Resources

RRS Challenger CH62B

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Challenger (74CH)
Cruise identifierCH62B
Cruise period1989-12-06 — 1989-12-20
StatusCompleted
Port of departureCardiff, United Kingdom
Port of returnBarry, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
Objectives1. To investigate the effects of sediment resuspension on the scavenging of dissolved radionuclides in the north-east Irish Sea. A 25-hour anchor will be worked with the NBVR deployed nearby
2. To examine the nature and rates of chemical processes in the seabed using 226Ra, ultrafiltration, incubation experiments, fine resolution sampling and selective leaching.
3. To collect water and sediment samples for 14C and 137Cs analysis at SURRC, East Kilbride, in support of a NERC/MAFF CASE Studentship.
4. To study the distribution and behaviour of transuranic and gamma-emitting artificial radionuclides in the western Irish Sea in collaboration with University College, Dublin.
5. To assess the importance of colloidal material on radionuclide scavenging using ultrafiltration and measuring the fractionation of 234Th.
6. To examine the surface properties of suspended particulates using CEC and selective leaching.
7. To investigate the impact of the Marchon (Whitehaven) and Springfields discharges on the distribution of naturally-occurring radionuclides.
8. To collect sediment cores for meiofaunal analysis in support of MAFF Commission AEB8.
9. To collect particulate material for analysis of Pu by Professor Kudo, NRC, Canada.
10. To collect particulate material and surface sediment for Dr Hamilton, Phoenix Research Laboratory, Devon.
11. To compare three systems for the ultrafiltration of colloidal material.
Chief scientistPeter John Kershaw (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Lowestoft Fisheries Laboratory)
Cruise reportRRS Challenger CH62B cruise report ch62b_89.pdf (0.17 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralIrish Sea and St. George's Channel
SpecificIrish Sea.
Track chartsRRS Challenger CH62B cruise track — trk3522.html
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 52
Description: S surface and bottom only
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 14
Transparency (eg transmissometer)Quantity: number of stations = 14
Current metersQuantity: number of deployments = 1
Description: deployed
Chemical oceanography 
RadioactivityQuantity: number of samples = 66
RadioactivityQuantity: number of stations = 34
Description: 14C and radio-caesium monitoring.
Biology and fisheries 
Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON)Quantity: number of stations = 4
Dissolved organic matter (inc DOC)Quantity: number of stations = 8
ZoobenthosQuantity: number of stations = 3
Description: description of communities
Geology and geophysics 
GrabQuantity: number of samples = 21
Core - soft bottomQuantity: number of stations = 13
Description: 34 physical/34 chemical analysis;geochronology