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RRS James Clark Ross JR15004

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS James Clark Ross (74JC)
Cruise identifierJR15004
Cruise period2016-01-19 — 2016-02-21
StatusCompleted
Port of departureStanley, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Port of returnMare Harbour, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesSouth Orkney Ecosystem Studies. The South Orkney Island region is a major focus for the commercial krill fishery. Understanding the relationship between distribution of predators, pelagic resource and the commercial fishery is vital in deriving ecosystem based management plans for the fishery. A main focus of the cruise will be to examine what factors determine the distribution patterns of krill and other pelagic organisms such as mesopelagic fish and zooplankton across a range of time and space scales from the movement of individual krill swarms up to the longer term flux of krill into and out of the hotspots that occur in the canyons on the northern South Orkney shelf.
The work was carried out to analyse spatial and temporal variability at different spatial scales that correspond to the major organisational scales of krill distribution centred on the intermediate scale of major predator -prey - fishery interactions (krill patches, km to 10s km). The work involved coordinated studies from RRS James Clark Ross utilizing underway instrumentation (particularly multi-frequency acoustics), net sampling, water sampling and predator observations. It was augmented by the deployment of autonomous samplers (moorings) for the duration of the cruise. These research vessel activities link with concurrent observations from commercial fishing vessels operating in the region. Activities will also be tightly linked to predator tracking studies being undertaken from key penguin and fur seal colonies in the South Orkney region.
BAS scientists on board were joined by scientists from USA, Norway and Portugal. The cruise represents a key deliverable in the UK/Norway Collaborative Research Project 2012-2016 as agreed by the MOU between the governments of UK and Norway.
Chief scientistJonathan L Watkins (British Antarctic Survey)
Cruise reportRRS James Clark Ross JR15004 cruise report jr15004.pdf (7.56 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralSouth West Atlantic Ocean (limit 20W)
Southern Ocean
SpecificScotia Sea
Track chartsRRS James Clark Ross JR15004 cruise track — jr15004trk.pdf (0.89 MB) 
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Surface measurements underway (T,S)Quantity: activity duration in days = 38
Description: Underway water system: Oceanlogger data streams (temperature, salinity, chlorophyll)
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of profiles = 19
Description: CTD casts on which bottle samples were taken: eDNA, POM, POC, HBI, Chl, trace metals, contaminants
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of samples = 298
Description: CTD bottles fired: eDNA, POM, POC, HBI, Chl, trace metals, contaminants
CTD stationsQuantity: number of profiles = 45
Description: CTD casts: chlorophyll, temperature, fluorescence, transmissance
Current profiler (eg ADCP)Quantity: activity duration in days = 38
Description: Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler measurements 75 kHz surveyor
Contamination 
Contaminants in organismsQuantity: number of hauls = 10
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl (RMT25) deployments for krill samples (length-frequency) and fish, zooplankton for sampling (x-rays, contaminants). Stratified oblique hauls at stations. 2 nets on each deployment.
Contaminants in organismsQuantity: number of hauls = 8
Description: MAMMOTH net deployments with stratified oblique hauls. 8 nets on each deployment.
Contaminants in organismsQuantity: number of hauls = 14
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl (RMT8) deployments for krill samples (length-frequency) and fish, zooplankton for sampling (x-rays, contaminants). Targeted hauls. Stratified oblique hauls. 2 nets on each deployment.
Biology and fisheries 
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: activity duration in days = 38
Description: Underway water system: Oceanlogger data streams (temperature, salinity, chlorophyll)
Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON)Quantity: number of samples = 5
Description: Underway water system: HBI, POM
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of hauls = 10
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl (RMT25) deployments for krill samples (length-frequency) and fish, zooplankton for sampling (x-rays, contaminants). Stratified oblique hauls at stations. 2 nets on each deployment.
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of deployments = 9
Description: Stereo camera system with flash and on-board computer.
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of hauls = 14
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl (RMT8) deployments for krill samples (length-frequency) and fish, zooplankton for sampling (x-rays, contaminants). Targeted hauls. Stratified oblique hauls. 2 nets on each deployment.
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of hauls = 8
Description: MAMMOTH net deployments with stratified oblique hauls. 8 nets on each deployment.
BirdsQuantity: number of surveys = 7
Description: Predator observations using strip-transect methods for all surveys.
Mammals and reptilesQuantity: number of surveys = 7
Description: Predator observations using strip-transect methods for all surveys.
Pelagic fishQuantity: number of hauls = 8
Description: MAMMOTH net deployments with stratified oblique hauls. 8 nets on each deployment.
Pelagic fishQuantity: number of hauls = 14
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl (RMT8) deployments for krill samples (length-frequency) and fish, zooplankton for sampling (x-rays, contaminants). Targeted hauls. Stratified oblique hauls. 2 nets on each deployment.
