Resources

RRS James Clark Ross JR20131221 (JR284, JR292)

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS James Clark Ross (74JC)
Cruise identifierJR20131221 (JR284, JR292)
Cruise period2013-12-21 — 2014-01-01
StatusCompleted
Port of departureRothera, Antarctica
Port of returnPunta Arenas, Chile
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesJR284: The primary aim of the cruise was to improve constraints on the deglacial history of the Antarctic Peninsula Ice Sheet. The data and samples collected will also be used in three Collaborative Gearing Scheme projects that are related to the primary cruise aim. These are:
- Constraints on ice-stream behaviour during retreat and deglacial chronology from geomorphology and seafloor sediments.
- Spatial variations in grounding-line proximal facies.
- Testing a refugia hypothesis on the Antarctic Peninsula continental shelf, with implications for biology and past ice-sheet extent.

The cruise dovetailed with BAS logisitic activities, starting at Rothera Station after the JCR had made the first call of the season there. The data and samples collected on cruise JR284 will provide new constraints on the dynamic behaviour of the expanded ice sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum and on the subsequent history of glacial retreat.

JR292: Annual cruise to recover and redeploy BPRs in northern and southern Drake Passage in support of the NERC National Capability project ACCLAIM. Tide gauges at Stanley, Rothera and British bases in the Weddell Sea (Signy Island) and Antarctic Peninsula (Vernadsky) are also serviced.
Chief scientistMiguel Angel Morales Maqueda (National Oceanography Centre, Liverpool), Robert D Larter (British Antarctic Survey)
ProjectACCLAIM
Coordinating bodyNatural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Cruise reportRRS James Clark Ross JR20131221 (JR284, JR292) cruise report jr284.pdf (2.69 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralSouthern Ocean
SpecificWeddell Sea
Track chartsRRS James Clark Ross JR20131221 (JR284, JR292) cruise track — jr284trk.pdf (0.97 MB) 
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Surface measurements underway (T,S)Quantity: activity duration in days = 13
Description: BAS oceanlogger, temperature, conductivity
BathythermographQuantity: number of profiles = 2
Description: Expendable bathythermograph T7 probes
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 2
Description: Seabird SBE9plus CTD including fluorometer, oxygen sensor, PAR sensor, transmissometer, altimeter and rosette of 24 x 12 l Niskin bottles
Meteorology 
Routine standard measurementsQuantity: activity duration in days = 13
Description: BAS oceanlogger, temperature, pressure, wind speed and direction
Geology and geophysics 
Core - soft bottomQuantity: number of stations = 13
Description: Box cores
Core - soft bottomQuantity: number of stations = 26
Description: Gravity cores up to 9 m in length
Single-beam echosoundingQuantity: activity duration in days = 13
Description: Kongsberg EA600, water depth and reflection amplitude
Multi-beam echosoundingQuantity: activity duration in days = 13
Description: Kongsberg EM122, water depth and backscatter amplitude
Magnetic measurementsQuantity: activity duration in days = 13
Description: BAS shipboard three-component magnetometer, x-y-z components of field
Other geological/geophysical measurementsQuantity: activity duration in days = 12
Description: TOPAS PS018 parametric sub-bottom profiler, reflection amplitude and travel time
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
Other physical oceanographic measurements60° 49' 29" S  54° 43' 19" W — Bottom Pressure Recorder, Drake Passage South Deep, recovered from 1920 m. Pressure + temperature.
Other physical oceanographic measurements56° 2' 5" S  57° 57' 56" W — Bottom Pressure Recorder, Drake Passage North Deep, recovered from 2003 m. Pressure + temperature.
Other physical oceanographic measurements64° 14' 34" S  65° 28' 40" W — Bottom Pressure Recorder, FETCH trial, deployed to 587 m and recovered 6 days later. Pressure + temperature.
Other physical oceanographic measurements54° 58' 48" S  57° 59' 18" W — Bottom Pressure Recorder, Drake Passage North, deployed to 1097 m. Pressure + temperature + CTD (SBE37)
Other physical oceanographic measurements60° 51' 5" S  54° 43' 45" W — Bottom Pressure Recorder, Drake Passage South, deployed to 1080 m. Pressure + temperature + CTD (SBE37).
Other physical oceanographic measurements55° 2' 20" S  57° 56' 56" W — Bottom Pressure Recorder, Drake Passage North Deep, deployed to 2031 m. Pressure (DQ + SBE53) + temperature + CTD (SBE37) + sound speed (MIDAS SVP).