Extended Ellett Line
The Extended Ellett Line is a hydrographic transect consisting of 64 individual fixed stations which have been occupied, typically on an annual basis, since September 1996. The Line runs from the south of Iceland, across the Iceland Basin to the outcrop of Rockall, and across the Rockall Trough to the north west coast of Scotland (see map). CTD dips and associated water sampling for the analysis of nutrients are routinely performed during each station occupation.
The Extended Ellett Line augments the original Ellett Line time series - a shorter repeated transect which encompassed those stations between Rockall and Scotland. Work on the Ellett Line was typically carried out at least once a year between 1975 and 1996.
Map of standard stations (1996-present)
Map produced using the GEBCO Digital Atlas
The white triangles indicate the nominal positions of the Extended Ellett Line stations visited since September 1996. Measurements made along the Extended Ellett Line lie within a box bounded by co-ordinates 56° N, 21° W at the south west corner and 65° N, 6° W at the north east corner.
Nominal Extended Ellett Line stations (September 1996-present)
Listed below are nominal details of the standard hydrographic stations that form the Extended Ellett Line. The majority of these stations have been sampled since the outset, although several have been added more recently.
| Station | Latitude | Longitude | Depth | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IB23S | 63.318 N | 20.210 W | 125 m | - |
| IB22S | 63.217 N | 20.067 W | 660 m | 0.0 nm |
| IB21S | 63.133 N | 19.917 W | 1030 m | 6.5 nm |
| IB20S | 62.917 N | 19.550 W | 1415 m | 16.4 nm |
| IB19S | 62.667 N | 19.667 W | 1500 m | 16.0 nm |
| IB18S | 62.333 N | 19.833 W | 1800 m | 16.0 nm |
| IB17 | 62.000 N | 20.000 W | 1700 m | 20.6 nm |
| IB16A | 61.750 N | 20.000 W | 1797 m | - |
| IB16 | 61.500 N | 20.000 W | 2000 m | 30.1 nm |
| IB15 | 61.250 N | 20.000 W | 2375 m | 15.0 nm |
| IB14 | 61.000 N | 20.000 W | 2400 m | 15.0 nm |
| IB13A | 60.750 N | 20.000 W | 2500 m | - |
| IB13 | 60.500 N | 20.000 W | 2500 m | 30.1 nm |
| IB12A | 60.250 N | 20.000 W | 2600 m | - |
| IB12 | 60.000 N | 20.000 W | 2700 m | 30.1 nm |
| IB11A | 59.833 N | 19.500 W | 2700 m | - |
| IB11 | 59.667 N | 19.117 W | 2680 m | 33.3 nm |
| IB10 | 59.400 N | 18.417 W | 2420 m | 26.7 nm |
| IB9 | 59.333 N | 18.233 W | 1910 m | 6.9 nm |
| IB8 | 59.200 N | 17.883 W | 1540 m | 13.4 nm |
| IB7 | 59.117 N | 17.667 W | 1000 m | 8.3 nm |
| IB6 | 58.950 N | 17.183 W | 850 m | 18.0 nm |
| IB5 | 58.883 N | 17.000 W | 1150 m | 7.0 nm |
| IB4A | 58.667 N | 16.500 W | 1170 m | - |
| IB4 | 58.500 N | 16.000 W | 1210 m | 38.8 nm |
| IB3 | 58.250 N | 15.333 W | 680 m | 25.8 nm |
| IB2 | 57.950 N | 14.583 W | 480 m | 29.9 nm |
| IB1 | 57.667 N | 13.900 W | 160 m | 27.7 nm |
| A | 57.583 N | 13.633 W | 130 m | 10.0 nm |
| B | 57.567 N | 13.333 W | 210 m | 9.7 nm |
