RV Belgica 2011-18A
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | RV Belgica (11BE) |
| Cruise identifier | 2011-18A |
| Cruise period | 2011-06-07 — 2011-06-15 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Zeebrugge, Belgium |
| Port of return | Bilbao, Spain |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | 1. To investigate the seismic stratigraphy and palaeoceanographic evolution of the Le Danois contourite depositional system (Van Rooij et al., 2010), at several locations in the "intraslope basin". Previous research has highlighted a significant correlation with the Cadiz CDS, suggesting a nearly simultaneous control by the Mediterranean Outflow Water since the Early Pliocene. As such, the Le Danois CDS is the only location in the Bay of Biscay where high-resolution climate change (e.g. bottom currents) may be recorded in a continuous way. It will assist in better constrain the role of the MOW in the thermohaline circulation system.
2. To investigate the seismic stratigraphy and palaeoceanographic evolution of the Le Danois contourite depositional system (Van Rooij et al., 2010), along the Spanish continental margin. During the transit towards the study area, within the French EEZ, water samples (suspended particular matter) will be collected in a 20 nm NE-SW transect nearby le Pas de Calais. 3. Belgica will be used as a platform of opportunity to report marine mammals observation during the campaigns. The aim of the project is to correlate cetacean observations data (species, abundance, location, behaviour) in the Bay of Biscay and between the Bay of Biscay and Zeebrugge with oceanographic data concerning suspended matter, chlorophyl, water temperature and phytoplankton recorded in a standard way on board. |
| Chief scientist | David Van Rooij (University of Ghent Renard Centre of Marine Geology) |
| Cruise report |  (1.35 MB) |
| NPRC | (0.41 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | Bay of Biscay |
| Specific | Cantabrian continental margin, between the Asturias continental shelf and the Le Danois Bank |
| Track charts | (0.02 MB) |
