Air pressure Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the atmosphere Date and time Wind strength and direction Air temperature Solar Radiation Atmospheric humidity
| ||||
| 1 Multiple instrument types | Reference numbers Horizontal spatial co-ordinates Sound velocity and travel time in the water column Date and time Salinity of the water column Temperature of the water column Electrical conductivity of the water column Metadata parameters Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies Reference numbers Horizontal spatial co-ordinates Sound velocity and travel time in the water column Date and time Salinity of the water column Temperature of the water column Electrical conductivity of the water column Metadata parameters Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
| ||||
| 1 Pumped water sample | Horizontal spatial co-ordinates Particulate total and organic nitrogen concentrations in the water column Date and time Particulate total and organic carbon concentrations in the water column Horizontal spatial co-ordinates Particulate total and organic nitrogen concentrations in the water column Date and time Particulate total and organic carbon concentrations in the water column
| ||||
| Discrete samples | |||||
| 41 CTD frame plus rosette sampler | Particulate total and organic nitrogen concentrations in the water column Temperature of the water column Concentration of silicon species in the water column Particulate total and organic carbon concentrations in the water column Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies | ||||
| 9 Sample taken from ship's non-toxic supply | Particulate total and organic nitrogen concentrations in the water column Concentration of silicon species in the water column Particulate total and organic carbon concentrations in the water column |