| C | 57.550 N | 13.000 W | 330 m | 10.8 nm |
| D | 57.542 N | 12.867 W | 1000 m | 4.3 nm |
| E | 57.533 N | 12.633 W | 1658 m | 7.6 nm |
| F | 57.508 N | 12.250 W | 1817 m | 12.5 nm |
| G | 57.492 N | 11.850 W | 1812 m | 13.0 nm |
| H | 57.483 N | 11.533 W | 2020 m | 10.3 nm |
| I | 57.467 N | 11.317 W | 750 m | 7.0 nm |
| J | 57.450 N | 11.083 W | 550 m | 7.6 nm |
| K | 57.400 N | 10.867 W | 850 m | 7.6 nm |
| L | 57.367 N | 10.667 W | 2076 m | 6.8 nm |
| M | 57.300 N | 10.383 W | 2340 m | 10.1 nm |
| N | 57.233 N | 10.050 W | 2100 m | 11.5 nm |
| O | 57.150 N | 9.700 W | 1900 m | 12.4 nm |
| P | 57.100 N | 9.417 W | 1050 m | 9.7 nm |
| Q | 57.050 N | 9.217 W | 350 m | 7.2 nm |
| Q1 | 57.075 N | 9.317 W | 800 m | - |
| R | 57.000 N | 9.000 W | 135 m | 7.7 nm |
| S | 56.950 N | 8.783 W | 125 m | 7.7 nm |
| 15G | 56.883 N | 8.500 W | 125 m | 10.1 nm |
| T | 56.837 N | 8.333 W | 120 m | 6.1 nm |
| 14G | 56.808 N | 8.167 W | 115 m | 5.7 nm |
| 13G | 56.783 N | 8.000 W | 110 m | 5.7 nm |
| 12G | 56.758 N | 7.833 W | 80 m | 5.7 nm |
| 11G | 56.733 N | 7.667 W | 55 m | 5.7 nm |
| 10G | 56.733 N | 7.500 W | 220 m | 5.5 nm |
| 9G | 56.733 N | 7.333 W | 160 m | 5.5 nm |
| 8G | 56.733 N | 7.167 W | 175 m | 5.5 nm |
| 7G | 56.733 N | 7.000 W | 145 m | 5.5 nm |
| 6G | 56.733 N | 6.750 W | 35 m | 8.2 nm |
| 5G | 56.733 N | 6.600 W | 75 m | 4.9 nm |
| 4G | 56.733 N | 6.450 W | 115 m | 4.9 nm |
| 3G | 56.708 N | 6.367 W | 75 m | 3.1 nm |
| 2G | 56.683 N | 6.283 W | 40 m | 3.2 nm |
| 1G | 56.667 N | 6.133 W | 190 m | 5.0 nm |
Occupations of the Extended Ellett Line (September 1996-present)
| BODC Cruise Identifier | Cruise Dates | Ship |
|---|---|---|
| D223A | 28 September-21 October 1996 | RRS Discovery |
| D230 | 7 August-17 September 1997 | RRS Discovery |
| D233 | 23 April-1 June 1998 | RRS Discovery |
| D242 | 7 September-6 October 1999 | RRS Discovery |
| D245 * | 27 January-20 February 2000 | RRS Discovery |
| 0700S * | 8-22 May 2000 | FRV Scotia |
| D253 | 4 May-20 June 2001 | RRS Discovery |
| 0703S * | 15 April-5 May 2003 | FRV Scotia |
| PO300_2 * | 19 July-6 August 2003 | RRS Poseidon |
| PO314 | 11 July-23 July 2004 | RV Poseidon |
| CD176 | 6 October-1 November 2005 | RRS Charles Darwin |
| D312 | 11-31 October 2006 | RRS Discovery |
| D321A | 24 July-23 August 2007 | RRS Discovery |
| D321B | 24 August-9 September 2007 | RRS Discovery |
| 0508S * | 6-25 May 2008 | FRV Scotia |
| D340A | 10-25 June 2009 | RRS Discovery |
| D351 | 10-28 May 2010 | RRS Discovery |
| D365 | 13 May-02 June 2011 | RRS Discovery |
| D379 | 31 July-17 August 2012 | RRS Discovery |
| JC086 | 6-26 May 2013 | RRS James Cook |
| JR302 | 6 June-22 July 2014 | RRS James Clark Ross |
| DY031 | 29 May- 17 June 2015 | RRS Discovery |
| DY052 | 7-24 June 2016 | RRS Discovery |
| DY078 | 6-28 May 2017 | RRS Discovery |
* These cruises only surveyed the original hydrographic section between Scotland and Rockall.
