FRV Explorer 3/74
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Explorer (74EX) |
| Cruise identifier | 3/74 |
| Cruise period | 1974-04-03 — 1974-05-01 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Aberdeen, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Aberdeen, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | To study the patchiness of gadoid larvae in relation to environmental factors, particularly their food supply.
A preliminary survey was carried out to 15 miles either side of the line of current meter moorings 30 minutes East, between 58 degrees North and 61 degrees North. Weather prevented stations on the third survey being worked northwards and instead the continuous survey techniques were used on the return passage. ''Explorer'' went to Lerwick from the 11/04/1974 till the 12/04/1974 to take 2 crew members in need of medical attention. A mid cruise break was made on the 16/04/1974 till the 18/04/1974. During 15/04/1974 to the 24/04/1974 FRV Clupea worked in association with Explorer. |
| Chief scientist | James A Adams (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory), John H Steele (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Cruise report |  (0.18 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | Skagerrak Norwegian Sea |
| Measurements | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| Surface measurements underway (T,S) | Description: Monitored continuously with a thermosalinograph. |
| Water bottle stations | Quantity: number of stations = 57 Description: Surface samples of water for salinity, nitrate and chlorophyll determination were collected from the pumped supply for the calibration of the continuous recorders |
| Surface drifters/drifting buoys | Quantity: 13 Description: drogues(mid-water). 4 parachute drogues were deployed 60 degrees 30 minutes North |
| Chemical oceanography | |
| Nitrate | Quantity: 57 Description: Surface nitrate monitored continuously with a autoanalyser |
| Silicate | Quantity: 1 |
| Biology and fisheries | |
| Primary productivity | Quantity: 57 |
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | Description: Chlorophyll-a monitored continuously with a fluorometer |
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | Quantity: 57 |
| Phytoplankton | Quantity: number of samples = 73 Description: species idenification from sedimentation samples |
| Zooplankton | Quantity: number of hauls = 590 Description: Sampled with oblique hauls at half hour intervals of a high speed double net |
| Eggs and larvae | Quantity: track kilometres = 1093 Description: A study of the depth distribution of gadoid larvae using a Hardy-Longhurst sampler and a vertical closing net. |
