Resources

RV Colonel Templer 01/98

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RV Colonel Templer (74TC)
Cruise identifier01/98
Cruise period1998-04-22 — 1998-05-18
StatusCompleted
Port of departureSouthampton, United Kingdom
Port of returnStornoway, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesThe objective of the cruise was to undertake comprehensive TOBI 30 kHz sidescan sonar and 7.5 kHz profiler surveys of several blocks of seafloor to the north and west of the UK which were released for hydrocarbon exploration in 1997. All of the license areas with water depth >200 m was to be surveyed. Surface towed 3.5 kHz high resolution profiles were also to be collected along all survey lines. The Research Vessel Colonel Templer was chartered by Geotek Ltd. to undertake the survey work. Although TOBI has a nominal swath width of 6 km, survey lines were typically spaced 4 to 5 km apart to allow for overlap between adjacent swaths, and for some reduction in range in the shallower water areas (typically < 1000 m waterdepth) in the northern survey blocks. This range reduction occurs because of severe temperature stratification in the water column, where warm North Atlantic water (typically 8-9°C) immediately overlies cold water originating in the Norwegian Sea (typically < 0°C), causing refraction and reflection of the sonar energy.
Chief scientistDouglas G Masson (Southampton Oceanography Centre)
Cruise reportRV Colonel Templer 01/98 cruise report coloneltempler1998.pdf (1.21 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
Track chartsRV Colonel Templer 01/98 cruise track — coloneltempler1998trk.pdf (0.16 MB)