Pelagic fishQuantity: number of hauls = 10
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl (RMT25) deployments for krill samples (length-frequency) and fish, zooplankton for sampling (x-rays, contaminants). Stratified oblique hauls at stations. 2 nets on each deployment.
Demersal fishQuantity: number of hauls = 14
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl (RMT8) deployments for krill samples (length-frequency) and fish, zooplankton for sampling (x-rays, contaminants). Targeted hauls. Stratified oblique hauls. 2 nets on each deployment.
Demersal fishQuantity: number of hauls = 8
Description: MAMMOTH net deployments with stratified oblique hauls. 8 nets on each deployment.
Demersal fishQuantity: number of hauls = 10
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl (RMT25) deployments for krill samples (length-frequency) and fish, zooplankton for sampling (x-rays, contaminants). Stratified oblique hauls at stations. 2 nets on each deployment.
Acoustic reflection on marine organisms.Quantity: activity duration in days = 38
Description: EK60 multifrequency acoustic backscatter collected at 38, 70, 120 and 200 kHz. Instrument calibrated in Scotia Bay with known reference sphere. Data collected to 1100m.
Acoustic reflection on marine organisms.Quantity: activity duration in days = 38
Description: Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler measurements 75 kHz surveyor
Acoustic reflection on marine organisms.Quantity: number of profiles = 7
Description: WBAT wideband echo sounder. Calibrated in Scotia Bay. Deployed on CTD collecting backscatter data.
Acoustic reflection on marine organisms.Quantity: activity duration in days = 8
Description: EK80 echo sounder. Instrument calibrated in Scotia Bay.
Geology and geophysics 
Bottom photographyQuantity: number of profiles = 4
Description: Shallow Underwater Camera System (SUCS) deployed to take images of the sea floor prior to anchoring for acoustic calibration and deployment of moorings.
Single-beam echosoundingQuantity: activity duration in days = 38
Description: EA600 single-beam echo sounder used for measuring sea floor depth.
Multi-beam echosoundingQuantity: activity duration in days = 15
Description: EM122 multi-beam swath bathymetry
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements60° 27' 0" S  46° 31' 59" W — Site - Western Canyon - Shallow. Deployed: 29/01/2016; Recovered: 12/02/2016. Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~340m) - RDI ADCP, SBE CTD, Kongsberg 120 kHz WBAT. Sonovault (~500m). Water depth: 524m
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements60° 32' 59" S  46° 31' 0" W — Site - Western Canyon - Deep. Deployed: 30/01/2016; Recovered: 12/02/2016. Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - RDI ADCP, SBE CTD. Sonovault (~490m). Water depth: 800m
Current profiler (eg ADCP)60° 27' 0" S  46° 31' 59" W — Site - Western Canyon - Shallow. Deployed: 29/01/2016; Recovered: 12/02/2016. Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~340m) - RDI ADCP, SBE CTD, Kongsberg 120 kHz WBAT. Sonovault (~500m). Water depth: 524m
Current profiler (eg ADCP)60° 32' 59" S  46° 31' 0" W — Site - Western Canyon - Deep. Deployed: 30/01/2016; Recovered: 12/02/2016. Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - RDI ADCP, SBE CTD. Sonovault (~490m). Water depth: 800m
Current profiler (eg ADCP)60° 23' 59" S  46° 17' 59" W — Site - northern shelf break. Recovered: 12/02/2016. Instrumentation: NORTEK combined ADCP & 120 kHz sounder (500 m)
Biology and fisheries 
Acoustic reflection on marine organisms.60° 32' 59" S  46° 31' 0" W — Site - Western Canyon - Deep. Deployed: 30/01/2016; Recovered: 12/02/2016. Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - RDI ADCP, SBE CTD. Sonovault (~490m). Water depth: 800m
Acoustic reflection on marine organisms.60° 27' 0" S  46° 31' 59" W — Site - Western Canyon - Shallow. Deployed: 29/01/2016; Recovered: 12/02/2016. Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~340m) - RDI ADCP, SBE CTD, Kongsberg 120 kHz WBAT. Sonovault (~500m). Water depth: 524m
Acoustic reflection on marine organisms.60° 23' 59" S  46° 17' 59" W — Site - northern shelf break. Recovered: 12/02/2016. Instrumentation: NORTEK combined ADCP & 120 kHz sounder (500 m)
Other biological/fisheries measurement60° 32' 59" S  46° 31' 0" W — Site - Western Canyon - Deep. Deployed: 30/01/2016; Recovered: 12/02/2016. Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - RDI ADCP, SBE CTD. Sonovault (~490m). Water depth: 800m
Other biological/fisheries measurement60° 27' 0" S  46° 31' 59" W — Site - Western Canyon - Shallow. Deployed: 29/01/2016; Recovered: 12/02/2016. Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~340m) - RDI ADCP, SBE CTD, Kongsberg 120 kHz WBAT. Sonovault (~500m). Water depth: 524m