Resources

RRS Discovery D93B

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Discovery (74E3)
Cruise identifierD93B
Cruise period1978-06-16 — 1978-07-05
StatusCompleted
Port of departurePonta Delgada, Portugal
Port of returnBarry, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesThe main objectives of this cruise were two-fold. The first objective was a study of the deep crust and upper mantle structure associated with the Azores-Biscay Rise using seismic refraction and gravity profiles, Three refraction lines were planned to be shot on the crest and flanks parallel to the ridge axis while three gravity and seismic reflection profiles were to be obtained across the ridge. This work represented an extension of an already completed, and similarly executed, study of Kings Trough, in order to establish the relationship (if any) of Kings Trough to the anomalous Azores-Biscay Rise.
The second objective was a detailed study of crustal ageing along a flowline. The band between 45 and 46N east of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge was chosen for study, particuarly crust between 0 and 40million years old where the greatest ageing changes are believed to occur. The study was planned to consist of unreversed NS and reversed EW refraction profiles shot with a airgun and explosions out to 50kms range. An ancillary experiment was designed to seek for any azimuthal anisotropy in the upper part of young oceanic crust which is liable to be caused by cracks and fissures known to be preferentially orientated parallel to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge axis.
Chief scientistRobert B Whitmarsh (Institute of Oceanographic Sciences Wormley Laboratory)
Cruise reportRRS Discovery D93B cruise report d93.pdf (0.77 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
Track chartsRRS Discovery D93B cruise track — trk2056a.html RRS Discovery D93B cruise track — trk2056b.html RRS Discovery D93B cruise track — trk2056c.html RRS Discovery D93B cruise track — trk2056d.html RRS Discovery D93B cruise track — trk2056e.html RRS Discovery D93B cruise track — trk2056f.html
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Surface measurements underway (T,S)Quantity: track kilometres = 3889
Description: T only
Other physical oceanographic measurementsQuantity: 1
Description: standard sea-water collection
Meteorology 
Incident radiationQuantity: track kilometres = 3889.2
Routine standard measurementsQuantity: track kilometres = 3889.2
Other meteorological measurementsQuantity: number of observations = 70
Description: sea and swell
Geology and geophysics 
DredgeQuantity: number of deployments = 8
Multi-beam echosoundingQuantity: track kilometres = 3704
Single channel seismic reflectionQuantity: track kilometres = 1852
Seismic refractionQuantity: 5
Description: stations
Gravity measurementsQuantity: track kilometres = 3889.2
Magnetic measurementsQuantity: track kilometres = 2963.2